Current/OS
| File:CurrentOS logotype.jpg | |
| Formation | April 9, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Legal status | Nonprofit foundation |
| Headquarters | Aalsmeer, The Netherlands |
Region | Worldwide |
| Methods | Defining Standards for Direct Current Electrical Systems |
Members | Over 130 (as of May 2026) |
President | Vincenzo Salmeri |
| Website | https://currentos.org |
Current/OS develops an open standard for hybrid AC/DC power distribution[1] in buildings and installations. Current/OS defines the technical rules and design principles for direct current (DC) microgrids[2] electrical systems with Distributed Energy Resources. It collaborates with international organizations and leading electricity stakeholders.
Its purpose is to ensure grid stability[3][4], while ensuring power efficiency, reliability and safety, to support the energy transition[5]. As the IEC's report "Electricity for the 21st Century" writes: « Direct current is a disruptive technology that fundamentally accelerates energy access and improves energy efficiency. »[6]
Current/OS advocates for the widespread adoption of direct current (DC) power due to its growing relevance in modern energy systems:
- Renewable energy sources such as solar panels, batteries, and hydrogen fuel cells generate DC power.
- Many end-use technologies—including data centers, electric vehicles, HVAC systems, LED lighting, and consumer electronics, A-class home appliances—operate on DC power.
Structure
Current/OS is an independent, nonprofit foundation incorporated in The Netherlands. It has multiple committees, including a board and an executive committee to govern its operations. As of 2026, there are seven members who serve the board of directors, belonging to ABB, Eaton, Mersen, Schneider Electric, Tridonic and UL Solutions.
Funding is supported by Current/OS partner fees. Partner organizations are actively influencing the work and outputs of Current/OS by joining Committees and activities.
Current/OS is open to all electricity stakeholders committed to ensuring reliable access to electricity for all, and supporting the emergence of the all-electric society through direct current technology.
History
The Current/OS Foundation was established on 9th of April 2021 as a global initiative by industry leaders and technical experts.
In 2022, the organization developed its initial set of electrical rules, defining voltage bands, power management strategies, protection mechanisms, pre-charging processes, and earthing recommendations for DC microgrids.
The foundation obtained Liaison A status with the IEC SyC for Low Voltage Direct Current LVDC in 2024.
In 2025, it released its updated and completed set of electrical rules.
By 2026, Current/OS had over 130 partner organizations from over 30 countries across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, including load manufacturers, equipment manufacturers, integrators, designers, installers, construction firms, universities and research institutions, trade organizations, and certification laboratories.
Global convergence
Current/OS aims for global convergence and interoperability, to connect seamlessly the entire ecosystem of DC sources and loads. It actively collaborates with organizations, programs and events worldwide to align electrical rules among stakeholders, such as:
- General Direct Current Systems: eMerge Alliance (based in the USA), ODCA (based in Germany[7]), PEDF (based in China[8]), Kepco (based in South Korea), Shift2DC (European program), IEEE ICDCM, and more
- Specialized Systems: Open Compute Project Foundation for direct current power distribution in data centers.
Technical rules
Current/OS has established a framework for DC power distribution that addresses safety, interoperability, and efficiency in hybrid AC/DC environments. This framework defines technical rules for the following key elements:
Voltage bands
Current/OS defines voltage bands, ranges where voltage fluctuates to reflect the real-time state of the network. Each band corresponds to a distinct operating condition. These voltage bands have been formalized in an IEC Technical Report, 63 282. Standardizing these bands gives equipment designers and system integrators a shared reference, ensuring that devices from different manufacturers interpret network conditions consistently and behave predictably, bringing interoperability within the DC community worldwide.
Power management
Current/OS is a "Current-Operated System" in which voltage is a common operational reference allowing devices to recognize network conditions and interact consistently. This distributed signaling approach operates without central control, using droop characteristics with precise and continuous adjustments, maintaining grid stability.
Electrical protections
To manage protection complexity and distributed energy sources in DC microgrids, installations are structured around a zoning framework. Circuits are classified into six distinct zones (0, 1, 2.1, 2.2, 3 and 4) based on available fault energy and the protection strategy applied at each level. IEC 60364 serves as the governing standard across all zones. This classification approach simplifies both the design and ongoing operation of DC installations while ensuring robust, arc-free protection throughout, with direct benefits in cable sizing and equipment selection.
Earthing / Grounding
Current/OS recommends galvanic isolation between the DC installation and the AC grid. This separation prevents faults and disturbances from crossing between systems. The resulting isolated TN-S configuration improves immunity to external disruptions, simplifies protection design, and eliminates the need for ongoing specialist maintenance — making it well-suited to commercial and industrial environments.
Installations using Current/OS rules
Many real-world installations use Current/OS rules:
- N470 Highway[9], Zuid Holland, The Netherlands (2021)
- Smart Parking at a.s.r.[10], The Netherlands (2024)
- Solaris Parking at Schneider Electric, France (2024)
- Wave office building[11], at Vinci Energies, France (2024)
- Blix data center[12], by Netpower (ex Comsys), Norway (2021)
- Helios Energy Station, Raleigh North Carolina, USA (2024)
- Innovative Automative Dearlership, Lakewood Colorado, USA (2025)
- Pulse Building, Delft University[13], The Netherlands (2024)
- DC-Powered Residential Area[14], by heijmans, The Netherlands (2025)
- AmpaCity at Nexans, France (2026)
References
- ↑ Sharma, Gaurav. "Is The Power Sector's Future In AC/DC Hybrid Systems, DC Microgrids". Forbes. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
- ↑ Cohn, Lisa (2025-04-15). "Nonprofit Group Aims to Expand Use of DC Microgrids that Integrate Renewables". Microgrid Knowledge. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
- ↑ mollytooherrudd (2025-05-29). "Easing the gridlock with DC power". CIBSE Journal. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
- ↑ Institute, Energy. "New Energy World magazine". Energy Institute. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
- ↑ Editor (2025-08-02). "Why DC is becoming a key technology in the energy transition". Industrial News. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
- ↑ www.prd.iec.ch https://www.prd.iec.ch/basecamp/lvdc-electricity-21st-century. Retrieved 2026-05-09. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ Völker, Jonas (2026-03-24). "Gleichstrom-Initiative ODCA kooperiert mit Current/OS". atpinfo.de (in Deutsch). Retrieved 2026-05-09.
- ↑ "数据中心直流供电系统推进与标准化合作--计算频道-至顶网". server.zhiding.cn. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
- ↑ UniWeb. "Highway N470". DC Systems. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
- ↑ UniWeb. "Smart Car Charging at a.s.r." DC Systems. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
- ↑ Array (2024-12-04). "Vinci Énergies : réseau hybride en courant continu et alternatif". Batirama.com (in français). Retrieved 2026-05-09.
- ↑ "A solar driven, 350V Direct Current, datacenter!". Comsys. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
- ↑ UniWeb. "Pulse Energy Neutral Building at TU Delft". DC Systems. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
- ↑ "#lvdc #heijmans #currentos | Sven De Breucker". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
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