Schneider Electric on Monday unveiled what it calls the world's first fully software-defined medium voltage switchgear, a new architecture designed to let the power infrastructure of AI data centres scale as fast as the digital demand placed on them.
The announcement was made at YOTTA 2026, the data-centre industry event being held in Las Vegas from September 28 to 30.
From hardware to software
Traditional medium voltage switchgear relies on bespoke hardware configurations. The new architecture shifts electrical distribution functionality into software, enabling over-the-air updates that add features and performance improvements without physical modifications and, according to the company, with zero operational downtime.
Based on Schneider Electric's own studies and estimations, the approach delivers up to three times faster ordering and manufacturing and up to two times faster commissioning and on-site acceptance testing, with a simplified footprint that uses less wiring and fewer components.
Built for AI factories
The system embeds connectivity and analytics for real-time performance visibility and AI-powered predictive maintenance through the company's EcoCare Services offering. The architecture has already been piloted with Equinix in a live colocation data centre environment.
Melton Chang, executive vice-president of Schneider Electric's Power Systems Division, said the launch addresses the speed at which AI factories need power capacity deployed. Greg Metcalf, senior director for global data centre design and innovation at Equinix, backed the concept after the pilot deployment.
Rollout plan
Schneider plans to extend the software-defined medium voltage architecture across its medium voltage portfolio, including the PremSet and AirSeT ranges, with pilot programmes continuing through 2027 and broader availability from 2028.
The launch comes as power-hungry AI data centres become one of the industry's defining bottlenecks, with operators racing to secure electrical capacity alongside computing hardware.
Sources:
GlobeNewswire via Manila Times: Schneider Electric Unveils the World's First Fully Software-Defined Medium Voltage Switchgear
The announcement was made at YOTTA 2026, the data-centre industry event being held in Las Vegas from September 28 to 30.
From hardware to software
Traditional medium voltage switchgear relies on bespoke hardware configurations. The new architecture shifts electrical distribution functionality into software, enabling over-the-air updates that add features and performance improvements without physical modifications and, according to the company, with zero operational downtime.
Based on Schneider Electric's own studies and estimations, the approach delivers up to three times faster ordering and manufacturing and up to two times faster commissioning and on-site acceptance testing, with a simplified footprint that uses less wiring and fewer components.
Built for AI factories
The system embeds connectivity and analytics for real-time performance visibility and AI-powered predictive maintenance through the company's EcoCare Services offering. The architecture has already been piloted with Equinix in a live colocation data centre environment.
Melton Chang, executive vice-president of Schneider Electric's Power Systems Division, said the launch addresses the speed at which AI factories need power capacity deployed. Greg Metcalf, senior director for global data centre design and innovation at Equinix, backed the concept after the pilot deployment.
Rollout plan
Schneider plans to extend the software-defined medium voltage architecture across its medium voltage portfolio, including the PremSet and AirSeT ranges, with pilot programmes continuing through 2027 and broader availability from 2028.
The launch comes as power-hungry AI data centres become one of the industry's defining bottlenecks, with operators racing to secure electrical capacity alongside computing hardware.
Sources:
GlobeNewswire via Manila Times: Schneider Electric Unveils the World's First Fully Software-Defined Medium Voltage Switchgear
