Schneider Electric used the opening of YOTTA 2026 in Las Vegas to unveil new power solutions spanning medium-voltage distribution and high-density power infrastructure, aimed at helping data center operators scale electrical systems as fast as AI deployments demand. At the center of the announcement is what the company calls the world's first fully Software-Defined Medium Voltage switchgear, which it says is already running in a live colocation data center operated by Equinix.
The architecture decouples system intelligence from the physical hardware, replacing highly customized, engineered-to-order switchgear with standardized, modular infrastructure that can be deployed more quickly and updated over the air without hardware replacement or downtime.
Citing its own White Paper 303, Schneider Electric said the software-defined approach enables up to 3x faster ordering and manufacturing and up to 2x faster commissioning and onsite acceptance testing compared with conventional engineered-to-order medium-voltage switchgear. In a 20-panel comparison, the configuration used 87% less control wiring, 91% fewer terminals, and 85% less copper in that wiring, while adding digital connectivity and analytics for operational visibility.
"The challenge facing data center operators today is not just keeping pace with AI growth, but building the resilient, efficient and scalable power infrastructure needed for an increasingly digital world," said Frédéric Godemel, Executive Vice President, Energy Management, Schneider Electric. "Schneider Electric's Software-Defined Medium Voltage architecture brings a new level of flexibility, standardization, and energy intelligence to electrical distribution, helping customers scale their operations more efficiently while preparing for future requirements."
The company said software-enabled capabilities will also support AI-powered predictive maintenance through its EcoCare Services. Read more in the full announcement.