Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
Schneider Electric has unveiled a new software-defined medium-voltage switchgear system designed to accelerate the development of artificial intelligence (AI) data centres as rising computing demands place greater pressure on electricity infrastructure.
The company announced the technology on September 28, 2026, at YOTTA 2026 in Las Vegas, United States, presenting it as a solution to delays associated with designing, manufacturing and commissioning electrical distribution equipment for large-scale digital facilities.
According to Schneider Electric, the new system can enable ordering and manufacturing to be completed up to three times faster and commissioning up to twice as fast compared with conventional customised medium-voltage switchgear. The company also says the technology supports upgrades without operational downtime.
The development comes as technology companies expand AI computing capacity, increasing the need for reliable electricity supplies, efficient power distribution and infrastructure that can accommodate rapidly changing workloads.
Schneider Electric Introduces Software-Defined Switchgear
Schneider Electric said its new medium-voltage switchgear architecture combines standardised hardware with software-enabled functionality, allowing operators to configure and upgrade electrical systems without relying on extensive physical modifications.
Traditional medium-voltage switchgear often requires project-specific engineering and customised equipment. Such processes can increase complexity and extend the time needed to prepare electrical infrastructure for operation.
The company’s software-defined approach is intended to simplify this process by replacing some customised configurations with modular equipment that can be adapted through software.
In its September 28 announcement, Schneider Electric said its design could reduce the amount of control wiring and the number of components required. The company cited a comparison involving a 20-panel configuration in which the software-defined design used 87 per cent less control wiring, 91 per cent fewer terminals and 85 per cent less copper in that wiring.
These figures are based on Schneider Electric’s own comparison and should not be interpreted as independently verified performance results across every installation.
The system also incorporates digital connectivity and analytics intended to improve operators’ visibility into equipment performance and support maintenance planning.
AI Data Centres Face Growing Power Infrastructure Demands
AI data centres house the computing equipment needed to train and operate artificial intelligence models, process information and support digital services. Their expansion has increased the importance of electricity infrastructure capable of supplying power reliably and accommodating high-density computing equipment.
Power distribution systems must deliver electricity safely from incoming supplies to the equipment that requires it. Medium-voltage switchgear plays an important role in controlling, protecting and isolating electrical circuits within these systems.
Delays in procuring and installing such equipment can affect the timetable for bringing new data centre capacity online, even when computing hardware and other resources are available.
Schneider Electric’s announcement reflects an industry-wide effort to reduce these infrastructure bottlenecks. Its proposed solution focuses on simplifying electrical system design and shortening deployment schedules rather than generating additional electricity itself.
The technology therefore addresses one part of the broader challenge facing AI infrastructure developers: ensuring that electricity can be distributed efficiently and reliably to increasingly demanding computing facilities.
Equinix Has Deployed the Technology in a Live Pilot
Schneider Electric confirmed that its software-defined medium-voltage architecture has been deployed in a pilot at an operating Equinix colocation data centre.
Colocation providers operate facilities where businesses and technology companies house their servers and other computing equipment. Electrical reliability is particularly important in these environments because interruptions can affect multiple customers and digital services.
According to Schneider Electric, the pilot demonstrates the technology’s application in a live data centre environment. The company said the architecture is intended to make electrical infrastructure easier to standardise, expand and upgrade.
However, the announcement does not establish that the technology has been adopted across Equinix’s wider data centre network. The disclosed deployment is a pilot, and broader performance conclusions will depend on further operational experience.
Schneider Electric said pilot programmes would continue through 2027, with broader availability planned for 2028.
Schneider Electric Expands Its AI-Ready Power Portfolio
The software-defined switchgear was part of a wider set of power infrastructure technologies presented by Schneider Electric at YOTTA 2026.
Among the other products highlighted was the RM AirSeT 38 Software Defined medium-voltage switchgear, which extends the company’s AirSeT platform to 38 kilovolts. The product is designed for high-density data centre applications requiring scalable electrical distribution systems.
Schneider Electric said the RM AirSeT 38 system uses pressurised pure air for insulation and vacuum technology for electrical interruption, avoiding sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆), a potent greenhouse gas commonly associated with some conventional electrical switchgear technologies.
The company expects to begin accepting orders for RM AirSeT 38 in 2027, with initial deliveries anticipated in 2028.
Another product highlighted was the Galaxy VXL uninterruptible power supply (UPS), designed to provide backup and conditioned electricity for data centres and other critical facilities. Schneider Electric said the system can deliver up to 1.25 megawatts in a single frame and uses a compact design intended to preserve valuable data centre floor space.
Together, the products reflect the company’s strategy of addressing several aspects of data centre infrastructure, including electrical distribution, power continuity, monitoring and future expansion.
Environmental Considerations and Operational Efficiency
Schneider Electric’s announcement also highlights the potential environmental benefits of reducing material use and adopting equipment that avoids SF₆.
The environmental impact of data centres extends beyond the electricity consumed by servers. It also includes the materials used to construct facilities, the equipment needed to distribute and protect power, cooling requirements and the energy sources supplying the sites.
Reducing wiring and components may lower material requirements in some configurations, while SF₆-free switchgear can help avoid emissions associated with the use or leakage of that gas.
However, the overall environmental benefits of any installation depend on its design, operating conditions, electricity supply and lifecycle impacts. Faster deployment alone does not guarantee lower energy consumption or reduced emissions across an entire data centre.
Operators will also need to consider equipment reliability, cybersecurity, maintenance requirements and compatibility with existing electrical systems when assessing software-enabled infrastructure.
Why the Development Matters for the Global Technology Industry
The ability to bring power infrastructure online more quickly could help data centre developers coordinate electrical systems with the rapid expansion of AI computing capacity.
Standardised equipment may also make it easier for operators to repeat designs across multiple facilities, potentially reducing engineering complexity and simplifying maintenance. Software-enabled upgrades could allow systems to evolve without replacing hardware every time additional functionality becomes available.
Nevertheless, Schneider Electric’s reported improvements are company-provided estimates, and actual results may vary depending on the project, installation requirements and operating environment.
For countries investing in digital infrastructure, the development illustrates why reliable electricity, modern grid systems and specialised engineering capabilities are increasingly important to the growth of AI services.
African markets seeking to expand cloud computing, digital services and local AI development face similar broad infrastructure considerations, although the suitability of any particular technology would depend on local electricity networks, project economics, technical requirements and available expertise.
The announcement does not indicate that Schneider Electric has confirmed a specific deployment of the new system in an African data centre.
What Happens Next?
Schneider Electric’s immediate next steps involve continuing pilot programmes for its software-defined medium-voltage architecture through 2027 before pursuing broader availability in 2028.
The company also plans to begin taking orders for the RM AirSeT 38 Software Defined product in 2027, with initial deliveries expected in 2028.
The next stage will provide further opportunities to assess how the technology performs in operational environments and whether the claimed improvements in ordering, manufacturing, commissioning and equipment configuration translate into practical benefits for data centre developers.
For now, the announcement marks another development in the effort to align electrical infrastructure with the growing requirements of AI computing. Its longer-term significance will depend on deployment results, reliability and adoption by data centre operators.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Schneider Electric — Official announcement on software-defined medium-voltage switchgear, published September 28, 2026:
- Schneider Electric — Accelerating AI Data Center Deployment with Software-Defined Medium-Voltage Switchgear, technical white paper:
- Data Center Dynamics — Reporting on Schneider Electric and Equinix’s software-defined switchgear trial, September 29, 2026:
- TechTarget — Schneider software-defined switchgear targets AI data center delays, October 2, 2026:
