Schneider gives datacenter switchgear the software-defined treatment

Equinix pilot promises faster deployment and over-the-air upgrades without downtime, provided the code behaves itself

Schneider Electric is piloting software-defined medium voltage (MV) switchgear with Equinix, promising faster datacenter construction and electrical systems where you can add new capabilities without having to modify the hardware.

The energy infrastructure biz unveiled its software-defined MV architecture along with other new power products at the YOTTA 2026 digital infrastructure event in Las Vegas.

Switchgear controls and protects the flow of electricity through a facility, isolating faulty equipment when necessary. Medium-voltage systems typically operate between 1 kV and 36 kV, bridging the high-voltage grid connection and the low-voltage supplies feeding server racks.

REG AD

Conventional switchgear is engineered for the requirements of a particular site. Schneider's approach instead uses standardized hardware, with protection, automation, metering, monitoring, and control functions configured through software.

REG AD

The standardized modules can be mass-produced and configured after arriving at the datacenter. Schneider claims that over-the-air updates will add features and improve performance without physical modifications or operational downtime.

The architecture is already operating in an Equinix colocation facility as part of a pilot deployment.

"The challenge facing datacenter 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 Schneider EVP of Energy Management Frédéric Godemel.

Schneider argues that shifting more functions into software will let operators standardize equipment across sites while adapting it as their power requirements change.

A Schneider white paper on the subject notes that some planned server farms are approaching gigawatt-scale compute loads. This calls for more extensive medium voltage distribution, which may be at 13.8 kV, 34.5 kV, or both, depending on the site. A campus may also have on-site generation or energy storage facilities that increase the scale and complexity of the medium voltage infrastructure.

These systems have historically been designed around site-specific requirements and validated through extensive testing prior to power-on, which can lead to lengthy delays.

Schneider claims the approach can make ordering and manufacturing up to three times faster and halve the time required for commissioning and on-site acceptance testing compared with conventional engineered-to-order switchgear.

Moving protection and control functions into software also raises questions about cybersecurity, update testing and failure recovery. A faulty or malicious update to safety-critical electrical equipment carries rather different consequences from a troublesome desktop patch. Schneider will therefore need to demonstrate how updates are authenticated, tested, rolled back, and prevented from disrupting power distribution.

REG AD

Greg Metcalf, Equinix senior director for Global Data Center Design and Innovation, said the technology could standardize how it designs, procures, builds, and operates switchgear while preserving safety, quality, and reliability.

Schneider plans to extend the architecture across its medium-voltage portfolio, including its PremSet and AirSeT switchgear ranges. Pilot programs will continue through 2027, with wider availability planned for 2028. ®