Schneider Electric unveils AI-ready data centre solutions
Schneider Electric has announced new solutions aimed at addressing the energy and sustainability challenges posed by increased demand for artificial intelligence (AI) systems.
The latest announcements include the introduction of a new data centre reference design developed in collaboration with NVIDIA.
This design supports liquid-cooled, high-density AI clusters capable of accommodating up to 132 kW per rack. It is specifically optimised for NVIDIA's GB200 NVL72 and Blackwell chips. The aim is to streamline planning and deployment by providing proven, validated architectures that target the complexity of using liquid cooling on a large scale.
Schneider Electric has also launched the Galaxy VXL uninterruptible power supply (UPS), heralded as the most compact, high-density power protection system for AI, data centre, and extensive electrical workloads. The Galaxy VXL UPS offers a 52% space saving compared to industry averages, achieving a power density of up to 1042 kW/m². It is a modular system, scalable up to 1.25 MW, designed to deliver efficient power within a smaller footprint.
"The energy and environmental impact of AI is growing at an unprecedented pace, and it's paramount we bend the energy curve downward by finding new ways to decarbonise data centres and the digital infrastructure," stated Pankaj Sharma, Executive Vice President, Data Centers & Networks at Schneider Electric. "At Schneider Electric, we are committed to pushing boundaries, setting new standards, and shaping the future of AI, whilst protecting the environment."
"This requires a strategic approach from the grid to the chip, to the chiller, and beyond."
The company has worked closely with NVIDIA in developing the data centre reference design, which incorporates options for liquid-to-liquid Coolant Distribution Units (CDUs) and direct-to-chip liquid cooling. It also shares detailed mechanical and electrical plans to ensure energy-efficient and sustainable operations within AI data centres.
Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA, commented, "Building the future of accelerated computing and AI requires speed and a bedrock foundation. Our work with Schneider Electric enables customers to design the world's technological advances on stable and resilient infrastructure."
"Together, we're creating AI data centres that are purpose-built for accelerated computing, supporting complex architectures that are essential to deliver digital intelligence to every company and industry."
Furthering its sustainability and efficiency commitments, Schneider Electric offers a suite of solutions designed to support the energy demands of the AI era. This includes services aimed at optimising renewable energy use and on-site power generation. In addition to advanced infrastructure and energy-efficient systems, Schneider Electric's Galaxy VXL UPS is a recent addition to its AI-ready data centre solutions, offering scalable and modular power protection options.
To address the heightened thermal requirements of high-density AI workloads, the company has also taken steps to enhance its liquid cooling capabilities, recently acquiring a majority stake in Motivair Corporation.
Sean Graham, Research Director, Cloud to Edge Datacenter Trends at IDC, noted, "By 2027, data centre electricity consumption is projected to account for 2.5% of global demand, with the remaining 97.5% spread across industries such as buildings, manufacturing, transportation, and energy."
"While data centres pursue their own net-zero goals amid unprecedented growth, the real sustainability promise lies in leveraging AI to decarbonise entire value chains across industries. As Schneider Electric and NVIDIA have demonstrated, long-term collaboration and innovation are essential to driving efficiency and sustainability."
