FM newsroom – energy management, sustainability, AI. Schneider Electric, a global leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has unveiled groundbreaking innovations to address the rising energy and sustainability challenges driven by artificial intelligence (AI).
With the rapid expansion of AI technologies, the new solutions of Schneider Electric focus on scalable, energy-efficient infrastructure tailored to the high demands of AI workloads.
Game-changing innovations in data centres
At the heart of Schneider Electric’s announcement are two transformative technologies:
AI-Optimized Data Center Reference Design: Co-developed with NVIDIA, this reference design supports liquid-cooled, high-density AI clusters up to 132 kW per rack. It is specifically optimized for NVIDIA’s GB200 NVL72 and Blackwell chips, offering validated architectures to simplify the deployment of liquid cooling at scale. This design tackles the complexities of liquid cooling, ensuring efficient and sustainable operations for AI data centres.
Galaxy VXL UPS: Schneider Electric’s Galaxy VXL uninterruptible power supply (UPS) redefines efficiency and scalability. As the industry’s most compact high-density UPS, it delivers 1.25 MW of power with a 52% smaller footprint compared to industry norms. Its modular design supports the growing power needs of AI and data-intensive environments while saving valuable space.
Comprehensive AI-ready data center solutions
The new solutions are part of Schneider Electric’s holistic approach to building end-to-end AI-ready data centre infrastructure, focusing on three core areas:
Energy Strategy for the AI Era: Schneider Electric helps companies secure renewable energy sources, including wind, solar, and hydrogen while optimizing on-site power generation through solutions like AlphaStruxure. This ensures resilient, sustainable power for demanding AI workloads.
Advanced Infrastructure Solutions: High-density, energy-efficient systems capable of exceeding 100 kW per rack are central to Schneider Electric’s portfolio. This includes AI-powered monitoring, lifecycle optimization services, and advanced cooling technologies to address the thermal challenges of AI systems.
Sustainability Consulting: Leveraging tailored strategies and advanced data insights, Schneider Electric aids clients in meeting decarbonization targets. Supported by a global network of 2,400 experts, the consulting services provide actionable solutions to minimize environmental impact.
“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 decarbonize data centres and the digital infrastructure,” – said Pankaj Sharma, Executive Vice President of Data Centers & Networks at Schneider Electric.
Partnering with NVIDIA for AI sustainability
The collaboration with NVIDIA underscores Schneider Electric’s commitment to innovation. The new reference design integrates options for advanced liquid cooling, such as direct-to-chip cooling and liquid-to-liquid Coolant Distribution Units (CDUs). These advancements ensure energy efficiency and adaptability for hyper-scale, colocation, and enterprise data centres.
“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 delivering digital intelligence to every company and industry,”- said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA.
Bending the energy curve
Schneider Electric emphasizes a science-based approach to reducing AI’s energy footprint. Through intelligent energy management powered by AI, the company advocates for bending the energy consumption curve while leveraging AI as a tool for decarbonization.
“The energy and environmental impact of AI is growing at an unprecedented pace. Our commitment is to push boundaries, set new standards, and protect the environment as we shape the future of AI,” – said Pankaj Sharma, Schneider Electric’s Executive Vice President, Data Centers & Networks.
Driving global sustainability with AI
As AI-driven workloads surge, Schneider Electric and NVIDIA are demonstrating how strategic collaboration can achieve greater efficiency and sustainability. With data centre electricity consumption projected to reach 2.5% of global demand by 2027, these innovations are poised to drive net-zero goals and decarbonize value chains across industries.
