Schneider Electric, a global leader in energy management and automation, has emphasized its commitment to supporting the industry’s transition to 800 VDC power architectures, a critical requirement for high-density racks in next-generation data centers. As compute densities rise and artificial intelligence workloads demand greater power, Schneider Electric is innovating through a system-level approach that integrates power conversion, protection, and metering to ensure efficiency, safety, and scalability.
Jim Simonelli, Chief Technology Officer, Data Centres at Schneider Electric, said, “The move to 800 VDC is a natural evolution as compute density increases, and Schneider Electric is committed to helping customers make that transition safely and reliably. Our expertise lies in understanding the full power ecosystem, from grid to server, and designing solutions that integrate seamlessly, perform predictably, and operate safely.”
Schneider Electric is collaborating with NVIDIA to develop an 800 VDC sidecar capable of powering racks of up to 1.2 megawatts to support next-generation NVIDIA GPUs and accelerated computing infrastructure. The sidecar converts incoming AC power into 800 VDC, delivering megawatt-scale rack power efficiently, safely, and with reduced material and infrastructure costs. The system features modular power conversion shelves, modular energy storage for short-term backup and load smoothing, and live-swap capabilities for safe maintenance.
The company’s holistic approach ensures predictable, validated performance while simplifying maintenance and enhancing scalability. By designing the power infrastructure as a cohesive system rather than a collection of individual components, Schneider Electric maximizes operational efficiency and reliability, meeting the stringent demands of high-density AI and data center deployments.
Schneider Electric’s decades of expertise in safety and reliability underpin these innovations. Advanced modeling, simulation, and real-world lab testing validate performance under fault current and arc flash scenarios, while live-swap power capabilities allow maintenance without operational disruption.
Aligned with the broader industry shift toward AI-driven architectures, Schneider Electric continues to work closely with NVIDIA. Dion Harris, Senior Director, HPC, Cloud, and AI Infrastructure Solutions GTM at NVIDIA, said, “Scalable power architectures are the foundation for next-generation AI infrastructure that maximizes both performance and efficiency. NVIDIA and Schneider Electric are building on our longstanding partnership to design and deliver advanced 800 VDC systems that will run AI applications shaping the AI industrial revolution.”
