Schneider Electric is accelerating the transformation of data centers to meet the soaring energy demands brought on by artificial intelligence (AI). With its new solutions, the company aims to tackle AI’s growing sustainability challenges by combining energy efficiency with high-density infrastructure that is ready to scale.
In partnership with NVIDIA, Schneider Electric has developed a reference design that facilitates liquid-cooled, high-density AI clusters of up to 132 kW per rack. The design streamlines the planning and deployment of AI systems, addressing the complexities of liquid cooling at scale. Optimised for NVIDIA’s latest hardware, the new reference design aims to reduce time to market and energy consumption while boosting performance in AI applications.
In addition, Schneider Electric introduced the Galaxy VXL uninterruptible power supply (UPS), which is touted as the most compact, high-density UPS for AI and data center workloads. By offering a 52 per cent reduction in space requirements compared to the industry average, the Galaxy VXL enables more efficient power management in a smaller footprint, marking a significant advancement for AI-driven digital infrastructure.
“The energy and environmental impact of AI is growing at an unprecedented pace, and it is paramount we bend the energy curve downward by finding new ways to decarbonise data centers and digital infrastructure,” Pankaj Sharma, Executive Vice President, Data Centers & Networks at Schneider Electric, said. “We are committed to pushing boundaries and setting new standards while ensuring AI is developed in a way that protects the environment. From the grid to the chip and beyond, we need a strategic approach to make this happen.”
The new data center reference design, co-developed with NVIDIA, is built to support liquid-cooled AI clusters in various environments, from hyperscale and colocation to enterprise settings. Schneider Electric’s expertise in energy management is combined with NVIDIA’s accelerated computing power, providing a pathway to more efficient and sustainable AI operations.
“Building the future of accelerated computing and AI requires speed and a resilient foundation,” Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA, said. “Our work with Schneider Electric enables customers to design the world’s technological advances on stable and resilient infrastructure. Together, we are creating AI data centers that are purpose-built for accelerated computing.”
These announcements form part of Schneider Electric’s broader commitment to end-to-end AI-ready data center solutions, helping operators reduce their environmental footprint while supporting high-performance computing. The Galaxy VXL UPS and the new reference design are the latest components in a comprehensive portfolio aimed at developing a sustainable energy strategy for AI-era data centers.
The solutions also include enhanced offerings in sustainability consulting, as Schneider Electric works to help organisations meet decarbonisation targets. With EcoStruxure Resource Advisor and a global team of sustainability experts, Schneider Electric provides tailored emissions assessments and supplier engagement programs to help companies navigate the complexities of sustainable digital infrastructure.
Schneider Electric’s strategy for the AI era emphasises a holistic approach to energy management, integrating the latest infrastructure advances with a focus on reducing the energy demands of AI workloads. As data centers evolve to meet the needs of a digital economy, Schneider Electric aims to lead the charge in bending the energy curve while promoting long-term collaboration across the industry.
“By 2027, data center electricity consumption is projected to account for 2.5 per cent of global demand,” Sean Graham, Research Director, IDC, said. “The real sustainability promise lies in leveraging AI to decarbonise value chains across industries. Schneider Electric and NVIDIA have shown that innovation and partnership are key to driving efficiency and sustainability.”
