Schneider Electric has unveiled innovative solutions to tackle the energy and sustainability challenges arising from the increasing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) systems. These advancements include a new data center reference design developed in collaboration with NVIDIA. This design supports high-density AI clusters with capacities reaching 132 kW per rack, ideal for NVIDIA’s GB200 NVL72 and Blackwell chips. The goal is to simplify planning and deployment by providing validated architectures that streamline liquid cooling’s large-scale complexity.
Additionally, Schneider Electric introduced the Galaxy VXL uninterruptible power supply (UPS), which is the most compact and high-density power protection system for AI, data centers, and extensive electrical workloads currently available. With a 52% space-saving compared to industry averages, the UPS achieves a power density of 1042 kW/m². Its modular system can scale up to 1.25 MW, ensuring efficient power delivery within a reduced 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 centers and the digital infrastructure,” stated Pankaj Sharma, Executive Vice President, Data Centers & Networks at Schneider Electric.
Collaborating closely with NVIDIA, the company has integrated options for liquid-to-liquid Coolant Distribution Units (CDUs) and direct-to-chip liquid cooling into their data center designs. This collaboration ensures mechanical and electrical plans for energy-efficient, sustainable AI data centers.
Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA, remarked on the partnership, noting the importance of speed and a strong foundation when building the future of accelerated computing and AI. “Together, we’re creating AI data centers that are purpose-built for accelerated computing, supporting complex architectures that are essential to deliver digital intelligence to every company and industry.”
To further support energy demands, Schneider Electric’s solutions include services for optimizing renewable energy use and on-site power generation. Their Galaxy VXL UPS exemplifies their AI-ready data center solutions, thanks to its scalable and modular power protection options.
To address the increased thermal requirements of high-density AI tasks, the company has strengthened its liquid cooling capabilities by acquiring a majority stake in Motivair Corporation. According to Sean Graham, Research Director, Cloud to Edge Datacenter Trends at IDC, data center electricity consumption could account for 2.5% of global demand by 2027. He emphasizes that sustainability lies in using AI to reduce carbon footprints across industries. The collaboration between Schneider Electric and NVIDIA is a testament to the necessity of innovation and sustained partnership in driving both efficiency and sustainability in AI development.
