Schneider Electric Expands AI-Ready Data Center Power Portfolio with World’s First Software-Defined MV Switchgear

RM AirSeT™ 38 Software Defined extends Schneider Electric’s SF₆-free medium-voltage technology to 38 kV for high-density, scalable data center architectures.

Schneider Electric has unveiled new power solutions at YOTTA 2026 (September 28–30, Las Vegas) to accelerate AI-ready data center deployment and scaling. These solutions span medium-voltage distribution and high-density power infrastructure, allowing electrical systems to evolve at the same pace as the AI factories and digital services they support. At the center of the offering is the world’s first fully Software-Defined Medium Voltage switchgear, now deployed in a live colocation data center with Equinix.

A New Power Infrastructure Category

Building on its broader Software-Defined Energy vision, Schneider Electric is extending software-defined architecture to medium-voltage power infrastructure. The approach decouples system intelligence from physical hardware, creating a new model for designing, deploying and operating electrical infrastructure that can evolve at the same pace as the AI factories and digital services they support.

Based on the comparison documented in Schneider Electric White Paper 303, the approach enables up to 3× faster ordering and manufacturing, up to 2× faster commissioning and onsite acceptance testing, compared with conventional engineered-to-order medium-voltage switchgear. It also reduces system complexity: in the 20-panel comparison, the software-defined configuration used 87% less control wiring, 91% fewer terminals and 85% less copper in that wiring, while providing digital connectivity and analytics for greater operational visibility.

Key Features

• Standardized, configurable infrastructure: Replaces highly customized, engineered-to-order systems with modular hardware that can be standardized and deployed more quickly.
• Software-enabled functionality: Shifts capabilities from hardware into software, allowing customers to add new features and performance improvements without physical modifications.
• Digital-first deployment: Standardized modules, automated testing, and intuitive interfaces help streamline ordering, manufacturing, commissioning, and onsite acceptance.
• Lifecycle flexibility: Over-the-air updates enable system upgrades without hardware replacement or operational downtime, while software-enabled capabilities support ongoing optimization and AI-powered predictive maintenance through EcoCare Services.

The Software-Defined MV approach has been deployed in live operation through a pilot with Equinix in a colocation data center environment.

Key Video

Key Quote

“The challenge facing data center operators today is not just keeping pace with AI growth, but building the resilient, efficient and scalable power infrastructure needed for an increasingly digital world,” said Frédéric Godemel, Executive Vice President, Energy Management, Schneider Electric. “Schneider Electric’s Software-Defined Medium Voltage architecture brings a new level of flexibility, standardization, and energy intelligence to electrical distribution, helping customers scale their operations more efficiently while preparing for future requirements. By combining software, connectivity, and sustainable innovation, we are enabling the next generation of resilient and efficient data centers.” 

Key Links

More information about Software-defined Medium Voltage Switchgear from

Download the whitepaper: “Accelerating AI Data Center Deployment with Software-Defined Medium-Voltage Switchgear”