Schneider Electric Unveils Software-Defined Medium Voltage Switchgear for AI Data Centers

Schneider Electric (NYSE:SNDR) unveiled what it describes as the world’s first fully software-defined medium voltage switchgear architecture, alongside new 38 kV equipment designed to support increasingly power-dense AI data centers.

Key Investor Takeaways

• Schneider Electric (NYSE:SNDR) said its Software-Defined Medium Voltage architecture can enable up to three times faster ordering and manufacturing and up to twice as fast commissioning compared with conventional engineered-to-order switchgear.
• The technology has already entered live operation through a pilot with Equinix in a colocation data center, while broader availability is planned for 2028.
• Schneider also introduced RM AirSeT 38 Software Defined, extending its SF₆-free medium-voltage technology from 24 kV to 38 kV for next-generation AI data centers.
• Order intake for RM AirSeT 38 is planned to start in 2027, with first deliveries expected in 2028.
• The company is positioning the new products alongside its Galaxy VXL UPS, which provides up to 1.25 MW in a single frame and is already available globally.

Why SNDR Stock Is in Focus

Schneider Electric unveiled a new portfolio of power infrastructure products at YOTTA 2026 aimed at supporting the deployment and expansion of AI-ready data centers.

At the center of the announcement is its Software-Defined Medium Voltage architecture, which separates system intelligence from physical hardware. Schneider’s approach uses standardized hardware alongside software-enabled functionality, allowing features and upgrades to be added without requiring corresponding physical modifications.

According to a comparison documented in a Schneider Electric white paper, the architecture can reduce ordering and manufacturing times by up to threefold and commissioning and onsite acceptance testing times by up to half. In a 20-panel comparison, the software-defined configuration also used 87% less control wiring, 91% fewer terminals and 85% less copper in that wiring.

The technology is already being tested in a live colocation data center through a pilot with Equinix. Pilot programmes are expected to continue through 2027 before broader availability in 2028.

Why This Matters for Investors

The product launches expand Schneider Electric’s exposure to the electrical infrastructure requirements associated with AI and high-performance computing.

The company said rising power densities are leading data center operators to consider 36/38 kV medium-voltage architectures capable of supporting greater power capacity and scalable campus deployments. RM AirSeT 38 is designed specifically for that environment, while using pure air insulation and vacuum interruption rather than SF₆ or other fluorinated gases.

The software-defined model could also change the lifecycle economics of medium-voltage infrastructure. Over-the-air updates are designed to enable upgrades without replacing hardware or creating operational downtime, while digital monitoring supports predictive maintenance and ongoing optimization.

Schneider is combining that medium-voltage strategy with its Galaxy VXL high-density UPS. The system delivers up to 1.25 MW from a single frame while using up to 70% less space than predecessor systems, according to the company.

Together, these products broaden Schneider’s AI data center power portfolio across medium-voltage distribution and high-density backup power. However, the software-defined switchgear remains in the pilot phase and RM AirSeT 38 has yet to begin taking orders, meaning broader commercial adoption will depend on execution over the next several years.

What to Watch Next

Pilot deployments of the Software-Defined Medium Voltage architecture will continue through 2027, making operational performance and customer adoption important indicators ahead of the planned wider launch in 2028.027, followed by initial deliveries in 2028. Investors can also watch how Schneider integrates the new medium-voltage systems with Galaxy VXL and its wider digital infrastructure portfolio as AI data center power requirements increase.

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