Schneider Electric pilots software-defined switchgear with Equinix

Schneider Electric is piloting software-defined medium voltage (MV) switchgear with Equinix, promising faster datacenter construction and electrical systems that gain new capabilities without hardware changes. The vendor unveiled it at the YOTTA 2026 digital infrastructure event in Las Vegas.

Switchgear controls and protects the flow of electricity through a facility and isolates faulty equipment when necessary. Medium voltage systems run between 1 kV and 36 kV, bridging the grid connection and the low voltage supplies feeding server racks.

Standardized hardware, software functions

Conventional switchgear is engineered for one site. Schneider's approach uses standardized hardware instead, with protection, automation, metering and control configured in software. The modules can be mass-produced and configured after arriving at the datacenter. Schneider claims remote updates will add features without downtime, and the architecture is already running inside an Equinix colocation facility as a pilot.

Faster ordering and commissioning

A Schneider white paper notes that some planned server farms are approaching gigawatt-scale compute loads, requiring more extensive medium voltage distribution at 13.8 kV, 34.5 kV, or both.

Such systems were historically designed around site-specific requirements and tested before power-on, which caused lengthy delays. Schneider claims ordering and manufacturing become up to three times faster, with commissioning and on-site acceptance testing taking half the time of engineered-to-order gear.

“The challenge facing datacenter 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, Schneider's EVP of Energy Management.

Security and update questions

Moving protection and control into software raises questions about cybersecurity, update testing and failure recovery. A faulty or malicious update to safety-critical electrical equipment carries very different consequences from a troublesome desktop patch, so Schneider must show how updates are authenticated, tested and rolled back.

Greg Metcalf, Equinix senior director for Global Data Center Design and Innovation, said the technology could standardize how the company designs, procures, builds and operates switchgear. Schneider plans to extend the architecture across its portfolio, including the PremSet and AirSeT ranges, with pilots continuing through 2027 and wider availability planned for 2028.