At the YOTTA 2026 digital infrastructure event in Las Vegas, Schneider Electric unveiled software-defined medium-voltage switchgear and announced a pilot deployment with Equinix. The idea is to replace site-specific engineered switchgear with standardized modules that can be mass-produced and then configured after they reach the datacenter.
Switchgear protects and controls the flow of electricity through a facility, and medium-voltage systems typically run between 1 kV and 36 kV, linking the grid connection to low-voltage supplies that feed server racks. According to The Register, some planned datacenter campuses are approaching gigawatt-scale compute loads, requiring more extensive medium-voltage distribution at voltages such as 13.8 kV or 34.5 kV, plus on-site generation and storage that add complexity.
Schneider says its software-defined approach can speed ordering and manufacturing by up to three times and cut commissioning and acceptance-testing time in half compared with conventional engineered-to-order gear. Over-the-air updates are promised to add features without hardware modifications or downtime. But moving protection and control functions into software raises questions about cybersecurity, update testing, and rollback, especially for safety-critical electrical equipment. Equinix sees the technology as a way to standardize design, procurement, builds, and operations while preserving safety and reliability. Schneider plans to extend the architecture across its PremSet and AirSeT switchgear ranges, with pilots continuing through 2027 and broader availability targeted for 2028.