施耐德电气正与Equinix合作试点软件定义中压（MV）开关设备，有望加快数据中心建设速度，并实现无需修改硬件即可增加新功能的电气系统。这家能源基础设施企业在拉斯维加斯举办的YOTTA 2026数字基础设施活动上，发布了其软件定义中压架构及其他新电力产品。开关设备控制并保护设施内的电力流动，在必要时隔离故障设备。中压系统通常在1 kV至36 kV之间运行，连接高压电网接入与为服务器机柜供电的低压系统。
Schneider Electric is piloting software-defined medium voltage (MV) switchgear with Equinix, promising faster datacenter construction and electrical systems where you can add new capabilities without having to modify the hardware. The energy infrastructure biz unveiled its software-defined MV architecture along with other new power products at the YOTTA 2026 digital infrastructure event in Las Vegas. Switchgear controls and protects the flow of electricity through a facility, isolating faulty equipment when necessary. Medium-voltage systems typically operate between 1 kV and 36 kV, bridging the high-voltage grid connection and the low-voltage supplies feeding server racks.
传统开关设备是针对特定场地需求设计的。施耐德的方法则采用标准化硬件，通过软件配置保护、自动化、计量、监测和控制功能。标准化模块可批量生产，并在抵达数据中心后进行配置。施耐德声称，空中下载技术（OTA）更新将在无需物理修改或运营停机的情况下增加功能并提升性能。该架构已作为试点部署的一部分，在Equinix的一座机房设施中投入运行。
Conventional switchgear is engineered for the requirements of a particular site. Schneider's approach instead uses standardized hardware, with protection, automation, metering, monitoring, and control functions configured through software. The standardized modules can be mass-produced and configured after arriving at the datacenter. Schneider claims that over-the-air updates will add features and improve performance without physical modifications or operational downtime. The architecture is already operating in an Equinix colocation facility as part of a pilot deployment.
施耐德电气能源管理执行副总裁Frédéric Godemel表示：“数据中心运营商面临的挑战不仅是跟上AI增长的步伐，更是构建日益数字化世界所需的弹性、高效且可扩展的电力基础设施。”施耐德认为，将更多功能转移到软件层面，将使运营商能够跨站点标准化设备，同时根据电力需求变化进行调整。施耐德关于该主题的白皮书指出，一些规划中的服务器农场算力负载正接近吉瓦级规模。这需要更广泛的中压配电，根据场地情况，电压等级可能为13.8 kV、34.5 kV或两者兼有。
"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 Schneider EVP of Energy Management Frédéric Godemel. Schneider argues that shifting more functions into software will let operators standardize equipment across sites while adapting it as their power requirements change. A Schneider white paper on the subject notes that some planned server farms are approaching gigawatt-scale compute loads. This calls for more extensive medium voltage distribution, which may be at 13.8 kV, 34.5 kV, or both, depending on the site.
校园内可能还配备有现场发电或储能设施，这些设施会增加中压基础设施的规模和复杂性。传统上，这类系统的设计都是根据具体现场需求进行的，并在投入使用前经过大量测试才能验证其可靠性，这往往会导致项目实施周期大幅延长。施耐德（Schneider）声称，与传统的“按订单定制”（engineered-to-order）型开关设备相比，这种新的设计方法能够将采购和制造周期缩短至原来的三分之一，并将调试及现场验收测试所需的时间减少一半。
A campus may also have on-site generation or energy storage facilities that increase the scale and complexity of the medium voltage infrastructure. These systems have historically been designed around site-specific requirements and validated through extensive testing prior to power-on, which can lead to lengthy delays. Schneider claims the approach can make ordering and manufacturing up to three times faster and halve the time required for commissioning and on-site acceptance testing compared with conventional engineered-to-order switchgear.
然而，将保护与控制功能集成到软件中也会引发关于网络安全、系统更新流程以及故障恢复机制的问题：对关键电气设备进行错误或恶意性的软件更新，其后果可能比普通的桌面软件漏洞严重得多。因此，施耐德需要证明如何对更新内容进行身份验证、测试、回滚处理，并确保这些更新不会干扰电力系统的正常运行。
Moving protection and control functions into software also raises questions about cybersecurity, update testing and failure recovery. A faulty or malicious update to safety-critical electrical equipment carries rather different consequences from a troublesome desktop patch. Schneider will therefore need to demonstrate how updates are authenticated, tested, rolled back, and prevented from disrupting power distribution.
Equinix公司全球数据中心设计与创新高级总监Greg Metcalf表示，这项技术有望实现开关设备的标准化设计、采购、制造及运营流程，同时仍能保证系统的安全性、质量和可靠性。施耐德计划将这一技术应用于其所有中压产品线，包括PremSet和AirSeT系列开关设备。相关试点项目将持续到2027年，预计该技术将于2028年正式投入大规模应用。
Greg Metcalf, Equinix senior director for Global Data Center Design and Innovation, said the technology could standardize how it designs, procures, builds, and operates switchgear while preserving safety, quality, and reliability. Schneider plans to extend the architecture across its medium-voltage portfolio, including its PremSet and AirSeT switchgear ranges. Pilot programs will continue through 2027, with wider availability planned for 2028. ®