Schneider Electric and NVIDIA pioneer designs for AI data centres

Author: Isha Jain

Schneider Electric has announced a collaboration with NVIDIA to optimise data centre infrastructure and pave the way for ground-breaking advancements in edge artificial intelligence (AI) and digital twin technologies.

Schneider Electric will leverage its expertise in data centre infrastructure and NVIDIA’s advanced AI technologies to introduce the first publicly available AI data centre reference designs. These designs are set to redefine the benchmarks for AI deployment and operation within data centre ecosystems, marking a significant milestone in the industry’s evolution.

With AI applications gaining traction across industries, while also demanding more resources than traditional computing, the need for processing power has surged exponentially. The rise of AI has spurred notable transformations and complexities in data centre design and operation, with data centre operators working to swiftly construct and operate energy-stable facilities that are both energy-efficient and scalable.

“We’re unlocking the future of AI for organisations,” says Pankaj Sharma, Executive Vice President, Secure Power Division and Data Centre Business, Schneider Electric. “By combining our expertise in data centre solutions with NVIDIA’s leadership in AI technologies, we’re helping organisations to overcome data centre infrastructure limitations and unlock the full potential of AI. Our collaboration with NVIDIA paves the way for a more efficient, sustainable, and transformative future, powered by AI.” 

Data centre reference designs

In the first phase of this collaboration, Schneider Electric will introduce data centre reference designs tailored for NVIDIA accelerated computing clusters and built for data processing, engineering simulation, electronic design automation, computer-aided drug design, and generative AI. Special focus will be on enabling high-power distribution, liquid cooling systems, and controls designed to ensure simple commissioning and reliable operations for the extreme-density cluster. Through the collaboration, the company also aims to provide data centre owners and operators with the tools and resources necessary to seamlessly integrate new and evolving AI solutions into their infrastructure, enhancing deployment efficiency, and ensuring reliable lifecycle operation.

Addressing the evolving demands of AI workloads, the reference designs will offer a robust framework for implementing NVIDIA’s accelerated computing platform within data centres, while optimising performance, scalability, and overall sustainability. Partners, engineers, and data centre leaders can utilise these reference designs for existing data centre rooms that must support new deployments of high-density AI servers and new data centre builds that are fully optimised for a liquid-cooled AI cluster.

“Through our collaboration with Schneider Electric, we’re providing AI data centre reference designs using next-generation NVIDIA accelerated computing technologies,” says Ian Buck, Vice President of Hyperscale and HPC at NVIDIA. “This provides organisations with the necessary infrastructure to tap into the potential of AI, driving innovation and digital transformation across industries.”

Future roadmap

In addition to the data centre reference designs, AVEVA, a subsidiary of Schneider Electric, will connect its digital twin platform to NVIDIA Omniverse, delivering a unified environment for virtual simulation and collaboration. This integration will enable seamless collaboration between designers, engineers, and stakeholders, accelerating the design and deployment of complex systems, while helping reduce time-to-market and costs.

“NVIDIA technologies enhance AVEVA’s capabilities in creating a realistic and immersive collaboration experience underpinned by the rich data and capabilities of the AVEVA intelligent digital twin,” says Caspar Herzberg, CEO of AVEVA. “Together, we are creating a fully simulated industrial virtual reality where you can simulate processes, model outcomes, and effect change in reality. This merging of digital intelligence and real-world outcomes has the potential to transform how industries can operate more safely, more efficiently and more sustainably.”

In collaboration with NVIDIA, Schneider Electric plans to explore new use cases and applications across industries and further its vision of driving positive change and shaping the future of technology.

More information will be available at Schneider Electric’s Innovation Summit, Paris on 3 April.