On October 24, 2025, Schneider Electric, a leader in energy management and automation, announced a significant advancement in power systems that will support NVIDIA Corp's next-generation GPUs. This collaboration is a vital step in the industry's transition to 800 VDC (Volts Direct Current) power architectures, a requirement for the high-density rack systems increasingly adopted across modern data centers.

1. The Need for 800 VDC Power Systems

The shift toward 800 VDC power systems comes as compute density in data centers continues to rise. According to Jim Simonelli, Chief Technology Officer for Data Centres at Schneider Electric, "The move to 800 VDC is a natural evolution as compute density increases." This transition is crucial for handling the demands of emerging megawatt-scale racks that traditional 54-volt power distribution cannot support.

Schneider Electric aims to ensure that this transition is both safe and reliable, leveraging their expertise in the full power ecosystem—from grid to server. Their innovations are designed to meet the increasing power densities and efficiency requirements essential for advanced computing applications.

2. New Sidecar Technology for Enhanced Power Distribution

One of the standout innovations from Schneider Electric is the development of an 800 VDC sidecar, specifically tailored to support NVIDIA's next-generation GPUs. This sidecar is engineered to deliver up to 1.2 MW of power to racks, ensuring that data centers can efficiently manage the high demands of modern AI workloads.

Key Features of the 800 VDC Sidecar

Industry-Leading Efficiency: The sidecar converts incoming AC power to 800 VDC, allowing for safe and efficient energy distribution.

Modular Power Conversion: It includes modular power conversion shelves that enhance the system's scalability.

Integrated Energy Storage: Equipped with modular energy storage, the sidecar offers short-term backup and load smoothing capabilities.

Live Swap Capability: This feature allows for maintenance without disrupting operations, enhancing overall safety.

This system-level approach avoids the pitfalls of focusing solely on individual components, providing a holistic view of power infrastructure that includes intelligent metering and integrated protection mechanisms.

3. Commitment to Safety and Reliability

Schneider Electric's dedication to safety and reliability is evident in their decades of experience in advancing power systems. They employ advanced modeling, simulation, and rigorous real-world testing to validate their solutions, ensuring that customers can confidently deploy 800 VDC systems that adhere to the highest operational standards.

The company emphasizes the importance of in-depth fault current and arc flash analysis, along with certified testing environments, to guarantee real-world performance.

4. Supporting the AI Revolution

Both Schneider Electric and NVIDIA recognize the critical role of scalable power architectures in the next generation of AI infrastructure. Dion Harris, Senior Director of HPC, Cloud, and AI Infrastructure Solutions GTM at NVIDIA, stated, "Scalable power architectures are the foundation for next-generation AI infrastructure that maximizes both performance and efficiency." This partnership builds on a longstanding relationship aimed at delivering advanced power solutions capable of running AI applications that are set to transform industries.

5. Conclusion

As the digital landscape evolves, the collaboration between NVIDIA and Schneider Electric marks a significant milestone in the push toward high-performance, energy-efficient computing. The adoption of 800 VDC power systems will not only support the demands of next-generation GPUs but also play a crucial role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence and accelerated computing.

With their combined expertise, NVIDIA and Schneider Electric are paving the way for the AI industrial revolution, ensuring that the infrastructure is in place to support the advancements of tomorrow.

Original press release