Software-Defined Medium Voltage Switchgear

Schneider Electric Software-Defined Medium Voltage (SD MV) equipment is a new approach to medium-voltage power infrastructure where protection, control, monitoring, and operational functions are delivered primarily through software rather than hardwired hardware.

This enables medium-voltage systems to operate more like digital platforms – configurable, upgradable, and continuously evolving throughout their lifecycle.

Software-Defined MV is designed for cloud and digital service providers, including:

• Hyperscale data centers

• Colocation providers

• Managed service providers

Traditional medium-voltage systems are often:

• Custom-engineered for each site

• Slow to deploy and commission

• Difficult to upgrade without outages

• Inconsistent across regions

In fast-growing cloud and AI environments, these limitations can delay expansion, hinder standardization, and increase operational risk. Software-defined MV helps organizations scale globally, deploy capacity faster, and adapt more easily to evolving business and technology requirements.

Software-Defined MV enables faster deployment through:

• Standardized and modular hardware platforms

• Pre-validated, software-configurable architectures

• Digital commissioning and automated validation

• Reduced reliance on specialized onsite expertise

By simplifying engineering, deployment, and commissioning processes, Software-defined MV helps accelerate data center power infrastructure delivery.

In Software-Defined MV systems, key functions are delivered through software, including:

• Protection and control logic

• Monitoring and diagnostics

• Cybersecurity capabilities

• Operational workflows

• Configuration management and upgrades

This approach replaces hardwired complexity – from the LV head unit - with flexible, software-driven functionality that can evolve throughout the system lifecycle.

Yes. One of the core advantages of Software-Defined MV is its ability to evolve through software updates.

New features, optimizations, and capabilities can be introduced without physical hardware and without downtime.

Software-Defined MV enhances system performance through:

• Continuous health monitoring

• Predictive maintenance insights

• Built-in cybersecurity capabilities

• Automated testing and validation

• Reduced manual intervention and configuration errors

The result is a more resilient, secure, and consistent power infrastructure that supports high-availability operations.

Software-Defined MV pilot programs are planned through 2027, with broader availability expected in 2028.

The architecture is designed to scale across Schneider Electric's medium-voltage portfolio, including primary and secondary switchgear platforms such as:

• PremSet™

• AirSeT™

Software-defined MV is intended to support multiple voltage ratings and both IEC and ANSI/IEEE applications, providing a consistent digital foundation across sites and regions.

The current Software-defined MV communications showcase:

• PremSet™ SD

• SM AirSeT™ SD

• RM AirSeT™ 38 SD

• GM AirSeT™ SD

Organizations interested in the technology can register here to receive product, availability, and launch updates.

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Software-Defined Medium Voltage equipment delivers measurable benefits across the project lifecycle, including:

Up to 3× faster ordering and manufacturing

Standardized hardware platforms and software-configurable architectures help reduce the time from quotation to Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT).

Up to 2× faster commissioning and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT)

Digital commissioning, automated testing, and pre-validated configurations help reduce onsite work and commissioning complexity.

These results are based on Schneider Electric studies and estimations, provided for informational purposes only. They do not constitute contractual commitments.