Schneider Electric Unveils Comprehensive Liquid Cooling Solutions for AI Environments

Schneider Electric Introduces a New Era in Liquid Cooling Solutions

Schneider Electric, a leader in energy management and automation, recently announced its comprehensive liquid cooling portfolio designed specifically for high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) environments. This innovative lineup, revealed on September 29 in Rueil-Malmaison, France, represents the first full range of liquid cooling products since Schneider Electric's acquisition of Motivair in early 2025.

Importance of Liquid Cooling in Modern Data Centers

As demand for data processing increases, modern data centers face significant challenges related to cooling, especially with the rising power consumption of GPUs and the heat generated by increasingly dense computing workloads. In fact, cooling can account for up to 40% of a data center's energy consumption. Direct liquid cooling (DLC) proves to be drastically more effective than air cooling, providing thermal management up to 3,000 times more efficient by capturing heat at the chip level.

Given the necessity for effective cooling solutions, Schneider Electric and Motivair have combined their extensive experience to develop a robust portfolio addressing the demands of high-density data centers. The newly introduced line features products such as Cooling Distribution Units (CDUs), ChilledDoor® rear door air conditioning units, HDU™ (Liquid to Air CDU), dynamic cold plates, chillers, and technology cooling system (TCS) loops, all integrated with Schneider Electric's AI-capable infrastructure solutions.

Key Components of the New Liquid Cooling Portfolio

1. Cooling Distribution Units (CDUs): Schneider's CDUs have been designed in collaboration with top-tier silicon manufacturers to accommodate the next-generation processors and accelerators. Covering ranges from 105 kW to 2.5 MW, Motivair's CDU technology is already implemented in six of the top ten supercomputers globally, ensuring future scalability for increased rack density.

2. ChilledDoor® Rear Door Air Conditioning Units: These units provide cooling for racks consuming up to 75 kW, perfectly catering to the demands of high-power GPUs. Their flexible design allows them to fit into varied HPC environments.

3. HDU™ (Liquid to Air CDU): Ideal for AI accelerators and colocated facilities, the HDU offers impressive cooling capabilities within a minimal installation footprint, delivering over 100 kW of cooling performance. It is specifically designed to work seamlessly with NVIDIA’s NVL72 computing architecture.

4. Chillers and Technology Cooling System (TCS) Loops: The air-cooled chillers from Motivair and Schneider Electric are optimized to reduce annual water usage while achieving performance levels up to 20% higher than competing solutions. This significantly benefits data center operational efficiency.

5. Software Solutions: Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure software suite, backed by over 50 years of expertise, is primed to handle the challenges of air and liquid cooling, ensuring optimal thermal management and operational performance in mission-critical environments.

6. Services: Motivair boasts over a decade of experience in deploying and maintaining cooling systems, further supported by a global network of over 600 technicians trained to deliver world-class service.

Global Manufacturing and Expertise Boost

Schneider Electric's new liquid cooling lineup not only signifies a leap in technology but also ensures reliability through global manufacturing capabilities and rigorous testing processes. Recently, Motivair expanded its production facility in Buffalo, New York, alongside enhancements to manufacturing capabilities in Italy and India, tripling production volumes and expediting lead times for customers.

Furthermore, all liquid cooling models undergo stringent performance evaluations simulating real thermal loads to validate both thermal and mechanical performance prior to market release, ensuring that deployed solutions meet critical operational needs.

In response to these innovative advancements, Andrew Bradner, Senior Vice President of Cooling Business at Schneider Electric, remarked, “AI is the next technological revolution, and liquid cooling is undeniably a strategically essential component for data centers and AI factories. Together with Motivair, we are paving the way for outstanding accelerated computing capabilities backed by an unparalleled liquid cooling portfolio.”

Conclusion

Schneider Electric's introduction of these new liquid cooling solutions marks a significant step forward in meeting the evolving needs of AI-driven data centers. By combining advanced engineering with a strong service network, Schneider Electric is positioned to simplify and enhance the complexities involved in modern data center operations, offering robust support to clients as they navigate the AI landscape.

For more information regarding the new portfolio and its capabilities, explore the associated resources on Schneider Electric’s official website.

Schneider Electric remains committed to empowering all individuals and organizations globally to manage energy and resources efficiently, ensuring sustainability and progress together, marked by their motto, Life Is On.