Schneider Electric: Cooling Solutions for Data Centres
Published on : Tuesday 09-04-2024
Schneider Electric inaugurated a new cooling factory in Bengaluru to bolster the efficiency and sustainability of the Data Centre ecosystem in India.
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Deepak Sharma at the inauguration.
Schneider Electric recently inaugurated a new cooling factory in Bengaluru. The company, a global leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, is also a major player in the data centre sector. This factory, spread over an area of 6.5 acres and built with an investment of Rs 100 crore (~10 Mn Euro), will focus on developing innovative cooling solutions to meet the growing exponential demand for data centre ecosystem in the country.
The new factory is equipped with cutting-edge technology and specialises in manufacturing cooling products and solutions that are tailored for data centres, telecom, commercial, and industrial applications, both in domestic and international markets. According to the company, 85% of the products manufactured in this factory will be exported, and apart from the Data Centre segment, would cater significantly to the Buildings, Industry, and Infrastructure segments as well.
The primary focus of the factory will be on producing the following products:
· Latest generation in row cooling systems: These systems provide targeted cooling directly at the heat source, maximising server performance while minimising energy consumption.
· High-efficiency chillers: These chillers offer reliable and efficient cooling for data centers of all sizes.
· Primary Air Handling Unit (PAHU), Precision Air Conditioning (PAC), FANWALL systems: These are installed in data center halls to provide a more cost- and energy-efficient method of bringing in cool outdoor air. In addition to increased efficiency, FANWALL systems offer maximum flexibility, optimised airflow, and minimised turbulence.
Fully owned by Schneider Electric, this factory will play a crucial role in the company’s global supply chain. It also showcases the company’s unwavering commitment to providing advanced solutions and products that are highly efficient and sustainable.
Speaking during the inauguration, Pankaj Sharma, EVP, Secure Power Division & Data Center Business, Schneider Electric, said, “The data centre industry is currently facing numerous challenges, and one of the significant issues is energy volatility. With the exponential growth of Artificial Intelligence, the demand for data processing is increasing rapidly, leading to an increased demand for cooling solutions. To cater to this growing need, our factory is equipped to manufacture efficient cooling solutions that not only address the cooling requirements of high-density computing environments but also contribute to building resilient and sustainable data center infrastructure. Our local manufacturing capabilities position us well to support data centre operators in India and globally in achieving optimal cooling performance, energy efficiency, and environmental sustainability."
Deepak Sharma, Zone President Greater India, MD & CEO of Schneider Electric India Pvt Ltd, said, “Today marks a momentous occasion for Schneider Electric in India. The new manufacturing facility embodies our commitment to the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat. It underlines our technological advancement, standing as a beacon of innovation and progress, poised to meet the demands of the data center industry. India is a crucial market for us, we are set to invest Rs 3,200 crore by 2026 to expand our presence in the country. This factory, a part of that commitment, will go beyond manufacturing, creating job opportunities in the state of Karnataka and fostering the growth of the local economy.”
Sachin Bhalla, VP, Schneider Electric Secure Power Division, India and SAARC, said, “The data centre industry in India is experiencing unprecedented growth, driven by the increase in cloud computing, AI, and other data-driven applications. The Indian government actively promotes domestic production through the Make in India initiative, further contributing to this growth. As a result, India is becoming a hub for data centres. This has inspired us to open a new facility, which reinforces Schneider Electric's commitment to fostering India's data centre ecosystem while also addressing global demand.”
India – a manufacturing hub
India, where it has been present for over 60 years, is an important market and manufacturing base for Schneider Electric. According to Deepak Sharma, the group with global operations has around 150,000 employees around the world out of which almost 37,000 are based in India. “It shows the commitment of the group and how India is important, how much India is important. We have 30 factories in the country, and all these factories are global factories. So we produce in India for India, but we also produce in India for the global market. We export from these 30 factories to every part of the world,” he said. Referring to the Schneider Electric operations in India, Sharma mentioned that the largest chunk of its people are based at Bengaluru where the biggest innovation centre, development centre and engineering centre are located. Almost 6000 are engaged in R&D for its global operations.
“We serve customers through our L&T Electrical & Automation business unit, our Luminous brand and our Aveva industrial software portfolio, besides a few more brands. Our offers are very much customised for our markets. As India is working towards becoming a seven trillion economy, the energy demand is moving from 450 GW to 900 GW, we need to do it sensibly. The cleanest vector is electricity. And when you use electricity, you need to digitise. We are very poised to see all the growth coming into the data centre segment, the processing of data going from 4G to 5G to artificial intelligence – everything needs more data centres. So it's all linked to the growth of the country,” said Deepak Sharma.
Schneider Electric collaborates with NVIDIA on designs for AI data centres
At the recent NVIDIA GTC 2024 event in the US, Schneider Electric announced collaboration with NVIDIA to optimise data centre infrastructure and pave the way for groundbreaking 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 center 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," said Pankaj Sharma. "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."
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