DCD - Schneider Electric Enterprise Trends
DCD - Schneider Electric Enterprise Trends
Enterprise
adoption trends
Examining AI adoption
and its impact on the
data center
Is your data
centre ready for
the growth of AI?
Power.
Cooling.
Capacity.
Growth in AI use impacts them all.
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Contents
4 Introduction
18 Industry trailblazers
27 Developing AI infrastructure:
Design considerations for critical
workloads
N
ever has there been The difference between AI previously unthinkable pace. But
so much speculation and the last great technology for all the hype, the reality is that
for the advancement wave – the Internet – is for AI to become more powerful,
and permeation of that the Internet was about corresponding computational
AI into everything we do – communicating. It connected power and network speed and
work, learn, play, travel and people – to information and capacity must be deployed.
even into the decarbonization to technology that leveraged
of our industries. As AI moves content. The AI wave is more However, I am seeing many
from science fiction to reality, about machines taking action – AI pundits claiming that the
a significant transformation creating, predicting, automating data center architecture needed
of systems and processes in and optimizing. is widespread and available.
all industries will occur in this Sorry to disappoint you but
latest, and potentially great, We are embarking on a step that simply is not the case.
technology wave. change in what’s possible at a For the step change to occur,
Once we have this renewable can be stored by data center Edge computing will see
power on the grid, most operators and not curtailed. a boost from the need for
data center operators will This renewable energy storage AI models close to the user
have to adjust to the reality can be used vs carbon- and data called Edge AI.
that renewable power has emitting generators. We’re currently experiencing
intermittent capacity related an increase in workflow
to when the wind is blowing Proliferation of Edge automation, where AI models
or the sun is shining. The computing and liquid at the Edge will work to
utilities will try to normalize cooling make existing systems and
this concern with grid storage processes more efficient for
batteries. Finally, we have the proliferation many industries – transport,
of Edge computing and liquid manufacturing and medical for
However, critical facilities cooling. I believe we’re now in example.
like data centers will need a time where real catalysts exist
electricity service levels that for both. For liquid cooling, Data centers are
are much more stable. To there will be servers with up the enablers for AI’s
satisfy this requirement, I to 16 GPUs, 2 CPUs and many promise
predict data center operators DPUs for AI applications. Server
will start adding multiple hours manufacturers are installing The promise of AI is well
of on-site energy storage. This input and output piping for documented and data center
onsite storage will benefit not liquid because these servers capacity is indeed the enabler
only in terms of resilience, but simply generate too much heat of that promise. Will data
also at times when there is a to be efficiently rejected by fans centers rise to meet the AI
surplus renewable supply that and air. challenge? I believe they will.
A
s of September 2024, about the implications of key driver. It is dramatically
our industry will have AI on our industry, in terms changing the entire IT
to comply with strict of how can we continue to landscape.”
and specific new EU ensure power availability for
energy-efficiency regulations, increasingly energy-hungry The speed in proliferation of
while simultaneously having data centers, while at the same AI adoption is quite staggering
to find new ways to cope time keeping the industry too. To give you an idea on
with an increase in energy on track with new energy- the scale of growth in AI, the
demands being driven by the AI efficiency targets. market is set to reach $407
revolution which is now in full billion by 2027 (approx. €382
swing. The game-changer that is billion), with expected annual
AI growth of 37.3 percent between
Kickstart: The networking now and 2030.
event that examines the A quick read of our recent White
digital landscape Paper 110 and you’ll see just Because data centers serve
how profoundly AI is disrupting as the critical infrastructure
It’s this conundrum that I’ve the way data centers have been supporting the AI ecosystem,
been reflecting on, even long traditionally designed, built, AI is completely reliant on
before I attended Kickstart and managed. As Andreas data centers. But the flip side
Europe 2024 in Amsterdam this Herden, senior vice-president to this is, data centers are now
February. At this year’s event, sales Germany & Continental relying on AI and data analytics
it was inevitable that AI would Europe for Green Mountain to help power themselves in a
be the hot topic dominating put it so succinctly at Kickstart, more effective way. And this
discussions, and I was intrigued “We have so many requests brings us neatly to the topic of
to hear from my fellow peers for AI deployments. AI is the sustainability.
to advanced cooling
H
igh-performance HPC deployments and provide Evaluating readiness for
computing (HPC) insights on how to overcome high-density computing
is advancing them.
multiple sectors, but As we set the table for the
integrating and operating these Vance Peterson, global future of data centers, it’s
technologies in data centers solutions architect at Schneider crucial to prepare every
presents significant challenges, Electric, brings over 20 years element carefully to support
requiring strategic and of experience in the mission- high-density computing
innovative solutions. This raises critical industry. At Schneider, workloads. This involves a
the question: What are the real- he collaborates with industry comprehensive assessment
world challenges in managing leaders to help customers of existing infrastructure,
advanced compute systems? address their most complex covering everything from
challenges, particularly as the utility service connections
June 2024 saw DCD team up data center sector is driven to the detailed components
with Schneider Electric, a global by digitization and the need within the data center, such
leader in energy management to enhance sustainability as electrical, mechanical, UPS,
and automation solutions, to while addressing capacity cooling, and power distribution
explore the complexities of constraints. systems.
requirements related to AI
and HPC implementations
- Power system upgrades: Install The ability to elevate accurately predict how best to
additional power feeds, busways, infrastructure management not only modify, but optimize
or upgraded PDUs to ensure from a previously reactive to their architectures going
reliable power delivery at higher proactive approach, means forward.
voltages and power densities that the value of real-time
architectural insights cannot be “The evolution and
- Energy efficiency measures: understated. widespread adoption of HPC
Utilize variable speed drives, will likely make advanced
hot/cold aisle containment, and As the old adage goes, you monitoring and management a
airflow optimization to enhance can’t manage what you don’t must-have rather than a nice-
overall efficiency and reduce monitor, and the unique – to-have. Electrification and
cooling loads and not to mention dense – decarbonization have increased
nature of HPC environments electrical demand, and this,
- Modular architecture: Deploy makes the implementation along with the increased
scalable, modular components of advanced monitoring demand driven by digitization,
that can be easily expanded an essential tool in the is really setting the table, if
to meet increasing power and effective maintenance and you will, for the new energy
cooling demands management of this complex landscape.”
infrastructure.
- Advanced monitoring and To find out more, check
management: Implement From power consumption out the full DCD>Broadcast
systems to continuously track to environmental constraints, over on the next page, or visit
power usage, temperatures, and by leveraging digital twin ‘Transitioning to AI ready
humidity, enabling proactive and other advanced metering data centers’ on the Schneider
maintenance and optimization. technologies, operators can website.
Overcoming the
complexities of
HPC deployments
with Vance Peterson,
Schneider Electric
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T
he advent of AI-based of AI applications in the Amidst this challenge lies a
solutions is fueling a enterprise. Low latency between solution, the intelligent Edge or
data-driven landscape applications at the Edge and Edge AI, forming a critical pillar
where the demand for the cloud results in slow of Industry 4.0 that is poised
faster processing has reached computations – this is a critical to revolutionize industrial
a tipping point, placing a challenge when use cases need automation and enhance real-
significant strain on traditional immediate action, e.g. safety use time, data-driven insights.
IT infrastructure. case inside an airport hangar.
Enterprises also face increased Edge computing and Edge
These devices – deployed costs from backhauling large AI
everywhere from factories amounts of data both from
to hospitals to smart cities – an infrastructure and cost- Edge computing, with its
capture real-time data at an per-gigabyte of storag. This localized processing power
unprecedented scale, while is especially true for the and storage, offers a practical
powering AI-based applications manufacturing and industrial approach to overcoming the
including intelligent sectors. limitations of cloud architecture.
machine vision, digital twins,
autonomous vehicles, and more.
And it’s not slowing down any
time soon. IDC estimates there
“With 70 percent of businesses actively adopting Edge
will be approximately 41.6 billion technologies, enterprises are recognizing the potential
IoT devices, generating up to to drive Industry 4.0 transformation while enhancing
79.4 zettabytes of data, by 2025. resiliency in their operations.”
It brings processing power and Businesses see the promise connectivity is a challenge for
storage closer to data sources of Edge and leverage IoT most in the manufacturing
on local devices, enabling and private 5G technologies vertical.
enhanced security. to drive efficiencies across
various sectors through Driving efficiencies
Edge AI – or smaller and automation. With 70 percent with private 5G and IoT
more lightweight, bespoke of businesses actively technologies
AI models deployed on Edge adopting Edge technologies,
devices – capitalizes on Edge enterprises are recognizing the The advantages of intelligent
computing capabilities by potential to drive Industry 4.0 Edge are powered by fast,
enabling these new specialized transformation while enhancing reliable, and secure connectivity
devices to process vast resiliency in their operations. solutions such as private 5G
amounts of data from multiple networks. These networks
devices and endpoints. This Organizations are already provide a robust and secure
allows them to all speak seeking out these Edge infrastructure for connecting
the same language which solutions, including leveraging IoT devices, ensuring seamless
enables ‘Actionable AI’ in the modular data centers on-site communication and data
given environment and thus to bring data management, transfer between Edge devices
faster, more autonomous processing, and collection to and central systems. These
decision-making. challenging and remote sites technologies support the
where reliable, high bandwidth much-anticipated revolution in
For instance, intelligent
machine vision systems in
manufacturing can analyze “Edge computing, with its localized processing power
and react to visual data on-site, and storage, offers a practical approach to overcoming
reducing the lag that would the limitations of cloud architecture.”
occur if data had to be sent
to and processed in the cloud Shahid Ahmed
from multiple devices across NTT Data
multiple systems.
- Enhanced security:
Centralized data storage identified as the top drivers data demands of the latest AI-
presents a single point of failure, behind Edge investment. powered innovations isn’t a one-
making it a prime target for person job. What’s clear is that AI
cyberattacks. Edge computing The compatibility challenge is driving the demand for Edge
allows for local data processing, technologies.
minimizing the attack surface Despite the benefits, the sheer
and reducing the potential for variety of devices, protocols, To meet this demand,
large-scale data breaches. and platforms in the IoT organizations will need to
landscape creates a significant collaborate internally between
- Actionable AI: Combining compatibility hurdle. Businesses IT and business teams, and
Edge computing with Edge AI are hesitant to invest in Edge externally with managed service
allows for faster data processing solutions that might not providers (MSPs) who can
and Actionable AI, improving integrate seamlessly with their help navigate legacy systems
performance in critical current infrastructure or future and protocols. Leveraging the
applications, where identifying deployments. knowledge of MSPs will be
and addressing equipment integral to finding the most
issues early can prevent costly However, to truly realize the efficient and effective ways for
downtime. promise of Edge computing an enterprise to deploy and
and Edge AI, enterprises need leverage Edge computing.
- Increased resiliency: Edge to modernize their networks.
computing systems often Reliable connections and low- By embracing the intelligent
operate with some degree of latency environments are Edge, businesses can unlock
autonomy, making them less essential for data movement a myriad of benefits from
susceptible to network outages and real-time data processing operational efficiency to real-
that can cripple centralized required by AI-based solutions. time Actionable AI – the
systems. perfect foundation for agile and
What’s clear is that the adaptable operations.
- Improved safety: Safety is promise of Edge will drive
critical to real-time applications companies to improve their As more enterprises look
at the Edge. Leveraging network infrastructure so that to adopt the latest Edge
these technologies unlocks they can take advantage of technologies, this foundation
new solutions to identify local, real-time compute and will be critical to ensuring
unauthorized users in unsafe solutions. In fact, almost 40 seamless data processing,
environments. percent of enterprises planning scalability, and the ability to
Edge deployments acknowledge adapt to evolving business goals,
Early adopters in sectors like a need to upgrade their network but this demands orchestration
manufacturing, transportation to support the expected spike across IT and business
and logistics, and healthcare, in connected devices and the functions.
are already reaping the rewards. demands of new applications.
They’re focusing on applications Keep in mind that going in
that improve employee safety, Building a successful, alone on the journey can prevent
customer experience, and actionable AI journey enterprises from realizing the
operational efficiency. While full potential of Edge. Embrace
motivations differ, real-time Successful Edge deployments collaboration, harness the power
data access, automation/AI, drive businesses to treat it of the intelligent Edge, and
operational efficiency, and IoT as an integral part of their watch Industry 4.0 aspirations
device management have been business strategy. Meeting the transform into reality.
NTT Data and Schneider Electric join AWS, Digital Realty, Google,
forces to drive AI innovation at the Meta, Microsoft & Schneider
Edge Electric call for supplier
action
NTT and Schneider Electric have unveiled a
first-of-a-kind co-innovation that empowers The governing body of the
enterprises to harness the power of Edge iMasons Climate Accord, a
computing. The strategic partnership program of Infrastructure
introduces a unique solution that seamlessly Masons, is calling on all
integrates Edge, private 5G, IoT, and modular suppliers serving data centers
data centers, providing unparalleled to support greater transparency
connectivity and supports the computational in Scope 3 emissions as part of
demands of generative AI applications broader efforts to reduce the
deployed at the Edge. industry’s carbon footprint.
Consisting of AWS, Digital
Realty, Google, Meta, Microsoft,
and Schneider Electric, the
governing body released an
open letter that explains the
importance of widespread
adoption of environmental
product declarations (EPDs),
which are standardized, third-
party-verified documents
reporting the embodied
emissions of a product.
Evolving
powertrain design
to better support
AI workloads
with Stuart Sheehan,
Schneider Electric
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T
he era of generative AI will require a plethora of more requests for capacity related
is well and truly upon energy-efficient data center to artificial intelligence (AI)
us. According to JLL, designs. requirements, with most of
it is among the top these expected to come from
three technologies expected to From an industry service providers and AI start-
have the biggest impact on real perspective, the numbers are ups, as opposed to members
estate, having reached record indeed staggering. Analysts at of the hyperscale and cloud
investments of up to $4bn in AI- TD Cowen have stated the AI communities.
powered property technologies wave has led to approximately
(PropTech) in 2022. 2.1GW of US data center Now, as AI descends into all
leases, while CBRE’s European aspects of technology products,
JLL’s 2024 report also found Real Estate Market Outlook services, and solutions, many
that AI energy demands – 2024 found that data center are asking if the data center
ranging from 300-500MW+ – providers will see an uptick in industry is truly ready to
A
here is no question today without addressing Aligned’s chief innovation and
that wholesale data sustainability initiatives. Cloud technology officer, to discuss
centers, like hyperscale and colocation providers are ways data center providers can
ones, are facing rising taking note of technological reduce carbon emissions while
capacity demand while trying advancements that enable them meeting growing capacity
to operate more sustainably. to measure and curtail carbon demand from wholesalers and
This balancing act has become emissions, water consumption, enterprise tenants.
even more challenging since AI and other environmental waste.
has taken center stage across Indeed, a holistic sustainability In our Innovation Talk,
all industries, requiring greater strategy is now inextricable from “Empowering wholesale
and greater computing power. the business strategy at large. colocation providers through
In fact, data centers output four carbon accounting and
percent of the world’s carbon One innovator forging circularity,” we explore what
emissions. the path ahead for the sustainable decision-making
colocation provider market for data centers means,
We all know that data is Aligned Data Centers. I focusing on the transformative
centers, considered “energy had the opportunity to meet power of carbon accounting
hogs” by some, cannot operate with Phill Lawson-Shanks, and circularity.
A pioneer in sustainable data heat, steam, or cooling), the real this challenge by using unique
center design and operations, challenge lies with accounting identifiers to tag and account
Aligned Data Centers, which for Scope 3 emissions. for every piece of equipment in
caters to wholesale and the data center throughout the
enterprise clients that need That’s because these are facility’s life cycle.
sustainable data center capacity, the embodied emissions in
delivers leading PUE, WUE, and all building materials, such as This embodied carbon
CUE metrics across six million concrete and steel, and the tracking system gives clearer
sqft and 1.3GW of power. manufactured equipment inside visibility of embodied carbon
a data center. across the data center – from
Here are three key takeaways steel trusses to construct the
from our conversation: Most cloud and colocation facility to electrical and cooling
providers struggle with a infrastructure sources to
1. Start with carbon accounting lack of reliable supplier data, equipment materials. Selecting
quantitative tools to measure and sourcing the right materials
We will say this time and time Scope 3 emissions, and a clear and equipment is imperative
again at Schneider: You can’t accounting and reporting from the beginning.
measure what you can’t see. methodology. As Phill points
Accurate carbon accounting out about the building and Additionally, scrutinizing
gives you the transparency you construction phase: other key embodied carbon
need for reporting throughout contributors to data center
the entire data center lifecycle. “The hardest thing to do operations is an essential step
This information is vital for is look at discrete items and in reporting and ultimately
enabling colocation providers to determine their embodied mitigating Scope 3 emissions.
communicate carbon emissions carbon footprint.”
across the supply chain. Tenants This “Recommended
who are working toward Accordingly, as operators inventory for data center
sustainability goals can leverage move toward renewable Scope 3 GHG emissions
this information and map it energy sources and efficient reporting,” is helpful for carbon
against their own sustainability technologies for operating the accounting and reporting.
KPIs. It also allows them to data centers, Scope 3 emissions
select one data center provider continue to be the largest source Aligned Data Centers takes its
over another. of data center GHGs. carbon reduction commitments
a step further by actively
While operators can more At Schneider, “We believe investigating non-concrete
readily identify and measure understanding and reporting and alternative materials in
Scope 1 emissions (those from on Scope 3 emissions is the its buildings and innovating
direct operations) and Scope next frontier for data center cooling solutions that cut down
2 emissions (those associated industry key performance GHG emissions even more
with the purchase of electricity, indicators (KPIs).” Aligned solves during operation.
Schneider Electric
Developing AI
infrastructure: Design
considerations for
critical workloads
with Rob Bunger,
Schneider Electric
CLICK
TO
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I
recently revisited the Unlike in Jaws, there is more They are grappling with
thriller, Jaws. The movie than one shark lurking under cyber threats and potential
was released 49 years ago the surface. attacks while trying to make
on June 20, 1975, and the sure firmware is up-to-date and
book 50 years ago. Like many For CIOs, multiple threats that they are following their
others I love this story – the are lurking company’s security policies.
water looks calm, but danger If that wasn’t enough, we
lurks under the surface as a We know CIOs need to argue, they will be increasingly
great white shark makes local improve how they manage questioned on the energy
waters its home, terrorizing a their sprawling, hybrid IT consumption of their IT
beach community. Characters infrastructure and understand infrastructure and may, if global
with different personalities the number of assets they have trends continue, need to report
approach the threat differently, on the network. They need their sustainability metrics.
leading to chaos. to maintain resiliency and
avoid outages that may disrupt Many CIOs are turning
I believe this is a great business continuity, resulting to DCIM (Data Center
analogy to how organizations in lost revenue and potential Infrastructure Management)
may have different reputation damage. software for answers. I believe
‘personalities’ in responding
to the ongoing threats to their
IT infrastructure. These threats “When it comes to the threats facing your IT
are like the shark in Jaws – you infrastructure, are you like Hooper, Quint, or Brody?”
know they are out there, you
generally can’t anticipate them, Kevin Brown
and when they attack, they Schneider Electric
may kill you.
How is AI currently
“Traditional data center power, cooling, and racks in the infiltrating people’s
IT space aren’t sufficient for AI training clusters with everyday lives? (i.e,
GPU-based servers that have extreme power capacity healthcare, education,
and rack density demands. With a single AI server manufacturing,
consuming 5.7kW in 1U, it’s feasible to reach densities entertainment etc.)
over 100kW.”
AI, and specifically generative
Steven Carlini AI, is reshaping our daily
Schneider Electric lives. Three segments we see
prioritizing AI opportunities
• Retrofit 1 demonstrates
Wendy Torrell
using air-cooled servers and a
density of 40kW per IT rack.
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