800 VDC transforms data center cooling and power infrastructure

Schneider Electric blog authors Stuart Sheehan & Tuan Hoang explain implications of 800 VDC adoption for data center cooling and infrastructure.

• Main announcement/action: The article outlines that 800 VDC is emerging as the new rack power standard to support racks approaching 400 kW and beyond, recommending initial deployment via 800 VDC power racks (sidecars) and noting that first deployments are likely air-cooled but will increase heat rejected to facility loops (e.g., sidecars can reject over 20 kW to the air). It frames this as an industry trend and technical guidance rather than a single corporate product launch.
• Background and details: The piece explains how existing liquid cooling and hybrid architectures already prepare operators for higher densities, describes facility-level options (centralized 800 VDC, MV→800 VDC via SST or TRU), and covers power-to-cooling implications such as increased TCS loop heat, potential liquid cooling for power infrastructure, and maintaining AC-powered mechanical equipment using dedicated inverters or 800 VDC-compatible CRAHs/CDUs. Publication date: April 15, 2026.