Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management, recently announced that it had won the bid from Baidu to build an M1 containerised (prefabricated) data centre with Schneider Electric’s prefabricated data centre solutions. As Baidu’s first prefabricated data centre project, the eco-friendly data centre will feature fast deployment, low input and high capability operation from standardised to modular to prefabricated data centre in the age of cloud computing and big data. This project not only meets the needs of Baidu’s rapidly expanding business, but also sets an example for the future of China’s data centre construction.
As the largest Chinese search engine and Chinese website worldwide, Baidu process billions of search and analysis requests from network users across the world every day. It is thus necessary to have an integrated, comprehensive data centre in order to satisfy the demand and to ensure rapid response and efficient operation while reducing the costs. The Baidu M1 data center will fill this much needed data management role as the main production data centre, moving towards a “green Baidu.” After rigorous testing, Schneider Electric won the bid.
Tailored to Baidu’s specifications, Schneider Electric has designed and manufactured two prefabricated modules of the M1 Data Centre with energy saving, performance enhancing solutions such as In-Row air conditioning, and integrated DCIM software as well as IT cabinets, UPS, cable management, and fire suppression and access security. Each unit is delivered as a complete solution with the IT infrastructure preinstalled in the modules and ready for quick deployment. The modules are constructed with insulated wall panels that are weather proof highly secure, and designed for any environment. Schneider Electric’s prefabricated data centres are integrated with a comprehensive data management solution and it reflects the superiority of Schneider Electric’s entire product portfolio. The solutions are space and energy efficient without sacrificing any functionality or performance. Furthermore, this data centre can readily adapt to changing customer requirements, by quickly and flexibly re-deploying, expanding, and shifting to new tasks.
“The construction of this data centre is essential to transitioning to meet consumer trends,” said Dr. Chenhong Huang, senior vice president, Schneider Electric. “The need for speed, cost control and performance in data management is ever growing. Schneider Electric’s prefabricated data centre solution is the data centre in the future. Today’s successful bid is a vote of confidence in Schneider Electric’s development in the field of data management. As a reliable partner, Schneider Electric closely pays attention to the demand of the market and the customer, aiming to spread the concept of prefabricated data centre solutions and popularise its conveniences such as its mobility, simple, flexible structure and fast deployment, and cost minimisation.”
This contract is the latest in a growing partnership between Baidu and Schneider Electric as the company has previously provided IT cabinets and UPS for Baidu’s Yangquan data centre and also been a tailored cabinet vendor for Baidu’s “Scorpio Plan”. Moving forward, both Baidu and Schneider Electric will further explore possibilities for future cooperation in data centres, and continuously innovate to reach the future of data centres in the age of cloud computing and big data.
