As AI data centres consume more power, could microsecond-scale circuit protection become essential? Infineon and Siemens are betting on silicon carbide technology.
German tech companies Infineon Technologies and Siemens have announced a collaboration to develop advanced electrical protection systems for data centres, manufacturing facilities and battery energy storage installations, as demand grows for more reliable power infrastructure in increasingly electrified environments.
Under the agreement, Infineon will supply silicon carbide (SiC) power modules for integration into Siemens’ SENTRON 3QD2 semiconductor circuit breakers. The companies said the technology is intended to improve efficiency, power density and operational reliability in applications where uninterrupted power is critical.
The partnership comes as AI-driven data centres and industrial facilities place greater demands on electrical networks. Semiconductor circuit breakers, also known as solid-state circuit breakers, are designed to protect equipment from overloads and short circuits using semiconductor devices rather than mechanical switching mechanisms.
According to the companies, the SENTRON 3QD2 can interrupt electrical faults within microseconds, making it up to 1000 times faster than conventional electromechanical circuit breakers that typically operate on a millisecond timescale.
Faster fault isolation can help reduce the risk of equipment damage, data loss and operational downtime in power-sensitive environments.
A key element of the system is Infineon’s 1200V 62 mm CoolSiC MOSFET module, which is being incorporated into Siemens’ protection architecture. The companies said the combination supports the growing deployment of direct current (DC) power systems, which are increasingly being explored for data centres, industrial facilities and energy storage projects due to potential efficiency gains.
Meanwhile, the announcement highlights the expanding role of wide-bandgap semiconductors such as SiC in power electronics. As AI infrastructure, industrial automation and battery storage systems continue to grow, demand for advanced semiconductor-based power management and protection technologies is expected to increase.
The Siemens SENTRON 3QD2 semiconductor circuit breaker is being demonstrated at the PCIM Europe 2026 exhibition in Nuremberg, Germany, taking place from 9 to 11 June 2026.
