Infineon Technologies and Siemens have announced a partnership aimed at making power protection smarter and faster for data centers, industrial facilities, and battery storage systems.
At the heart of this collaboration is Siemens' SENTRON 3QD2, a next-generation circuit breaker that uses semiconductor components instead of the traditional mechanical parts found in conventional breakers. The key upgrade here is Infineon's silicon carbide (SiC) power module, which gets built into the Siemens device to boost its speed, compactness, and overall reliability.
Traditional circuit breakers work by physically moving parts to cut off current when something goes wrong, a process that takes milliseconds. The SENTRON 3QD2 handles this electronically, reacting in microseconds roughly 1,000 times faster. In environments like AI data centers or automated factories, where a fraction of a second of electrical disruption can mean hardware damage, data loss, or costly downtime, that speed difference is significant.
The solution is specifically designed for direct current (DC) grids, which are becoming increasingly common in modern infrastructure. DC systems are more energy-efficient, reduce material usage, and support battery integration for peak power management all of which contribute to lower carbon footprints.
Infineon's contribution is its 62mm CoolSiC MOSFET module, rated at 1,200V. Silicon carbide as a material outperforms standard silicon in high-power, high-temperature conditions, enabling the compact yet powerful design needed for this application.
As electrification intensifies across industries particularly with the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure the demand for protection systems that are both faster and more efficient is growing. This partnership positions both companies at the intersection of that demand.
A live demonstration of the technology is to be showcased at PCIM Europe 2026 in Nuremberg, June 9–11, at Infineon's booth (Hall 7, Booth 470).
