Schneider Electric: Advancing Innovation in Power and Energy Management

/ News & Interviews / Friday, 04 November 2022 13:57

Driving its mission for sustainability and efficiency in energy and resources, Schneider Electric, the global leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, and Arab Development Establishment (ARDECO), leading UAE business enterprise, signed a strategic agreement to manufacture the latest power and energy technology solutions in the UAE during ADIPEC 2022. Schneider Electric will be manufacturing a range of highly advanced energy automation solutions and integrated power solutions, including production switchgear and control panel integrations, as well as energy automation design and engineering. 

Energy review caught up with Ahmed Khashan, president of Gulf countries at Schneider Electric, who shed more light on his company’s efforts to drive  innovation and sustainable energy solutions in the region.

Please tell us about Schneider Electric’s latest power and energy technology solutions for UAE. How does it complement with UAE's 2050 energy strategy?

In a bid to continue to boost innovation and the drive for sustainable energy solutions locally and globally, we have joined forces with UAE-based leading business enterprise Arab Development Establishment (ARDECO) to introduce advanced power and energy management solutions for the Energies & Chemicals and Utilities sectors in the UAE. This landmark move showcases our commitment to the transformation of the nation’s industrial sector and the diversification of the UAE’s economy.

We are working relentlessly to direct our efforts and initiatives in line with the UAE Energy Strategy 2050. As the first unified strategy in the country, this strategy aims to increase the contribution of clean energy in the total energy mix from 25 per cent to 50 per cent by 2050 and reduce carbon footprint of power generation by 70 percent, thus saving AED 700 billion by 2050.

Schneider Electric has also recently been awarded for the ‘Best Use of Renewable Energy’ at the Gulf Sustainability Awards 2022 for our solar-powered Smart Regional Distribution Center located in the UAE. The solar roof-top grid is estimated to generate 2,088 MWh in the first year thanks to the 2,000 solar panels installed on the site’s rooftop and offset nearly 1,500 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. The solution includes 16 Schneider Electric solar inverters to convert the variable direct current output of the photovoltaic solar panels into alternating current that can be used by the Smart Regional Distribution Centre’s grid.

Located in Jebal Ali, Schneider Electric’s Smart Regional Distribution Center is well on its way to becoming one of the most sustainable distribution hubs in the country. This is thanks to the implementation of key ‘Circular Economy initiatives such as being designated a ‘Zero-plastic’ site, electric-operated forklifts and, most importantly, because of its advanced solar rooftop solution that covers up to ninety percent of the site’s energy needs. The center also features a dedicated Customer Experience Zone, designed to showcase customers and partners live demos of Schneider Electric’s state-of-the-art IoT-enabled EcoStruxure solutions, which is designed to help businesses effectively monitor and reduce their energy usage, covering all industries from Food and Beverage to Energies and Chemicals.

What are Schneider Electric’s key services and solutions that are helping industries achieve net-zero targets in UAE and wider MENA?

Sustainability is at the core of Schneider’s purpose and mission. Our mission is to empower organisations regionally, locally and internationally to embrace clean, renewable solutions across their operations. We are infusing a culture of sustainability across the ecosystem we operate in.

Earlier this year, we partnered with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology to enhance sustainability across the UAE’s manufacturing sector. The partnership includes on-site sustainability assessments of 50 manufacturers carried out by Schneider Electric consultants, a series of online seminars on digital transformation and energy efficiency and an internship programme to train 50 Emiratis.

The partnership between the ministry and Schneider Electric will support the objectives of the UAE Industry 4.0 programme to raise industrial productivity by 30 per cent and add about Dh25 billion ($6.8bn) to the national economy over the next decade. The collaboration also aims to build on the UAE’s net-zero commitments in areas related to sustainability.

Last year, Schneider Electric launched a new range of decarbonization and sustainability consulting services for companies based in Gulf and Saudi Arabia. These services include the identification of energy efficiency savings, carbon offset programs, offsite renewable energy sourcing, electric mobility advising, and supply chain optimization and will provide organizations in the region with a comprehensive range of sustainability services that will ensure they are on track to reduce their environmental footprint, reduce resource costs, and focus on achieving a pathway to net zero carbon dioxide emissions throughout their operations.

We are excited to be an integral part of an on-going conversation to create a digital path for a sustainable future with our leading-edge technologies and solutions, designed with energy efficiency, operational efficiency and sustainability in mind.  

How is Schneider Electric incorporating emerging technologies in their service offerings to drive growth for industries?

As we embrace an increasingly digitized and decarbonized environment, it is important to note that emerging technologies are fueling the pace of transformation across all industries. As stakeholders reevaluate their cost and expense models in a volatile environment, those who learn to master the nuances of the new relationship between data, technology, analysis, cost savings and profitability will be the winners.

We leverage advanced, digital technologies, such as our IoT-enabled EcoStruxure platform, to empower our customers in Energies and Chemicals and other energy-intensive segments. By doing so, we help our customers to improve CapEx by 20-30% for energy and process solutions scope and help them to achieve 100% decarbonization of operations.

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