Traditionally, Schneider has been well recognised
as a world leader in the switchgear and automation
business. In recent years, it has also developed an
enhanced offer, including a comprehensive line up of
critical power and cooling products and equipment
for data centre solutions, as well as a complete offer
for security and building automation.
“For instance, we have an energy management
architecture entitled EcoStruxure, which enables
comprehensive management of complex building
environments all on a single IP platform. This
enables our clients to save 30% on energy bills, which
obviously represents a very significant reduction in
both energy consumption and financial outlay”.
As Jim Rice outlines, “Being the energy management
specialist brings with it an extensive portfolio of
metering, monitoring, software and service solutions
to enable end users to manage their energy more
effectively”.
Such dramatic inroads in the area of energy efficiency
certainly add to Schneider’s cleantech credentials.
One cleantech area in which the company is very
interested is the Smart Grid.
“We are now seeing the convergence of power
and information, culminating in a new level of
sophistication in our ability to monitor and control
our energy usage”, explains Rice.
“Managing the evolution and integration of new
technologies, and giving the customer real-time
information about their energy usage, means that
they have more visibility, and hence enables them to
make more informed choices regarding that usage”.
This pedigree serves Schneider well to position itself
in the cleantech space, particularly with regard to
energy efficiency.
“I see the Smart Grid as a fairly loose concept”,
asserts Rice, “as it necessarily has implications
throughout every point along the energy distribution
network from supply to demand side management.
We are very much in that space. I see this growing
over time as the technology develops and integration
becomes commonplace. We have significant offers
and solutions for the Smart Grid. We are highly
specialised and expert in making energy reliable,
efficient and green”.
“Schneider Electric is leading through innovation
with groundbreaking projects such as the strategic
partnership with the world’s first zero carbon city
- Masdar City in Abu Dhabi where Schneider will
provide energy efficient solutions for data centres
and renewable energy solutions for the entire 6km sq
development.
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