As CEO of Schneider Electric, I’m privileged with a rare, firsthand view over the huge acceleration of the new energy landscape – along with digital and AI technologies.
It’s unfolding in a multi-polar world, where regional dynamics vary wildly. But everywhere I go, the same truth appears: people, planet, and business all depend on energy. And we’re demanding more from it.
We’ve heard plenty about how energy powers the world. But it also powers progress. Energy is both the blood of modern life and a bulwark against its greatest threat: climate change.
This is why at Innovation Summit Copenhagen last month, we shared Schneider Electric’s vision for the future: being the world’s leading energy technology company. By converging electrification, automation, and digitalization, we unlock the full value of energy – creating efficiency and sustainability for all.
From background utility to strategic asset
Global power consumption is set to surge by 60% in the next 15 years as AI, automation, and connected devices transform our lives. The demand is climbing relentlessly; grid systems are groaning under pressure; and it’s all happening faster than anyone predicted.
Energy volatility is no longer a temporary problem. Price unpredictability and affordability concerns have become the new normal, changing how businesses plan, invest, and operate.
At the same time, electrification is accelerating across every sector. Homes are switching to heat pumps, transport is moving to electric vehicles, and industries are adopting electric processes. Each of these shifts brings us closer to the most efficient form of energy we have.
Renewables are also soaring. Solar and wind are now the fastest-growing energy sources worldwide. This is a promising change but also introduces new complexity: grids must evolve to manage intermittency, balance supply, and maintain reliability at scale.
We can’t just react to these changes – we must lead
Schneider Electric creates the technology that makes the new energy landscape possible. And it’s already working today in the places that matter most.
- Data centers. As AI and digital infrastructure scale rapidly, we’re enabling autonomous, energy-efficient data centers – from hyperscale to edge – through innovations like liquid cooling and software-defined power.
- Buildings and homes. These are evolving from passive consumers to active energy producers. Embedded AI, like in our SpaceLogic Room Controller, helps optimize HVAC systems and slash energy use – turning everyday spaces into intelligent assets.
- Grids and infrastructure. Systems must become more agile to handle volatility and renewables. Our IoT-enabled platforms and AI microgrid advisors help balance supply, reduce CO₂ intensity, and improve resilience.
- Industry. Manufacturing and process industries face constant disruption. Our software-defined automation lets them adapt in real time – helping operations stay efficient and resilient.
At Schneider Electric, this is our domain. Energy technology is a space we’ve been shaping for years. Now, we’re defining it, owning it, and scaling it.
Legacy in motion
For two centuries, Schneider has thrived by aligning to the needs of the time. With the energy landscape changing, we’re repositioning once more to stay ahead of the curve.
Innovation isn’t just our legacy but the engine driving our future. Last year, we filed over 1,400 patent applications – each reflecting our commitment to solving real-world problems with smarter, more sustainable solutions. Today, our technologies help power over a million buildings, support 40% of the world’s hospitals, and enable the infrastructure behind leading cloud providers. We’re also recognized as a global leader in medium and low voltage, as well as field devices and uninterrupted power supply.
In other words, a big chunk of the world’s homes and infrastructure already benefits from Schneider Electric’s real-time control, scalable software, and services. These transform how energy is produced, consumed, and optimized. No one else offers our breadth – from the power edge to the production line.
The scale of our impact and sustained innovation gives us a mandate to lead the future of energy technology.
Making the energy transition practical and achievable
Technology like our EcoStruxure platform plays a starring role connecting systems, data, and people through an open, intelligent IoT-enabled platform. This helps customers and partners make better decisions.
By enhancing connected products with edge control and advanced digital services, EcoStruxure strengthens safety, reliability, sustainability, and connectivity across sectors. It turns complexity into opportunity, driving progress at every level.
System of systems
But no single company can deliver the energy transition alone. With Ecostruxure as a digital foundation, we build ecosystems where technology, data, companies, and people work together.
We partner to spread innovation across delivery networks, technology alliances, and supply chains. Our partner ecosystem includes over one million professionals, from electricians to system integrators. Through SE Ventures, our $1B+ venture fund, we support entrepreneurs advancing sustainable innovation around the world, often in places where it’s needed most.
People and impact
We’re an Impact company. Sustainability surges through every corridor of Schneider Electric, from our operations to our supply chain. Our Net-Zero target is validated by the Science Based Targets initiative and, since 2017, we’ve reduced our Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 75%.
And we’re helping our suppliers and customers do the same, with programs like the Zero Carbon Project and Materialize. It’s how we drive decarbonization across our value chains and entire industries.
Purpose is one of our core values, adding force and meaning to our business performance. There’s a reason why we’ve been recognized as the most sustainable company in the world by TIME and Statista. Twice.
A call to action
The energy landscape is rising around us – lifted by new technologies and new opportunities. As a leader in energy technology, our company is evolving to meet the moment. It’s a commitment built on nearly two centuries of innovation and partnership.
Because the future isn’t something we wait for. Whether you’re a business leader, innovator, partner, or policymaker – let’s advance energy tech together. Partner with us. Innovate with us. Lead with us.
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