·Gilles Vermot Desroches, Chief Sustainability Officer, shares the conclusions of the study “How regulatory, Financial and Technology drivers can grow microgrid-driven Access to Energy”
·India, Brazil, Guinea Equatorial and Myanmar are among the countries which benefited of Schneider Electric’s Access to Energy program
New Delhi, May 16, 2018– Schneider Electric, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, recently participated in the Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) Forum in Lisbon. Under the theme “Leaving No One Behind”, around 750 high-level representatives from government, business, civil society and international organisations came together to discuss to the agenda of closing the energy gaps we have nowadays, especially for people at the base of the pyramid.
The Forum agenda focused on sharing the latest evidence of progress on SDG7 and scalable innovations in providing energy efficiency around the world. Gilles Vermot Desroches, Chief Sustainability Officer of Schneider Electric and General Delegate of Schneider Electric Foundation, participated in a Panel Discussion about the innovations in operations, technology and business models that are required to meet increasing demand for electricity and ensure a successful transformation of today’s utilities. “We believe Access to Energy is a basic human right, and it must be addressed through a multi-stakeholder approach. As such Schneider Electric contributes with technical solutions, but also with a social approach that combines Vocational training, Entrepreneurship and Impact investing”, said Vermot Desroches speaking on the Access to Energy program of the company.
Coinciding with the celebration of the SEforALL Forum, Schneider Electric also published a detailed report that analyzes how the progress in three key areas – government regulation, financing and technology- has opened the doors to accelerated rural electrification.
Since 2009 working to provide access to a reliable and sustainable energy for all
Schneider Electric is a pioneer in the industry to combine technology, social investment and vocational training to build long-term affordable solutions to communities deprived of energy access. Since 2009, 20+ million people have benefited from its Access to Energy offer and the company already trained 148,145 people and supported more than 1,000 entrepreneurs in the energy sector with the aim of helping local communities acquire the key skills they need to sustainably develop access to energy. By 2025, Schneider Electric commits to facilitate access to energy to 50 million underprivileged people using their low carbon solutions, to train 1,000,000 underprivileged people in energy management, and to support 10,000 entrepreneurs in underprivileged countries.
In India, Schneider Electric has provided Access to Electricity to 700,000 households, benefitting nearly 3.5 Million people. With a bold commitment of making New India Energy positive, Schneider Electric India is all set to further strengthen is initiatives with bigger and better collaborations and contributions.
Some other key references of its Access to Energy program include:
- In Myanmar, Schneider Electric helps the Kenti Island village with a 63kW Micro Grid with solar panels, battery banks, chargers and inverters switchgears. Thanks to this installation, the entire village now benefits from a 24/7 safe and reliable electricity almost half the price they paid for their energy prior to the arrival of the microgrid.
- In Brazil more than 30.000 people have been trained, specially fostering the inclusion of women in energy professions. Jeane Araújo, one of the students who attended the course on basics in electricity, thanks to the program is going to start working as an electrician in her city, Serrolândia, in hinterland of Brazil: “Now I’m engaged and looking forward to start working in my area. I wish to do installation and maintenance services in the electric segment”, says Araújo.
- In 2017, Schneider Electric signed an agreement of 3 years with the NGO Ajuda Desenvolvimiento Povo para Povo (ADPP) to support training at the Technical School of Bissora, in Guinea. During 2018, more than 20 people will be introduced to basic training in electricity and solar energy on the training of trainers with the objective to develop know-how acquisition and ensure long-term operation of training programs.
A committed partnership with a shared vision of energy efficiency
At the beginning of the year, Schneider Electric signed a four-year partnership with Sustainable Energy for All with the aim to contribute to accelerate progress towards the United Nation’s sustainable Development Goal 7 on Energy.
Through this partnership, Schneider Electric is joining forces with companies such as Enel, Iberdrola and Philips Lighting, as well as organizations including the United Nations Foundation and the Global Off-Grid Lighting Association (GOGLA). As a partner, Schneider Electric commits to helping develop and effectively implement four programs: “Building Efficiency Accelerator”, “Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator”, “People-Centered Accelerator” and the upcoming “Electrification Accelerator”, ensuring that the right resources are available.
