Schneider Electric: Driving Industrial Digital Transformation with Innovation and Building a Sustainable Future Ecosystem

Under the dual drive of Industry 4.0 and the "dual carbon" goals, Schneider Electric, a global leader in energy management and automation, continues to lead industrial transformation through technological innovation and ecological collaboration. Since the beginning of 2025, Schneider Electric has demonstrated strong momentum across three dimensions—grid digitization, industrial automation, and sustainability—empowering global industrial upgrading with innovative solutions.

Grid Digitization Leads the World, AI Empowers Energy Transition

Schneider Electric recently topped the 2025 Grid Digitalization Technology Competitiveness Ranking released by ABI Research, with its modular solutions built on the EcoStruxure architecture receiving high recognition. This platform integrates core modules such as the ADMS (Advanced Distribution Management System) and DERMS (Distributed Energy Resource Management System), leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance grid resilience, efficiency, and sustainability comprehensively. Notably, Schneider Electric's recently launched integrated digital grid platform has reduced engineering and maintenance costs, accelerating energy transition for global customers.

At the upcoming "Co-Create, Co-Win, Co-Exist" 2025 Innovation Summit on May 29, Schneider Electric will unite industry, academia, and research sectors to discuss the development path of "future grids." The summit's dedicated grid industry session will showcase cutting-edge technologies like virtual substations and energy trading flexibility optimization, providing practical examples for building new power systems.

Industrial Automation Accelerates Openness, Software-Hardware Integration Reshapes Productivity

In response to the global demand for intelligent manufacturing upgrades, Schneider Electric is driving industrial control system innovation with "software-defined automation" at its core. The official release of the EcoStruxure Open Automation Platform V24.1 enables cross-platform "plug-and-produce" applications through IEC 61499 standards, already deployed in over 30 sectors including municipal water, logistics, and automotive. For instance, a waterworks expansion project in Shenzhen achieved centralized management of 44 filter programs through modular packaging technology, significantly improving engineering efficiency.

In hardware innovation, Schneider Electric has launched the "Golden Quartet" series for machine motion control, including the Altivar 305 general-purpose inverter and Harmony ET5 HMI. Among these, the Modicon Edge I/O NTS distributed system deeply integrates the OPC UA over TSN protocol, boosting data transmission efficiency and providing hardware support for open automation ecosystems.

At the 2025 Hannover Messe, Schneider Electric's "Circular Manufacturing Park" exhibit drew attention by empowering the entire dairy industry value chain with digital intelligence technologies, enhancing carbon cycle efficiency and demonstrating green transformation for the food and beverage sector.

Sustainability Achievements Shine, Ecosystem Enables Full-Value-Chain Carbon Reduction

As a sustainability practitioner, Schneider Electric announced that its "Sustainability Impact Index (SSI)" reached 7.95 points in the first quarter of 2025, with sustainable revenue accounting for 74% of its total. It has helped global customers reduce carbon emissions by 697 million tons. Through its "Zero Carbon Project," Schneider Electric has driven an average 42% carbon reduction among its top 1,000 suppliers and implemented multiple benchmark projects in the Chinese market.

In resource efficiency, Schneider Electric increased the proportion of green materials in its products to 40%, with 80% of packaging materials using recycled cardboard. Its Wuxi plant was recognized as a World Economic Forum "Sustainability Lighthouse Factory," achieving carbon reduction at the production end through eco-design. Additionally, Schneider Electric has provided energy management training to over 928,000 people globally, empowering communities to address future energy challenges.

Deepening Engagement in China, Co-Creating New Quality Productivity

Facing opportunities in China's digital and green manufacturing transformation, Frederic Abbal, Global Senior Vice President of Schneider Electric, stated that China's innovative vitality and policy guidance offer vast potential for cooperation. Currently, Schneider Electric operates 30 factories and five R&D centers in China, with a localized system covering AI innovation labs.

In the Shanghai Jiading Renewable Energy Project, Schneider Electric's intelligent solutions enabled "light-touch operation" of the plant, reducing alarms by over 90% and demonstrating the profound productivity gains from digital transformation. Abbal emphasized that Schneider Electric will continue to increase investment in China, leveraging software-defined automation and AI-empowered green technologies to propel Chinese industries toward a "high-tech, high-efficiency, high-quality" development phase.

Future Outlook: Open Ecosystem Drives Industrial Symbiosis

With membership in the Open Automation International Organization exceeding 100, Schneider Electric is collaborating with global partners to build an innovation ecosystem centered on "technology sharing and mutual value creation." Through partnerships with enterprises like Beijing Huarui and Shenzhen Today International Logistics, Schneider Electric continues to expand the application scenarios of its EcoStruxure platform, advancing the synergy between Industry 4.0 and "dual carbon" goals.

From grid digitization to industrial automation, from carbon reduction practices to ecological collaboration, Schneider Electric is using technological innovation to draft a blueprint for sustainable development spanning energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure. In the new industrial revolution merging digitalization and green transition, this century-old enterprise is injecting certainty into global industrial transformation with "China speed" and "global expertise."