Schneider Electric, the world’s most sustainable company and leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, recently presented its Renewable Energy Solutions Innovation Talk at the Marriot Crystel Towers in Cape Town. 

Hosted by Gary Lawrence, the Global President for Power and Grid Segment of Schneider Electric, the event brought together key Schneider Electric stakeholders and partners in the power and grid sector, with a focus on accelerating South Africa’s journey towards a sustainable energy posture.

Opening the event, Devan Pillay, Cluster President of Schneider Electric, Anglophone Africa, highlighted Schneider Electric’s commitment to sustainability, noting that “75% of Schneider Electric’s portfolio directly supports sustainability goals.” 

With the rapid growth of data centres and a projected 100% of new energy demand coming from emerging markets, Pillay emphasised that Schneider Electric is aligned to meet this demand, driven by South Africa’s recent strides in renewable energy and energy security efforts.

“The country’s energy challenges have catalysed our move towards renewable energy, pushing for more substantial investment and quicker government action,” said Pillay. “We’re now in the slipstream and, subsequently, in a favourable position to advance energy security and sustainability in the country.”

The Renewable Energy Solutions Innovation Talk also highlighted South Africa’s rapid adoption of solar power, with privately-owned solar PV capacity now reaching 6.1 GW according the  Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies (CRSES). Dr Killian Hagemann, co-founder of G7 Renewable Energies and event guest speaker, noted the significant reduction in solar PV and battery costs, making rooftop solar an economically viable solution to drive down daytime and peak energy demand.

Eric Chaffard, Business Development Director for Renewable Energy at Schneider Electric, presented the major trends shaping the renewable energy landscape. "The energy transition relies on three pillars: Electrification, Renewable Generation and Flexibility across the three parts of the energy ecosystem: Supply, Grid, and Demand”. For renewable energy to scale, grid investments must triple by 2030, said Chaffard.  He also underscored the critical need for modernised infrastructure to support the growth of distributed energy resources (DERs).

Schneider Electric also emphasised key levers to reduce the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) which are: CAPEX and Time to Market Reduction, Increasing Operational Efficiency, and Generating New Revenues Stream. “By optimising operation and maintenance (O&M) costs which can represent up to 30% of the LCOE of a wind farm, renewable plants can achieve greater performance and efficiency,” explained Chaffard. 

In a discussion on medium voltage (MV) distribution, Schneider Electric highlighted its proactive response to environmental regulations. “As the world transitions to SF6-free technologies, we have introduced our latest innovations in MV switchgear; the AirSet Range which uses Pure Air insulation and is natively connected, for commercial, utility, and industrial sectors,” noted Chaffard. 

These new offerings align with global trends toward sustainable, SF6-free switchgear technology, supporting Schneider Electric’s commitment to grid modernisation and decarbonisation.