Sustainability lies at the heart of Schneider Electric’s mission. The company employs multifaceted strategies to promote a sustainable world. One key approach involves assisting customers in reducing energy consumption while maximizing the impact of the energy they use. As a trailblazer in the transition to a cleaner and more equitable industry, Schneider Electric’s significant contributions to carbon emissions reduction are publicly disclosed every quarter.
Variable Speed Drives and Carbon Emissions Reduction
Jean-Louis Guillou, VP Drives - Industrial Control & Drives, highlights the remarkable impact of Variable Speed Drive. Currently, 42% of the total avoided carbon emissions in the Schneider Electric carbon emission report can be attributed to Variable Speed Drives and the more efficient utilization of electrical motors—an achievement that Jean-Louis describes as “absolutely fantastic.”
Enhancing Motor Performance with Smart Drives
Jean-Louis Guillou observes that the trends in drives align with broader industry shifts. Intelligence is increasingly embedded in products, and with each new drive generation, processing power doubles — a deliberate effort to improve monitoring and control to further improve overall efficiency. To achieve optimal motor performance, continuous monitoring and adjustment are crucial. This necessitates smart automation equipment that can be intelligently controlled. In certain industries, up to 50% of total energy consumption is attributed to electrical motors. By employing smart drives to regulate these motors, energy consumption can be reduced by up to 20%, as explained by Jean-Louis Guillou.
A 20-Year Partnership
Schneider Electric and HMS Networks have maintained a strategic partnership for two decades. During this time, HMS Networks has been instrumental in developing network connectivity solutions for Schneider Electric’s popular variable speed drives, enabling seamless connectivity to industrial control networks. These networks span various protocols, including PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, Modbus TCP, and more. The collaboration between Schneider and HMS Networks has been essential in achieving a solution for supporting multiple industrial communication protocols.
HMS Networks plays a crucial role in advancing digitalization within the industry. Their communication interfaces support a wide range of industrial network protocols, enabling manufacturers of industrial equipment to seamlessly connect to any type of network without the burden of in-house development and maintenance. By partnering with HMS Networks, companies like Schneider Electric can offer their customers world-class and reliable network connectivity.
Connectivity: A Vital Requirement for Efficiency and Sustainability
As the world moves toward greater efficiency and sustainability, digitalization is becoming ubiquitous. Connectivity is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. In the future, everything will be interconnected. Schneider Electric and HMS Networks share a vision of continued collaboration to drive this transformation forward. Jean-Louis Guillou, Vice President for Schneider Drives division, sums it up: “Digitalization is happening all around us. Connectivity isn’t just nice to have; it’s an essential requirement. Let’s continue working together to shape a connected and sustainable future.”
