Schneider Electric

The global specialist in energy management

The history of Schneider Electric

Schneider Electric, founded in 1836, has transformed itself into the global specialist in energy management. From its roots in the iron and steel industry, heavy machinery, and ship building, it moved into electricity and automation management. In the late 20th century, the Schneider Group shifted its focus to the electrical industry by breaking away from its non-strategic activities, and was strengthened through its acquisitions of Telemecanique in 1988, Square D in 1991 and Merlin Gerin in 1992. In 1999, the development of installations, systems and control was bolstered with the acquisition of Lexel, Europe's number two in electrical distribution. In May of the same year, the company was renamed Schneider Electric to more clearly emphasize its expertise in the electrical field.

From 2000 through 2009, Schneider Electric entered into a phase of organic growth and began positioning itself in new market segments: UPS (uninterruptible power supply), movement control, building automation and security and renewable energy through the acquisitions of APC, Clipsal, TAC, Pelco, Xantrex Technology and more.

As a global specialist in energy management with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric offers integrated solutions across multiple market segments, including leadership positions in energy and infrastructure, industrial processes, building automation, and data centers/networks, as well as a broad presence in residential applications. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green, the company's 114,000 employees achieved sales of more than $25 billion in 2008, through an active commitment to help individuals and organizations "Make the most of their energy."

Renewable energies

In October of 2008, with Schneider Electric's purchase of Xantrex Technology, a significant milestone was reached in the company's expansion into the renewable energy sector. Combining Xantrex's knowledge and expertise in renewable energies and Schneider Electric's depth of experience in energy management was critical for the future success of the organization in this field. The renewable energies business of Schneider Electric is focused on designing and developing renewable energy products and solutions and providing best-in-class, global customer service and technical support.

Make the most of your energy

Schneider Electric provides full solutions from panel DC output to grid connection, including monitoring & supervision. In 2009, Schneider Electric introduced a customizable solution geared to photovoltaic (PV) power plants. The Schneider Electric PV Box is a pre-wired equipment package specifically designed to meet the growing demand of large scale grid-tied solar farms and large commercial rooftop solar installations. The PV Box is a complete solution for electrical distribution, automation, security, monitoring and control available from one vendor.

A PV Box typically consists of solar inverters, DC combiner boxes, step-up transformers and a medium voltage switch housed in a prefabricated building to allow quick field wiring from both the solar arrays and the utility grid connection point. Other items can be added to the package, including climate controls, security equipment, array string monitoring, SCADA monitoring equipment, and power metering, accompanied by operation and maintenance offerings.

With the PV Box, customers can significantly reduce total electrical installation costs and project cycle time. This product offers customers a reliable, complete solution from a company with over 100 years of experience in designing electrical distribution and control systems. In addition, because the PV Box enclosure provides a controlled environment for its components, it can be installed in a variety of climates, including harsh desert environments where many future large scale solar projects are planned.

For more information about Schneider Electric and renewable energy solutions, please visit www.schneider-electric.com.

Schneider Electric SA
92506 Rueil-Malmaison
France
Phone: +33 (0)141 297000
Fax: +33 (0)141 297100
» renewableenergy(at)schneider-electric.com
» www.schneider-electric.com
Founded 1836
114,000 employees

Business Areas

  • system integrators /  project developer /  turnkey solutions
  • inverter / inverter systems

Headquarters of Schneider Electric in France

3 MW installation in Villanueva, Spain

Schneider Electric provides full solutions from panel DC output to grid connection.

24 MW installation in Ontario, Canada