We believe a more electric and digital world is key to a sustainable and resilient future.
Electricity 4.0 for smart energy
A more electric and digital world is key to addressing the climate crisis. Together with our customers, we are building the New Electric World by providing smart energy everywhere in our Homes, Buildings, Data Centres, Industries, Infrastructure and Grids. We are uniquely positioned to join the dots between them all for a future that becomes more sustainable, more resilient and more efficient.
250 years of technology-driven revolutions towards smart energy
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Industry 1.0
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The rise of technology in the 1750s, with the mechanisation of steam and waterpower, is commonly recognised as Industry 1.0.
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Industry 2.0
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From the late 19th century, the world entered a new age of mass production that brought about the new chapter called Industry 2.0.
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Industry 3.0
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In the 1950s, the development of silicone led to the proliferation of automation and electronics giving rise to Industry 3.0.
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Industry 4.0
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The 21st century is the age of digital everywhere. Industry 4.0 is marked by the rise of smart machines fuelled by Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and cloud computing and AI.
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Electricity 1.0
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In parallel, the electricity world has had its early pioneers such as Alessandro Volta and Michael Faraday who furthered research on the practical use of electricity. We consider this as 'Electricity 1.0'.
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Electricity 2.0
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The end of the 19th century also stands for mass electrification with electrical light deployed at an industrial scale, through the introduction of power plants. This is the beginning of Electricity 2.0.
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Electricity 3.0
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In the middle of the 20th century, the development of silicone facilitated the rise of early solar cells and solar panels, laying the groundwork for renewables. We call this Electricity 3.0.
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Electricity 4.0
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The 21st century gave birth to a new world of electricity with the convergence of digital and electric at scale. This is what we call Electricity 4.0.
Industry 1.0
1
The rise of technology in the 1750s, with the mechanisation of steam and waterpower, is commonly recognised as Industry 1.0.
Industry 2.0
2
From the late 19th century, the world entered a new age of mass production that brought about the new chapter called Industry 2.0.
Industry 3.0
3
In the 1950s, the development of silicone led to the proliferation of automation and electronics giving rise to Industry 3.0.
Industry 4.0
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The 21st century is the age of digital everywhere. Industry 4.0 is marked by the rise of smart machines fuelled by Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and cloud computing and AI.
Electricity 1.0
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In parallel, the electricity world has had its early pioneers such as Alessandro Volta and Michael Faraday who furthered research on the practical use of electricity. We consider this as 'Electricity 1.0'.
Electricity 2.0
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The end of the 19th century also stands for mass electrification with electrical light deployed at an industrial scale, through the introduction of power plants. This is the beginning of Electricity 2.0.
Electricity 3.0
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In the middle of the 20th century, the development of silicone facilitated the rise of early solar cells and solar panels, laying the groundwork for renewables. We call this Electricity 3.0.
Electricity 4.0
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The 21st century gave birth to a new world of electricity with the convergence of digital and electric at scale. This is what we call Electricity 4.0.
Electricity makes energy green
Proven to be 3-5x more efficient than other sources, Electricity is the most efficient energy; it is also the best vector for decarbonisation. By 2040, the share of electricity in everything we do will double, reaching at least 40% of final energy consumption; and six times more electricity will be generated from solar and wind.
Net-Zero Carbon Cities
This report provides a global framework on an integrated energy approach to enable a decarbonised and resilient city ecosystem through ultra-efficient buildings and smart energy infrastructure.
Emmanuel Lagarrigue, Chief Innovation Officer of Schneider Electric, and Jules Kortenhorst, Rocky Mountain Institute CEO, discuss pragmatic approaches to a clean-energy future.
We need to see buildings as part of the infrastructure of a broader power network that both produces and consumes energy. The tools exist to design or retrofit buildings to make them sustainable and hyper-efficient.
Digitisation, sustainability and Egypt's $295M energy deal
Caspar Herzberg, the President of Schneider Electric Middle East and Africa, reflects on Egyptian state utility to create Middle East's first-ever smart grid.
With digital innovation, the invisible becomes visible, eliminating waste and driving efficiency. Digital technology such as metering and monitoring enables us to see how we are using our energy. Adding to this with smart devices, apps, analytics and software goes a step further and enables us to deploy smart energy more efficiently, meaning we can address a huge amount of untapped potential for energy savings.
A re-energised recovery
How can business leaders address the inefficiencies in our physical infrastructure and put digitalisation to work?
With our products, systems, software and services, we aim to deploy Electricity 4.0 in Homes, Buildings, Data Centres, Industries, Infrastructure and Grids for a more sustainable, resilient and efficient future.
Helping our customers on their journey to net zero
Schneider Electric is accelerating the pace at which we can all address climate change through agile digital innovation. We boost Innovation in our core whilst expanding in digital, end to end on all stages of the lifecycle.
E.ON goes SF6-free
E.ON, Sweden's largest energy distributor, achieves greater sustainability and reliability with SF6-free medium-voltage technology and EcoStruxure™ for electricity companies.
Discover how EcoStruxure Facility Expert helps Flückiger Electricité SA, Switzerland, deliver reliable preventative maintenance services to their customers.
Recognition for sustainability, innovation and smart energy
World's most sustainable company going further, faster
2021 starts with a flourish as Schneider Electric has become the most sustainable corporation in Corporate Knights ranking. It also marks the debut of our accelerated sustainability programme for 2025 with six commitments for sustainable business, planet and people.
enerTIC Award for Green and Digital Smart Grid Technology
Schneider Electric and E.ON
By using digital capabilities, Schneider helped E.ON improve network security, reliability and efficiency. Their SF6 medium-voltage switchgear was replaced by SF6-free and digital MV technology from Schneider Electric. The project included the Easergy T300 RTU modular hardware and firmware platform.
Do you have questions or need assistance? We’re here to help!
1. What is Electricity 4.0?
Electricity is undoubtedly one of the most vital technological advancements. It plays an important role in containing surging pollution levels and global warming within acceptable limits. Furthermore, with the convergence of digital technologies and electricity at scale, we’ve been introduced to the new world of electricity, that is, Electricity 4.0. It refers to the sustainable methods of generating energy and cost-effective and efficient usage of the energy produced. Electricity 4.0 will be supported by renewable energy sources combined with artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and other tools of the digital era, resulting in the maximization of energy efficiency.
2. What is smart energy management?
Smart energy management helps turn data into logical and meaningful insights for developing synergies between business consumers and energy professionals while boosting energy performance. A smart energy management system is a computer-based system designed for monitoring, controlling, measuring, and optimizing energy consumption in a factory, facility, or any building.
In smart energy management, digital technology such as monitoring and metering has a crucial role to play. Additionally, apps, analytics, smart devices, and software enable people to deploy smart energy even more efficiently. This means we can address a considerable amount of untapped potential for smart energy savings. Schneider Electric is unleashing its potential for building the New Electric World together with our customers. We provide smart energy in Buildings, Homes, Data Centers, Industries, and Grids.
3. What is the importance of Electricity 4.0?
Electricity 4.0, which deals with sustainable methods of generating electricity, delivers many benefits, including increased electrification, increased use of renewable sources of energy, climate change mitigation, and much more. Additionally, it helps us achieve carbon emission goals and manifest a high percentage of reductions required in energy-related transmissions. Especially for the electric utility industry, Electricity 4.0 has completely transformed the way it functions. Electric utility companies have begun to move towards renewable energy sources, deployment of digital technologies, and are in the process of shifting completely to Electricity 4.0 for providing smart energy to the consumers.
Schneider Electric aims to deploy Electricity 4.0 across Homes, Industries, and other Infrastructures with our systems, products, software, and exceptional services. We help you develop Grids of the Future, Data Centers of the Future, Homes of the Future, and more with our agile digital innovations.
