About Schneider Electric
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 Utilities & Infrastructure, Industries & Machines Manufacturers, Non-residential Buildings, Data Centres & Networks and in Residential. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green, the Group’s 150,000 plus employees achieved sales of 24 billion euros in 2013 through an active commitment to help individuals and organizations make the most of their energy.
www.schneider-electric.com
Caspian Energy (CE): What area does Schneider Electric specialize in? Could you please tell about the company’s operational record in Azerbaijan?
Emrah Tekdemir, Central Asia Country President, Schneider Electric: We started our operation in 1994, after the oil contracts were signed and large international oil and gas companies entered the Azerbaijan market. Today products and solutions from Schneider Electric directly cover end-users and customers from governmental institutions and companies (for example, SOCAR and Azersu), foreign companies, building contractors, including electricians and architects. Projects in Azerbaijan include the supply of electrical equipment, automation, and UPS systems to such important facilities and projects as the Heydar Aliyev Center, the Flame Towers, the Gobustan SPP, Shah Deniz I, and several hotels, including the JW Marriott and the Four Seasons. Today, 70% of Schneider Electric employees in Azerbaijan are natives and the company keeps on supporting the continued investment in the local staff.
Schneider Electric is involved in all links of the chain between the energy production point (the Power Plant) until the consuming points (like the electrical sockets in our home or office) with solutions including hardware, software as well as services.
CE: What activities does Schneider Electric implement to increase energy efficiency in Azerbaijan?
Emrah Tekdemir: We work closely with the concerned government institutions, arranging workshops both in Azerbaijan and beyond it, and are ready to continue expanding our successful cooperation in the future. As an example, the project of the Gobustan test site for alternative energy was developed together with the State Agency for Alternative and Renewable Energy. One more example of our cooperation with public utilities and design institutes is designing efficient solutions for houses and industrial firms. The technologies available in the market make it feasible now to easily save up to 30% of energy in houses and industrial enterprises.
Another example is our already famous online “Energy University” (www.MyEnergyUniversity.com), which has been providing during the last 3 years free online training about Energy Efficiency to thousands of power engineers. This program provides individuals with the training required to be successful in this field and proof of their capabilities.
CE: How is Schneider Electric contributing to increasing energy efficiency in Azerbaijan’s infrastructure projects?
Emrah Tekdemir: Schneider Electric offers its customer systems and services in order to lower their operating costs and improve their energy efficiency. For customers, we first analyze their facilities, and, based on the results of this analysis, we provide a comprehensive energy audit, during which our staff measures all energy consuming machines, installations, or engines, and prepares a draft report. Based on this report, our customer knows where and how much energy and resource saving is possible, the investment necessary and the return on investment. For new customer installations, in line with our company’s sustainability strategies, we produce environmentally friendly products with ready to communicate facilities. For Azerbaijan’s energy efficiency, one of the key development areas is to develop the existing industrial sites and commercial buildings.
CE: What projects is Schneider Electric going to launch in the coming years?
Emrah Tekdemir: We will continue to focus on energy efficiency solutions for the national oil and gas industries. Renewable energy projects, particularly wind and solar due to the availability of local resources, will play an increasingly important part in our activities in the coming years. For the IT segment, data centers are preferable projects as a full solution provider to maximize our value-added for growth in Azerbaijan. Schneider Electric is proud of what it has achieved and is excited about its future in Azerbaijan. It will continue to focus on energy efficiency solutions.
I take this opportunity to congratulate all the Azerbaijan’s power engineers upon their professional holiday and wish them every success in their uneasy and noble work to ensure safe and reliable electricity supply to our living environment.
