APC 2014 Annual Report Download - page 96

2SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC, AN ECO-CITIZEN COMPANY
to regulate the speed of a three-phase engine depending on the provides solutions adapted to the needs identified by microfinance
energy supplied by the solar panels. Adaptable to all types of institutions (MFIs) that are members of the PAMIGA network, and
pumps, surface or submerged, using the Water of the Sun engages its local partners (distributors, integrators, installers) to
solution ensures greater system reliability, simplified plumbing and ensure the availability of affordable solutions to customers of MFIs,
reduced maintenance. In 2013, several solutions were installed in combined with high-quality service. Two types of loans are offered
India and Africa as part of collective electrification projects. to MFI customers: «lighting» credits that offer low-consumption
solar energy lighting solutions, and «energy» credits for providing
Villaya Lampadaires Solaires solutions have been marketed since solar solutions tailored to the needs of an income-generating
2014 to provide public lighting with standalone LEDs in isolated activity. That same year, the project was selected among 20
locations. Based on an intelligent energy management system, projects selected to participate in «Forum Africa - 100 innovations
the streetlights guarantee uninterrupted lighting, even in cases of for sustainable development» on the initiative of the French
low levels of sunlight. Their «Plug and Play» design with resistant Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under the leadership of the Deputy
NiMH batteries is particularly suited to the tropical environment Minister for Development, in partnership with the French
and can withstand high temperatures. Development Agency (AFD).
Training offering: For Schneider Electric, professionals must be Micro-entrepreneurship: In India, Schneider Electric deploys an
supported by training in energy management from educational energy service sales model through the creation of a network of
institutions through to vocational and continuing education battery-charging entrepreneurs for the low-consumption lighting
worldwide. In partnership with Schneider Electric Training and system In-Diya. In2012, the network of more than 120selected
Access to Energy Training teams, an affordable range of Access volunteer entrepreneurs at the start of a basic electrician training
to Energy Education teaching models and teaching tools has program offered this rental service to more than
been developed to meet the needs of training organizations, 1,000households. In 2013, the project partnered with Indian
particularly in emerging countries. The training offering covers the associations focused on the «Village Level Entrepreneurs» model
management of high and low voltage electrical distribution, to allow its entrepreneurs to add a solar product distribution
building management, global energy management and process service to improve their income. The program guarantees them a
and machine management. logistics network necessary for their activity and provides them
Ensure that the sustainable economic models are
with technical and entrepreneurial training throughout the
subcontinent. Based on this success, in 2014, Schneider Electric
adapted to local contexts
partnered with Golden Key Company (GKC) in Myanmar to form
Last mile distribution: Individual and residential products are «Village Electrification Consultants», which establish their point of
deployed through our distribution networks, subsidiaries, and a sale of energy access products in their villages, advise villagers on
number of NGOs and businesses in the sector of developing domestic electrification and provide maintenance of installed
access to electricity. This new system is available practically products.
everywhere in the world. Partnerships have been set up with local
Decentralized rural electrification: Rural electrification continues
institutions and organizations to optimize deployment of the
following the success of the projects launched since 2009 in
product and to target the poorest communities.
Madagascar, Vietnam, Senegal, Cameroon, Egypt and Brazil.
Partnerships: In2011, Schneider Electric established a Schneider Electric provides expertise to municipalities for defining
partnership with the Grameen Shakti organization based in energy needs, sizing electrification solutions, mobilization of local
Bangladesh. Schneider Electric aims to supply lighting products partners for installation, and training of maintenance and
and power control systems that respond to the demand from after-sales service agents. The success of the electrification of a
Grameen Shakti. In the middle of 2013, Schneider Electric and the village in Nigeria in Ogun Province led to the electrification of
Philippine NGO Gawad Kalinga entered into a partnership to 16other villages in the same province. Schneider Electric set up
develop access to electricity in rural communities in the off-grid solar power stations that powered community buildings
Philippines. Combining the social expertise of the NGO and the and charging equipment. In 2014, the village of Baghagha in
technical and economic expertise of the Access to Energy Casamance, Senegal was equipped with two Villaya Villasol micro
program, the partnership aims to support farmers, electrify remote solar power plants that provide electricity to the school and the
villages, promote the production and intelligent management of health center, and a battery charging station for lighting and cell
energy for the association’s «Enchanted Farms», and train and phones in domestic households. All micro-units are managed by
support local entrepreneurs in the field of energy access. an entrepreneur located within the community and trained by
Microfinance: Microcredit enables individuals and small Schneider Electric to ensure maintenance and economic viability
businesses with low or irregular incomes to finance the purchase in the long term. In 2014, Schneider Electric partnered with
of solar lighting or individual electrification solutions for economic Golden Key Company (GKC) in Myanmar to electrify three villages
development. At the end of 2013, Schneider Electric, in in the province of Irrawady. 675households have been electrified
partnership with the PAMIGA (Participatory Microfinance Group through an experimental microarray solar solution, all direct
for Africa) association, launched the «Energy and Microfinance» current that enables them to power two LED lights, a cell phone
project in Cameroon, Ethiopia and Tanzania. Schneider Electric charger and a radio 24hours a day.
94 2014 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC