Page 26 - EngineerIT August-September 2025

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Microgrid Flex: Resilience and

innovation in practice

cross Africa, industries are under pressure to do the impossible
— keep production lines moving during outages, hold down rising Innovation spotlight:
Aenergy bills and deliver on sustainability targets. For many, the search
Schneider Electric
for reliable power has become a bit like an industry “Holy Grail”. However,
Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Microgrid Flex control system offers a way Innovation Hub
out of crisis mode and into a future where energy is predictable, efficient and
green. No Holy Grail needed. In Midrand, Schneider has opened
Africa’s first Innovation Hub — a
Ready when you are hands-on space where businesses
Most microgrid projects involve long design cycles, endless customisation can explore real-world solutions in
and the risk of getting it wrong. Microgrid Flex takes a different approach. It energy efficiency, automation and
arrives as a preconfigured, pretested system, shaped by years of Schneider’s sustainability. Visitors experience the
global research into what works best for facilities of a certain size. Instead of latest technologies up close, from
starting from scratch, businesses start with a blueprint that is proven, reliable microgrids to digital control systems,
and ready to go. in a space designed to evolve with
Africa’s needs.
Flexible enough to grow with you
Energy demand is rarely static. A factory expands, a retailer adds new sites, Book a Tour and see how
a manufacturer ramps up production. Microgrid Flex is designed to adapt Schneider’s innovations can
to these changes. Its modular architecture means businesses can scale transform your operations.
capacity as operations grow, without having to scrap what they already
have. That scalability makes it a future-proof investment rather than a short-
term fix.
Sustainability with a business edge
Built for Africa’s realities By making renewables like solar and wind
South African businesses know too well the costs of load shedding. Microgrid central to its architecture, Microgrid Flex
Flex can run alongside the grid, or independently when the grid goes dark, enables industries to lower emissions
keeping critical operations online. Just as importantly, it helps manage high while gaining control of their costs.
tariffs by optimising when energy is drawn and how it is used — a strategic For manufacturers, automotive plants,
energy management tool in an unpredictable market. consumer goods facilities and retail
operations, that balance — between
profitability and responsibility — is
Microgrid Flex – TLDR what makes Schneider’s solution a real
differentiator in the market.
• Preconfigured, pretested systems → designed, tested and verified.
A pre-tested solution From firefighting to future-ready
• Modular and scalable → additional modules can be integrated In an environment where every
seamlessly kilowatt matters, Microgrid Flex shifts
• Resilient in load shedding conditions → provides a way to manage the conversation, providing a tool for
peak demand, ensuring energy availability during outages industries to regain control, cut through
• Cost-optimising → helps businesses navigate high tariffs by uncertainty and build resilience. For
optimising energy consumption to reduce costs African businesses determined to stay
• Sustainability enabler → integrate renewable sources: energy competitive and sustainable, Microgrid
Flex may be the closest thing to energy
efficiency, cost savings and sustainability
independence on demand.

26 | EngineerIT August/September 2025