In the Saudi Arabian desert 腹地 (heartland) in June, under 40℃ high temperature, a blue photovoltaic matrix is converting solar energy into clean electric power – this Al 舒巴赫 (Al Shuqaiq) 2.6GW photovoltaic power plant, contracted by China Energy Engineering Group, not only stands as the largest photovoltaic project in the Middle East but also reflects the transformation trajectory of the global new energy industry. As China’s new energy installed capacity exceeded 1.45 billion kilowatts in 2024, surpassing thermal power for the first time, the industry is facing “growing pains” such as grid integration challenges and rising system costs. Schneider Electric provides a model for the industry’s transition from “scale expansion” to “value creation” through its dual-drive strategy of “agile innovation + ecological collaboration.”

At the 18th SNEC 2025 exhibition, Schneider Electric’s booth showcased solutions like ECC AC microgrids and photovoltaic-storage-supercharging systems, revealing the industry’s technological shift from “parameter competition” to “scenario adaptation.” Take Wuhan’s photovoltaic-storage-direct current-soft load (PV-storage-DC-soft load) demonstration base as an example: by integrating buildings, photovoltaics, and energy storage into a DC microgrid, the base reduces carbon emissions by 577 tons annually, improving carbon reduction efficiency by 13%. Such scenario-based innovation is not isolated: for extreme environments like high altitudes and cold regions, Schneider Electric’s custom air circuit breaker for the world’s highest-altitude wind power project (5,200 meters) not only adapts to 1,140V rated voltage but also operates stably in temperature ranges from -40℃ to 70℃, breaking through the environmental limitations of traditional electrical equipment with its specialized arc extinguishing system.

“Rapid new product launch” epitomizes Schneider Electric‘s agile innovation. The EasyPact CVS DC NE DC circuit breaker global protection solution launched in 2025 forms a technical matrix with the new-generation Acti9 Pro power distribution products, covering niche scenarios like photovoltaics, wind power, and energy storage. This “small steps, fast iteration” R&D model allows the company to always center on customer pain points in the rapidly evolving new energy landscape, achieving the demand upgrade from “single products” to “digital solutions.”

Behind the Saudi PV project lies a collaborative network of over 50 multinational suppliers from 10 countries. As the electrical solution provider for the step-up substation and central control center, Schneider Electric has become a “global partner” for Chinese new energy enterprises with its international standards and global resource integration capabilities. This ecological cooperation model was further deepened at SNEC – the joint white paper Global Protection: Eliminating DC Protection Blind Spots in Battery Energy Storage Systems released with Beijing Hybric Energy Technology Co., Ltd. integrates the technical strengths of both sides in energy storage safety, providing a replicable system-level cost reduction solution for the industry and setting a new benchmark for DC protection.

Schneider Electric’s dual-drive strategy relies on its deep “China-Centric” layout. With five R&D centers and an AI laboratory in China, its annual R&D investment growth exceeds 18%. The Phase II of Jinshan Innovation Experimental Park completed in 2024 has become an innovation hub for new power systems. This “integrated R&D-production-sales” mechanism enables Chinese innovations like the Wuhan PV-storage-DC-soft load base to feed back into global markets. As Wei Sizhe, Senior Vice President of Low Voltage Business at Schneider Electric Energy Management, stated: “Centered on customer needs, through a high-density innovation mechanism, we are transforming technological achievements into driving forces for the new energy industry’s value leap.”