Schneider Electric and AVEVA partner with Shell to accelerate net-zero transition in hard-to-abate sectors

Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software, and Shell, the global energy and petrochemicals company, have formed a global strategic alliance to support their respective and wider sectors’ transition to net-zero agendas. The organizations will explore opportunities to co-develop integrated end-to-end energy solutions designed to power the decarbonization of their customers in hard-to-abate industries, such as cement.

Energy-intensive and heavy industry companies need trusted partners and solutions that can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, increase the effectiveness of their operational processes, and deliver greater energy efficiency, security, resilience, availability, and reliability. The partnership agreement between Schneider Electric, AVEVA, and Shell brings customers an enhanced set of integrated solutions with a range, scale, and scope that is greater than each could offer alone.

Harry Brekelmans, projects & technology director at Shell (left) and Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chairman and CEO at Schneider Electric, formalizing the global strategic alliance.

The combination of their respective complementary consultative, technical, digital, and energy-specific capabilities—from high level process modelling, simulation, and advice to site-specific decarbonization solutions—will have an immediate impact on industries.

Focusing on the cement sector initially, the newly formed alliance aims to reduce emissions by up to 15% for customers in a typical deployment. The approach will focus on enabling a more efficient transition to renewable energy sources. More accurate process analytics, improvements to dynamic tactical simulation, and digital integration for furnace and mill grinding process improvements will drive a reduction in resource use.

AVEVA and Schneider Electric will contribute integrated digital engineering, operational process, and energy optimization technologies, combined with deep sustainability expertise, to the alliance. These capabilities will support the design, construction, and more efficient operation of increasingly carbon neutral facilities. They will also help to create production plans that optimize the value chain and reduce GHG emissions.

Shell brings to the partnership end-to-end sustainable energy supply solutions, global project engineering capabilities, a large renewable energy generation and asset portfolio, as well as a broad range of sectoral sustainability solutions.

Harry Brekelmans, projects & technology Director at Shell, said: “Our companies have strong ambitions to achieve net zero emissions. This partnership represents another significant step forward. Shell, AVEVA and Schneider Electric intend to explore potential opportunities across digital solutions, technology, sustainability consulting, and energy supply capabilities to develop end to end integrated energy solutions to decarbonize our own businesses and wider sectors”.

Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chairman and CEO, Schneider Electric, said, “Partnerships are vital for decarbonization.  They provide benefits to all parties and accelerate the global energy transition. The combined capabilities and expertise of Shell, AVEVA, and Schneider Electric will result in innovative sustainability solutions critical to the journey to net-zero.”

“We are pleased once again to extend our relationship with Shell,” said Peter Herweck, CEO, AVEVA. “We have already seen the benefits in terms of safety, reliability, and efficiency with many previous successful engagements, and we will continue to deliver our vision of a responsible use of the world’s resources.”