Company: Schneider Electric
Nomination Submitted by: TEAM LEWIS
Company Description: Schneider Electric is a global industrial technology leader bringing world-leading expertise in electrification, automation and digitization to smart industries, resilient infrastructure, future-proof data centers, intelligent buildings, and intuitive homes.
Nomination Category: Sustainability Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Saving Energy
 Nomination Title: Jana Gerber, President of North America Microgrids
- Briefly describe the nominated organization or individual: history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 200 words used.
Jana Gerber, President of North America Microgrids at Schneider Electric, is a vital force in advancing sustainability and resilience across the energy sector. Her team collaborates with hundreds of customers, partners, and industry experts globally to expand the commercial microgrid business in North America.
With 350+ microgrid projects installed across the U.S., Schneider Electric has established itself as a leader in providing innovative energy solutions. These microgrids play a crucial role in addressing climate challenges and mitigating the impact of extreme weather events, offering customers enhanced sustainability and operational resilience. Jana and her team are committed to continuing its growth and contributing to the evolving energy landscape, driven by increasing costs and the rise of electric vehicles.
With over 20 years at Schneider Electric, Jana has held roles such as Principal of Sustainability Consulting and Vice President of Building Segments. Her engineering, marketing, and operations expertise has transformed sectors like healthcare and real estate. Jana holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Washington State University.
Beyond her professional achievements, Jana is an active volunteer, serving on various boards and committees, including the Society of Women Engineers, the American Heart Association, and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
- Outline the organization's or individual's achievements since July 1 2022 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 248 words used.
Jana and the Microgrid team’s achievements include:
- JFK Airport via AlphaStruxure: The 11.34 megawatt microgrid will transform the New Terminal One into the first fully resilient airport transit hub in the NY region that functions off-grid during power disruptions.
- Bimbo Bakeries USA via GreenStruxure: Six microgrid systems provide nearly 20% energy usage, saving the company an estimated 1,700 tons of CO2 emissions per year.
- Piscataway Township: Through an Energy Savings Improvement Program and Microgrid, the project will reduce the township's carbon footprint by 53% by 2026.
- Launching EcoStruxure Microgrid Flex with Schneider Electric™ Battery Energy Storage System -BESS-: an all-in-one and standardized microgrid solution, powered by AI software and hardware, enhancing resilience, savings, and sustainability, cutting design and development time by up to 60%.
Schneider Electric has also expanded its market share through:
- EcoXpert Microgrid Badge Program: Launched in September 2023, this fosters growth in the microgrid sector, offering certification and training, enabling industry partners to excel in the microgrid market.
- Graybar, a leading distributor of electrical, communications, and data networking products, is the inaugural channel partner for the EcoStruxure™ Microgrid Flex system -April 2024-.
- Joint venture Energy as a Service providers, including AlphaStruxure, GreenStruxure, provide customers a model for energy management services without upfront costs.
- Partnering with Mainspring Energy to offer a new hybrid-energy technology, combining Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure Microgrid Solution and turn-key design-build services with Mainspring's groundbreaking Linear Generator to provide power and fuel-flexibility, as well as energy resiliency for commercial and industrial customers.
- Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 46 words used.
Additional background details on the achievements listed above can be found in the links below:
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes, explaining the achievements since July 1, 2022 of the nominated organization or individual, OR written answers to the questions? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video. If you are providing written answers to the questions, provide them in the appropriate spaces below:
Written responses are provided below.
- Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the organization's or individual's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 246 words used.
Over the past 18 months, Schneider Electric's Microgrid Business has seen remarkable growth, driven by key industry achievements and strategic partnerships. Under Jana Gerber's leadership, Schneider Electric earned the top spot on the Microgrid Integrator Leaderboard and was recognized as a leader in Energy as a Service by Guidehouse Insights. These accolades reflect the team’s innovative approach and successful execution of microgrid services and technologies, particularly through joint ventures.
A significant product milestone is the launch of EcoStruxure Microgrid Flex and Battery Energy Storage System -BESS-, which represent breakthroughs in energy solutions. By significantly reducing project timelines and engineering hours, this standardized microgrid solution overcomes the typical challenges of extensive customization, making it a faster and more cost-effective option for businesses. It integrates microgrid control, electrical distribution, software, and battery storage, ensuring reliable energy availability and enhancing the flexibility of distributed energy resources. This innovation not only stabilizes grids and reduces costs but also aligns with sustainability goals, particularly in sectors like data centers, where the integration of renewable energy and advanced BESS offers a superior return on investment and supports broader emissions reduction targets.
Jana is dedicated to addressing climate change through innovative, sustainable, and resilient energy solutions. As a leader in sustainability, she is passionate about encouraging other female engineers to explore non-traditional career paths, broadening their perspectives on the business landscape. Jana believes in the importance of having a diverse, open, and deep network, as well as continuous learning and understanding different perspectives.
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