Microgrid Companies in the News: Schneider Named Most Sustainable Corporation

Jan. 27, 2021
Schneider Electric ranked most sustainable corporation by Corporate Knights…SimpliPhi Power traverses new ground with UN compact…CleanSpark putting microgrids in homes south of San Diego-Tijuana Border

A roundup on the latest news about microgrid companies…

Schneider Electric Ranked Most Sustainable Corporation

Schneider Electric, the digital transformation, energy management and automation company, has been named the world’s most sustainable corporation in an annual list compiled by Corporate Knights, a media and research company focused on corporate sustainability performance.

After placing 29th a year ago, the new listing represents a high level of recognition for Schneider’s long-standing commitment to environmental, social and governance issues.

The Corporate Knights’ evaluation was made after assessing 8,080 companies with more than $1 billion in revenue. Performance indicators include how much renewable energy and waste the companies generate. Values for sick leave, executive and board racial diversity, and clean investments are included for the first time this year.

“Schneider has shifted its focus to data centers, storage and other distributed energy resources, and smart solutions that advance electrification, energy efficiency and renewability. It now earns 70% of its revenue from, and directs 73% of its investments toward, sustainable solutions,” said Toby Heaps, CEO of Corporate Knights. “Schneider Electric also performs strongly in racial and gender diversity and in resource productivity and safety.”

SimpliPhi Power Traverses New Ground with UN Compact

SimpliPhi Power, a California-based designer and manufacturer of battery storage systems, announced that it has joined the UN Global Compact and ascribes to the organization’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. 

SimpliPhi is among the first energy storage companies to join the UN compact.

The UN Global Compact calls for companies to align their strategies and operations with 10 universal principles related to human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. It also calls on them to take actions that advance social goals and work toward social justice, equity and inclusion. 

SimpliPhi’s company mission is to create universal access to safe, reliable and affordable energy to globally empower people, communities and enterprises.  

The company was one of the partners in the Maycroft Apartments Microgrid, Washington DC project, which won the 2020 Greater Good Award for a Grid-Connected Microgrid. New Partners Community Solar was the lead on the project. Other partners were Jubilee Housing, Amidus, Pepco and Clean Energy Group’s Resilient Power Project.

CleanSpark Putting Microgrids in Homes South of San Diego-Tijuana Border

New model homes under construction south of the San Diego-Tijuana border will include individual microgrid systems so that each residence may generate and store solar power. This ability to operate independently from the primary utility grid provides a sustainability and resilience level that may attract buyers interested in renewable energy and green properties. According to an announcement from the developer International Land Alliance (ILA), the microgrids may also save homeowners money on their energy costs.

CleanSpark, a software and services company, is designing and installing the microgrid systems for off-grid energy. Each microgrid will include solar generation with 18.5 kWh of storage and a controller with the potential to connect to the electric grid or a generator if needed in the future.

Construction on this model of ILA’s homes is expected to be completed in February. The development’s location is within the Bajamar Ocean Front Golf Resort, about 45 minutes south of the San Diego-Tijuana border.

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About the Author

Sharon Bennett

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