Ivan Maineri, Country President Belgium at Schneider Electric, has been with the company since 2006, starting as a sales manager and steadily advancing to his current leadership role. Today, ensuring a secure and resilient Belgian energy system is one of his top priorities. In this interview, he shares his insights on current trends, emerging risks, and potential solutions shaping the nation’s energy future.
What is the most interesting aspect of your sector?
Today, observing market trends, we see a growing demand for energy combined with the need to create a more sustainable world model. The practical translation of this is the necessity for greater electrification and the use of digital technology to improve efficiency. Consequently, our sector and market are at the center of this revolution. The players in this market can play a crucial role for the near future, especially when addressing the challenges leading up to 2030. Digital + Electric = Sustainable
“Even companies without direct obligations will be involved, as those subject to these requirements must address scope 3 emissions”
Can you briefly mention what is happening in your industry, and why something needs to be done about this?
The increasing demand for energy stems from several factors, including the expansion of artificial intelligence, which requires increasingly powerful data centers, electric mobility, and industrial heating processes that are becoming more electric for ecological reasons. Additionally, household consumption contributes to this trend. At the same time, energy production is becoming more widespread through photovoltaic systems and various sustainable sources. This scenario introduces the concept of microgrids and prosumers—entities that not only consume energy but also produce and manage it in a decentralized manner. This new approach also presents a challenge for electrical grids, which must become more flexible and automated to effectively manage this complexity.
I would like to emphasize that an increasing number of industries are required to become sustainable by preparing a dedicated sustainability report. Even companies without direct obligations will inevitably be involved, as those subject to these requirements must address Scope 3emissions, which concern the supply chain.
What can other companies learn from the way you are handling this?
Schneider Electric has been recognized as the World’s Most Sustainable Corporation 2025 by Corporate Knights. It is the only company to have achieved the top position in the Global 100 twice, having first reached this rank in 2021. This annual ranking includes the most sustainable publicly traded companies with annual revenues exceeding $1 billion. For a company aiming to be the trusted partner in sustainability and efficiency, this recognition serves as a fitting introduction. What we offer to our clients and partners has first been tested within our own operations.
What would you like to tell European politicians?
The EU’s Clean Industrial Deal, backed by €2 billion in EIB guarantees, marks a promising step towards grid modernization and electrification. However, we need to be investing more in electrification and the implementation of energy efficiency measures across industry. Strengthening Europe’s electricity grids through infrastructure investment, digitalization, and boosting demand flexibility management is essential, and must go hand-in-hand with unlocking grid flexibility through digitalization and price incentives.
What is the most important step your company has recently taken to battle grid congestion?
I would like to share that we have collaborated with energy distributors and significant infrastructure projects, such as airports, implementing our EcoStruxure ADMS (Advanced Distribution Management System) and DERMS (Distributed Energy Resource Management System) softwares to enhance flexibility management and control of the electrical grid. At the same time, we are working with end user of industrial segments on energy efficiency measures aimed at reducing their energy consumption.
What do you expect to have completely changed in 5 years time?
I anticipate a world increasingly focused on electric and digital technologies, with growing attention paid to sustainability.
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