Schneider Electric partnered with a popular fast-food chain to highlight its energy-saving technologies
The aim of the partnership was to decarbonise McDonald’s flagship restaurant in Dubai. Through the collaboration, the chain is set to roll out Schneider Electric’s solutions to 10 new branches across the country, in addition to the current five stores within its network.
The partially solar-powered Umm Suqeim 2 branch features electric vehicle (EV) charging ports, a smart grid to optimise energy consumption and an integrated building management system, delivering real-time insights to improve energy efficiency. These solutions are estimated to assist the company in achieving up to 20% in energy savings and an average reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by up to 30% through renewable energy such as solar and eMobility solutions.
Schneider Electric will also provide ongoing energy management consultancy and power systems engineering expertise to electrify the company’s journey to a greener future. The technology has been implemented by Schneider Electric’s partner Integrated Technology Solution (ITS). As part of the solution, an all-in-one electric panel solution will provide plug and play secure power connectivity with smart monitoring and power diagnosis across the building’s electrical distribution system.
The next layer is Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure for Retail, an IoT-based retail management platform that provides site performance benchmarking, restaurant optimisation, alarm and condition monitoring, and data analytics. This solution will boost energy efficiency in lighting, HVAC, and refrigeration systems and improve traceability. To save carbon emissions and energy costs, the system also controls solar management and electronic car charging.
The EcoStruxure Building Operation software from Schneider Electric is completely installed in the new restaurant. The building management system includes a digital dashboard that offers an integrated view, monitoring, and control of lighting, energy, fire safety, security, access, and workplace management systems in addition to HVAC, lighting, energy, and power. With the help of this solution, the restaurant will be able to utilise the virtual dashboard to make daily energy consumption decisions that are better informed and based on insight.
Walid Fakih, CEO at McDonald’s UAE, said, "Our energy conservation efforts are geared towards the benefit of our planet and are crucial to our operations at McDonald’s UAE. As such, we welcome partners with whom we can explore the possibility of feeding into a circular economy, and champion a sustainable mindset across our restaurants. Starting with the launch of our restaurant at Umm Suqeim 2, we are eager to bring to life to smart energy consumption plans with Schneider Electric and draw from its established expertise in power system management, resulting in reduced carbon footprint across the nation.”
“Working on this milestone project with McDonald’s UAE during the 'Year of Sustainability’ highlights a rewarding collaboration that unlocks the potential of digital transformation and its nationwide impact on energy efficiency and sustainability,” said Ahmed Khashan, president for Gulf countries at Schneider Electric.
Amel Chadli, vice president for Digital Energy and Software, Middle East & Africa at Schneider Electric, said, “Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, and we are proud to be part of this collaboration with McDonald’s UAE, where we will jointly demonstrate how restaurants across the UAE can reduce their carbon footprint and save money without compromising on great customer experience and guest comfort. Through our actions, we hope to empower a new wave of eco-conscious consumers while driving smarter and more sustainable choices.”
