Speaking at the launch event, Thomas Bonicel, Commercial Director of Schneider Electric’s Energy Access business in Africa said, “Access to reliable and affordable energy is essential for powering healthcare, education and livelihoods in rural Nigeria. With over 95 million people lacking access to electricity, innovative solutions are needed to bridge the energy gap. 

“With Villaya Flex, we are providing a scalable and sustainable microgrid technology tailored for Nigeria’s intervention programs to help accelerate energy access for communities currently relying on expensive and polluting diesel generators or kerosene lamps.”

Villaya Flex is a pre-engineered, pre-wired and containerized microgrid system that integrates solar PV panels, lithium-ion battery energy storage and an intelligent microgrid controller. 

The scalable solution is available in modular sizes from 50kW to 100kW to suit the energy needs of villages and hamlets. It has been designed for easy deployment, operation and maintenance in the harsh climatic conditions prevalent in rural Nigeria. 

This solution will help in the achievement of Schneider Electric’s goal to create 139 million jobs in the energy sector by 2030, resolving the 2.8 million global electrician shortage across regions.

“Schneider Electric prioritizes sustainability, efficiency, and digital partnerships in everything we do,” said Ajibola Akindele, Country President, West Africa, Schneider Electric. “With over a million partners, we are able to extend our reach and deliver our solutions globally. This strategy brings us closer to our customers and allows us to reach even the most remote communities, just as in the case of our new product, Villaya Flex.”

Teina Teibowei, Microgrid Commercial Lead for Schneider Electric West Africa said, “As the technology partner for many World Bank and donor-funded projects such as the Nigeria Electrification Project, Villaya Flex allows us to work closely with local developers, NGOs and implementing agencies. 

We are focused on providing end-to-end support from design and specification to commissioning, training and after-sales service to ensure reliable and efficient operation of these microgrids over their lifetime. Our goal is to empower local communities through access to clean and sustainable energy.”

Schneider Electric aims to support the electrification of remote communities through strategic partnerships that will help subsidize Villaya Flex which can scale access to energy for productive uses and livelihoods. 

Accessible only for communal use through tariffs, this product will contribute towards achieving Nigeria’s goal of providing electricity access for 95 million citizens by 2030.

Like its other counterparts within the CPG (consumer packaged goods) industry, HPC also requires supply chain traceability to verify origin, movement, and handling of raw materials, components, and finished product.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) emphasises that consumers are increasingly seeking traceability and transparency regarding the ingredients and sourcing practices of personal care products which allow them to make informed purchasing decision.

It is all-important trend that has become prevalent across the globe including Western Africa which features a diverse range of HPC manufacturers and resultant products that are tailored to consumer preferences and market dynamics.

In fact, according to the recent Global Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) Market Insights and Forecast to 2028, Nigeria is cited as one of the leading contributors of the CPG market in the Middle East Africa region.

Consumer safety is paramount

The tracking and tracing of HPC plays a fundamental role ensuring consumer safety, regulatory compliance, transparency, sustainability, and risk management.  It is also those HPC companies that prioritise traceability and tracking that will solidify their customer relations, brand reputation and differentiate themselves in a highly competitive marketplace.

The tracking and tracing of the HPC supply chain offers the following important benefits:

• Product safety and quality control – traceability allows companies to monitor and control the quality of raw materials and components used in their products. By tracking the sources of ingredients and materials, companies can identify potential issues and recalls more efficiently.
• Production safety – the production process of raw materials holds significant importance in ensuring both quality and sustainability. For example, the formulation of products like cosmetics, detergents, and toiletries relies heavily on a diverse range of raw materials, and optimising their production processes is essential for minimizing wastage and promoting eco-friendly practices.
• A streamlined raw material production process not only enhances the overall sustainability of HPC products but also contributes to cost-effectiveness, which can be crucial in a competitive market.
• Globalisation challenges – the HPC industry in Nigeria like many other countries in Africa often involves global supply chains with multiple intermediaries. Ensuring traceability across these complex networks can be challenging but is essential for maintaining transparency and accountability.
• Regulatory compliance – Traceability helps companies ensure that their products meet specific country regulations and that potentially harmful or banned substances are not used.
• Consumer transparency – as mentioned, it forms a critical part of creating brand trust, loyalty and visibility.
• Sustainability – tracking and traceability enables HPC organisations to improve their supply chain; with more insight into raw materials sourcing and its environmental impact they take steps reduce their C02 footprint.
• Risk management – tracking and traceability provides companies with the ability to quickly identify and address issues in the supply chain, such as product contamination, recalls, or disruptions.

There are a number of compelling solutions that provide end-to-end traceability and transparency across the HPC supply chain.

The traceability allows track and trace the products as they move along the supply chain, providing data about its history, location, suppliers, etc.

The transparency ensures full visibility on every information related to the product, proving their origin and highlighting information about ingredients, allergens, physical characteristics and other key attributes.

Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Traceability Advisor vendor agnostic architecture delivers the abovementioned whilst also offering the below benefits that come with implementing a traceability and transparency solution:

• Farmer’s origin and certification data and associated documents are automatically collected and tracked.
• Supplier maps provided are provided, showing Tier 2+ suppliers.
• Incriminated products (defects) are identified, resulting in a product withdrawal (recall) with a clear localisation in the supply chain.
• Secure and encrypted item identification mitigates counterfeiting, guaranteeing the authenticity of each product.
• The architecture scales to multiple sites and facilities, reaching the entire supply chain.