Schneider Electric Brings Its Energy & Automation Vision to the Forefront at EPC Show 2026

What does it actually take to power America's next chapter of industrial growth? Not just more megawatts, certainly—but a fundamental rethinking of how energy infrastructure is built, operated, and sustained. That's the question Schneider Electric is putting front and center at the Energy Projects Conference & Expo (EPC Show) 2026, taking place this week at Houston's George R. Brown Convention Center.

As more than 10,000 engineering, construction, procurement, and operations professionals gather in the energy capital of the world, Schneider Electric has arrived with a clear message: the U.S. energy buildout isn't just about speed—it's about smarts. The company is using the conference as a platform to demonstrate how the convergence of electrification, open software-defined automation, and digital intelligence can turn today's infrastructure ambitions into tomorrow's resilient, adaptable operations.

The Urgency Behind the Buildout

Throughout 2026, Schneider Electric has been sounding the alarm on what it calls the widening "time to power" gap—the growing disconnect between surging electricity demand from AI, electrification, and industrial expansion, and the pace at which new capacity is actually coming online. It's a challenge that touches every corner of the energy sector, from LNG terminals to data centers to the grids that connect them all.

But here's the thing: building faster alone won't solve it. "Powering America's energy future requires more than building capacity quickly," said Andre Marino, Senior Vice President of Industrial Automation, North America at Schneider Electric. "Across the U.S., the new industrial identity is defined by adaptive, digital operations". In other words, resilience isn't a feature you bolt on after the fact—it has to be designed in from the start.

New Hardware, Smarter Foundation

At the heart of Schneider Electric's showcase are two new innovations advancing the EcoStruxure Foxboro Software Defined Automation (SDA) platform: the Automation Processor 310 (AP310) and the Edge Communication Node (ECN). Together, they deliver a flexible automation foundation that combines a cybersecure edge control core with software-defined, multi-role hardware.

What does that mean in practice? By decoupling hardware from function, these technologies enable operations that are open, agile, cybersecure, and lifecycle-efficient. Think of it as future-proofing for industrial environments—systems that can adapt as needs change, without requiring costly overhauls every few years.

Executive Insights and Industry Dialogues

Schneider Electric's leadership isn't just exhibiting—they're actively shaping the conversation. On Tuesday, June 16, Andre Marino will take the main stage for a fireside chat titled "Resilience by Design: Building Adaptive, Digital Operations Now," followed by a panel on innovation in gas power project design and execution. Later that day, the company is hosting an executive luncheon led by Hany Fouda, SVP of Process Automation, bringing together senior industry leaders to discuss how software-enabled operations can improve predictability, accelerate delivery, and build future-ready infrastructure.

Throughout the conference, executives including Marino, Fouda, Krishna Kasturi (VP of R&D, Industrial Automation), and Dennis Gansen (VP of Sales, Process Automation North America) will be on hand to discuss how Schneider Electric is partnering with owners, operators, and EPCs to deliver the next era of U.S. energy projects.

The Bigger Picture

So why does any of this matter beyond the convention center walls? Because the decisions made in Houston this week will ripple across the country for decades. The U.S. is in the midst of the largest energy infrastructure buildout in a generation. How that buildout is executed—whether it's rushed and brittle, or deliberate and resilient—will determine not just whether the lights stay on, but whether American industry can compete in an increasingly electrified, digitized world.

Schneider Electric is staking its claim as the leading Energy Technology Partner in the U.S., arguing that the path forward requires not just new hardware, but new ways of thinking about how energy systems are designed, deployed, and operated. The question isn't whether the buildout will happen—it's whether we'll build it right.

About Schneider Electric: A global leader in energy technology, Schneider Electric drives efficiency and sustainability by electrifying, automating, and digitalizing industries, businesses, and homes. With 160,000 employees and one million partners across more than 100 countries, the company is consistently ranked among the world's most sustainable corporations.