• • • EDITOR’S CHOICE • • •


Five predictions for the energy and utilities industry in 2022


The global shift towards more climate-conscious energy efficiency has accelerated the need for sustainable technology to deliver a cleaner, greener, and fairer energy system, says David Hall, vice president, power systems, at Schneider Electric UK & Ireland


T


he UK’s 2050 net-zero pledge deadline looms. Together, the IPCC’s latest report on climate change, COP26 and the UK


government’s 10-point-plan for a green industrial revolution have added greater focus. Businesses and consumers alike have a growing appetite for sustainable initiatives. Technologies for renewable electricity


generation, energy storage and power grids are essential to decarbonise existing supply and meet growing electricity demand from rapid electrification of buildings, transport, and industry. Clean technology, modern power systems and green energy sources present a vast investment opportunity for businesses. Considering this, we predict the top five trends


that will fuel the next stage of the energy management revolution in 2022.


Electric vehicles: Push the pedal


on a low-carbon future The UK government has already set a clear direction for the industry by banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 and trucks by 2040 to reduce carbon emissions and stimulate the “green economic recovery”. As the adoption of EVs accelerates, however, the


added pressure they place on ageing electricity networks will continue to increase. Energy companies and the government must


incentivise the transition to electric vehicles towards a low carbon future. A big part of this is ensuring that the infrastructure and power supply match the demand for EVs. Work is underway to put in place a more resilient foundation to connect and power more significant numbers of EV charging points. DNOs need to work quickly and get this right to


enable a successful transition from petrol and diesel to EVs and ensure a positive impact across the broader energy network.


Microgrids fit for the future Another important area to get the ball rolling on sooner rather than later is to ensure the grid is ready for a digital future. More and more of our energy supply will come from disparate renewable resources such as microgrids and intermittent renewable energy sources – creating a need for a more decentralised energy supply network. According to our recent research, 25.4% of UK


and Ireland businesses claim to have installed a microgrid or renewable power source (e.g., solar, wind) to reduce their environmental impact. While


electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022 5


offering a reliable alternative to the traditional central power grid, the grid itself needs to cope with more complex and bi-directional flows involved with these new technologies and monitor supply and demand more effectively. Investing in the digital grid will be critical to


opening up these possibilities for a more clean and efficient energy supply network in 2022.


SF6-free – the silver bullet


to sustainability SF6 (sulphur hexafluoride), while rare in the atmosphere, is one of the most potent greenhouse gases in the world. One tonne of SF6 has the same global warming potential as 23,500 tons of carbon dioxide. Most SF6 used in the electrical industry is for electrical insulation and current interruption within power networks. Replacing SF6 with pure air solutions is


essential to reducing environmental risk across power networks. SF6 currently has a special exemption for use in electrical distribution across many geographies. However, as alternatives become more readily available, the European Union and a range of countries and territories are considering measures to restrict its use, which we expect to hear more about next year.


Embrace the growing


opportunity in onshore wind The growth in clean energy projects such as wind power is essential to a more sustainable world. It’s becoming more apparent that wind energy is more efficient, produces no greenhouse gas emissions


and is becoming increasingly popular as a renewable energy source. By 2040, the world of electricity will be


profoundly different: the share of electricity in everything we do will double, reaching at least 40% of final energy consumption, and six times more electricity will be generated from solar and wind. Even with its benefits, connecting wind to the


power grid brings with it a unique set of challenges, including surges, dips, distortions, and stringent grid code requirements. Next year, wind developers should also look


towards combining wind generation with energy storage to be more flexible. The time is ripe for increased investment in onshore wind.


Net-zero commitments at


the heart With the focus on sustainability and COP26 taking the world by a storm this year, it is clear businesses need to ensure this is a priority in their plans. In fact, according to Schneider Electric research, more than nine out of 10 (91.5%) UK & Ireland respondents said reducing their carbon footprint is a priority for their organization, with a quarter of businesses (27.4%) saying it is their top priority this year. As we move into 2022, we’ll be focusing more on


ensuring these climate ambitions turn to action. Businesses must act now to handle energy management better to reduce energy waste and create a greener future. Acting sustainably, reducing our carbon footprint, and building smarter cities is the only way we will reach net-zero targets.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40