Typically, at the end of each year, industry analysts list the trends that have made their mark over the past 12 months, or at the start of a new year, they inform us about emerging technology to keep an eye on. If you missed out on these lists, you can get a sense of what solutions are likely to have a significant impact on the electric energy sector by visiting the DistribuTECH website and looking at the tracks presented at DistribuTECH 2020. There, you’ll see topics like cyber security, asset management, DERMs, grid management, energy storage and the changing profile of energy consumers. You can also peruse this issue of EET&D to see what is on the mind of industry experts as they face the year ahead.

As renewables emerge, utilities must pivot to trusted advisors

According to the International Energy Outlook 2019, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that renewables will collectively increase to 49 percent of global electricity generation by 2050.¹ That means that even though 2050 may seem like a long time from now, utilities cannot wait until then to integrate renewable energy.

In her article about reinventing the energy and utility industry, Kelly James with Velocity writes about the role utilities can play in shepherding consumers through the disruption caused by renewable energy. To manage this disruption, James says utilities must attract a highly skilled workforce and keep the workers engaged. Simultaneously, utilities must change the way they work with customers – treating them as partners, not just consumers.

James goes on to write about the tools that utilities can work with to help build that relationship. For example, by implementing CRM platforms, utilities allow customers access to secure information, where they can see their usage patterns or monitor their carbon footprint. Working with such tools helps utilities “accelerate this customer-centric shift and provide the technology that underpins the new relationship between customer and the utility.” This makes it easier for customers to manage their energy consumption while positioning utilities as trusted advisors “on all issues relating to energy and consumption habits.”

Addressing climate change

As utilities endeavor to evolve with the digital age, they will continue to seek out the most cutting edge resources and industry partners to ensure a smooth transition. But there is one disruptive challenge the power sector faces that is becoming more concerning by the day – climate change. To emphasize this point, five of the articles in this issue of EET&D mention or focus on the climate crisis.

In the fourth quarter of 2019, Black & Veatch released its 2020 Strategic Directions Megatrends Report. For this issue’s article in “The Bigger Picture” section, Dave Leligdon, Jeremy Klingel and Dean Siegrist with Black & Veatch discuss how climate concerns are affecting the debate on renewables. As they explain, “Environmental and climate concerns are grabbing more global attention, blunting debate about whether renewables are going to be the cornerstone of tomorrow’s power generation. It’s in that vein that the electricity sector and businesses need to show they’re serious about clean power and collaborate on energy solutions …

Consumers, equipped with increasingly sophisticated technology … are demanding real-time, transparent engagements with their utility. And along with a growing number of businesses, they’re demanding power in cleaner, greener ways.

The onus of being nimble is thrust onto electricity providers, who admit flexibility to adapt to what’s coming is atop their wish list.“

According to Don Wingate with Schneider Electric, when it comes to preparing for widespread power failure caused by extreme weather, microgrid technology is a solid strategy. While he acknowledges there is no way to remove the risk of power outages, Wingate points to microgrids as a way to shore up the grid and explains why we cannot afford to wait on deploying this technology.

While government stakeholders can incorporate strategies like microgrid technology into bolstering the grid, technology companies can also play a role in helping consumers reduce their energy usage. In his article, Jeff Hamel, who is the director of industry partnerships at Google, says that utilities are positioned to transform how they deliver power to meet today’s requirements for “innovation, emission reductions, customer engagement and environmental responsibility.” By making smart home devices like smart thermostats accessible to all customers, including low-income households or other underrepresented populations, utilities can make it easier for consumers from all demographics to save on electricity costs while using less energy.

This is just a sampling of the conversation around climate change. The concern over our climate is not new, but I am hopeful that over the next year, our contributing writers will inspire us with their expertise, insights and tips on steps we can take to be more mindful when it comes to responsible energy consumption.

Bentley Systems Year in Infrastructure and a visit to ABB

In October, I attended Bentley System’s Year in Infrastructure Conference. This was my third time attending the Bentley YII event and the second year in which I participated as a member of the awards jury for the Bentley YII Awards. Of the 571 nominations, submitted by more than 440 user organizations, 54 finalists were selected. The award for the Communications and Utilities category, which my fellow panelists and I judged, went to POWERCHINA Hubei Electric Engineering. You can read about the award-winning project in this issue’s “Green Ovations” section, which was written by Brent Jensen, who is a sales enablement director for Bentley Systems.

Additionally, I had the opportunity to attend the ABB Electrification Media Day in Bergamo, Italy. The day-long session included presentations by ABB President of Electrification Tarak Mehta and members of the Electrification team. The event wrapped up with a tour of ABB’s facility in Dalmine, Italy, which produces medium-voltage switchgear, disconnectors and switchboards. ABB does not simply offer some of the industry's most innovative solutions, the company also "puts its money where its mouth is." In October, ABB announce that it has invested in a rooftop photovoltaic system for its Dalmine plant. The system will reach a total installed capacity of about 900 kW to optimize energy costs and environmental welfare.

I enjoy it when I get to meet our industry partners at trade shows or user conferences. I especially appreciate it when I have the opportunity to see our vender partners’ technology or solutions in action. I always come away from those meetings with a clear understanding of the difference these vendors make in offering their customers the most innovative resources, and of just how much value they bring to those customers.

If you have an idea about emerging or innovative technology, or would like to suggest a topic to cover, please email me at Elisabeth@ElectricEnergyOnline.com.

Elisabeth

¹ U.S. Energy Information Administration, International Energy Outlook 2019
   https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=41533