Two essential ingredients to a low-carbon future
Source: WP Creative Group | · THE WASHINGTON POST · | February 20, 2024
How the digital revolution, coupled with electricity, can help deliver renewable energy most efficiently around the world
When most people think about a net-zero future, they think of wind turbines, solar panels, hydroelectric dams or other examples of clean energy generation. But as the technology behind renewable generation improves, the world’s attention is shifting to the challenges of delivering that clean energy at scale to cities, industries and homes around the globe.
These challenges might seem daunting, but two things about tomorrow’s energy infrastructure are virtually certain: It will be heavily electrified and highly digitized.
The future of energy will be electrified, as electricity is the main conduit for transmitting renewable energy sources like solar and wind. Moreover, electrical systems, such as electric motors and heat pumps, are more efficient than those that burn fossil fuels. Additionally, the future of energy will be digitized, as digital technologies enhance the efficiency, resilience and accessibility of renewable energy delivery.
“Electricity is by far the most efficient form of energy and the best vector of decarbonization,” says James Potach, senior vice president of the sustainability business at Schneider Electric, a leading provider of energy and sustainability solutions. “And digital innovation allows us to quantify what we couldn’t see before; the enormous potential for efficiency and the elimination of energy waste.”
Founded in 1836 in Paris, France, Schneider takes both a historical and future-facing perspective on the massive transformation in energy delivery infrastructure occurring behind the scenes. While “Industry 4.0” describes how artificial intelligence and connected sensors are multiplying the impact of electronics on industrial processes, the concept of “Electricity 4.0” describes how these technologies—when combined with electricity—can help the world through the energy transition.