3 steps to cleaning up our energy supplies

The world is consuming more and more energy in the form of electricity as populations become more urbanized and lifestyles and technology evolve. Ranked fifth in the early 1970s, electricity is second only to oil today.

What’s not to like about the advance of energy that is clean, safe and easy to use, and the lifeblood of the modern, digital economy?

The truth is, our electricity supply is not so clean. It is the main source of greenhouse gas emissions. Our growing hunger for electricity will accelerate climate change unless we reinvent the electricity supply system from end to end, from the way power is generated to the way it is delivered and used.

Low-carbon generation

First, we must generate power with as few emissions as possible. Concern about climate change has stimulated the development of renewable sources of energy to reduce pollution from burning fossil fuels. But the intermittent nature of solar and wind energy can lead to potentially sharp fluctuations in the amount of electricity they generate, which is one reason they still account for less than 5% of global power generation capacity.

Expanding the supply of renewable power will therefore require a focus on the integration of unpredictable power flows from a multitude of new plants. The key to this is the deployment of “smart” technologies that collect, transmit, store and analyse critical data from thousands of points across the network, enabling real-time management of transmission grids, distribution networks, power plants and energy-trading systems.

Low-loss delivery

Second, electricity must be delivered to the consumer with minimal losses. The best sources of renewable energy, such as windy offshore sites, sunny deserts and steep valleys, are usually far from the cities and industries that need the power. With conventional technology, too much power is dissipated as heat over very long distances to make the integration of such sources economically viable.

However, technological innovation, driven by the need to tackle climate challenge, is now producing viable solutions. The enabler for transmitting electricity over long distances has been high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology, which was developed 60 years ago and has progressively become more powerful and efficient over the decades. More transmission corridors using this technology will be required before we can use renewable energy on a really large scale.

Efficient consumption

Third, for a truly sustainable electricity system, we also need to cut consumption by using energy more efficiently. The potential of energy efficiency to relieve pressure on the grid is immense. A recent European Commission report found that the strictest efficiency rules in place today would, if applied globally, cut electricity consumption by 9%.

In short, existing technology can ensure our electricity is generated with as few emissions as possible, delivered to the consumer with minimal losses, and used efficiently. What is needed to take our energy supply to the next level is a policy environment that encourages investment in renewable power generation, in technologies to increase the reliability and resilience of the electricity system, and in equipment that reduces energy consumption.

The author is one of 78 signatories to an open letter from CEOs to world leaders urging climate action.

Author: Dr Ulrich Spiesshofer is President and Chief Executive Officer of ABB Ltd

Image: A tower belonging to the Abengoa solar plant is seen at the “Solucar” solar park in Sanlucar la Mayor, near the Andalusian capital of Seville, southern Spain November 25, 2015. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo