Sustainable development

The end‐use application of cables needs to take priority.

Cabling for the future

A panel of industry experts at the Middle East Energy exhibition, take a look at the significance of cables in sustainable development.

IN A PANEL at the Middle East Energy 2021 on 'Revolutionising urban planning through underground cables,’ an expert panel considered the impact of the energy transition on cables, technologies for testing and the importance of quality to meet demands of the enduser.

Uberto Vercellotti, product development manager cables, CESI, commented on the importance of proper design and installation, since cables are vital parts of the generation and distribution networks.

Ashish Chaturvedy, head of marketing, Ducab, explained that cables are undergoing significant innovations and transformation, in view of the energy transition. "From a Middle East perspective, we are witnessing a rising population, mainly due to more young people seeking jobs. This has led to a lot of planning for smart cities, shaping trends in cable application," he said.

He added that the role of renewable energy sources is vital in the overall energy mix and the UAE has a number of initiatives underway, including DEWA piloting the first industrial scale, solardriven green hydrogen facility in the MENA, in collaboration with Siemens Energy.

Further, he emphasised the need for utilities across the world, to be prepared for the demand of the underground cable network to meet demands for charging and storage, created by the electric vehicle boom.

Since our life is so dependent on these high, medium and low voltage cables, power outages can cause significant economic damage.

Sebastian Verhoeven, director, High Voltage Laboratories, KEMA Labs explained the importance of quality for cables and the need for a significant number of testing of cables, distribution and transformers, for meeting economic stresses, chemical stresses and others. Cables should meet international standards, however, he added that certification should also be costeffective. KEMA Labs is a world leader for independent testing, inspection and certification in electrical industries.

Chaturvedy agreed with the need for balancing quality and cost, stating that Ducab is offering tailored solutions for projects, to meet the evolving demand for urban planning. "As global demand for cable grows, compliance with cable standards becomes important for all sectors such as utilities, transportation, petrochemicals and others. So, indepth type testing for assessing the quality of individual components is significant."

The enduse application for cables needs to take priority, he said. "The priority for sustainable urban development is to offer certified, tailored and quality solutions," he added. ■

"The priority for sustainable urban development is to offer certified, tailored and quality solutions, " said Ashish Chaturvedy, head of marketing at Ducab.

Prioritising clean energy investment

New report from IEA shows concerted international efforts are needed for a sustainable and resilient economic future in the developing world.

THE WORLD’S ENERGY and climate future increasingly hinges on whether emerging and developing economies are able to successfully transition to cleaner energy systems, calling for a step change in global efforts to mobilise and channel the massive surge in investment that is required, according to a new report by the International Energy Agency.

The special report – carried out in collaboration with the World Bank and the World Economic Forum – sets out a series of actions to enable these countries to overcome the major hurdles they face in attracting the financing to build the clean, modern and resilient energy systems that can power their growing economies for decades to come.

Annual clean energy investment in emerging and developing economies needs to increase by more than seven times – from less than US$150bn last year to more than US$1tn by 2030 to put the world on track to reach netzero emissions by 2050, according to the report, Financing Clean Energy Transitions in Emerging and Developing Economies. Unless much stronger action is taken, energyrelated carbon dioxide emissions from these economies – which are mostly in Asia, Africa and Latin America – are set to grow by five billion tonnes over the next two decades.

“In many emerging and developing economies, emissions are heading upwards while clean energy investments are faltering, creating a dangerous fault line in global efforts to reach climate and sustainable energy goals,’’ said Fatih Birol, the IEA Executive Director. “Countries are not starting on this journey from the same place – many do not have access to the funds they need to rapidly transition to a healthier and more prosperous energy future – and the damaging effects of the Covid19 crisis are lasting longer in many parts of the developing world.”

“There is no shortage of money worldwide, but it is not finding its way to the countries, sectors and projects where it is most needed,” said Dr Fatih Birol, the IEA Executive Director. “Governments need to give international public finance institutions a strong strategic mandate to finance clean energy transitions in the developing world.”

“A major catalyst is needed to make the 2020s the decade of transformative clean energy investment,” said Dr Birol. “The international system lacks a clear and unified focus on financing emissions reductions and clean energy – particularly in emerging and developing economies. Today’s strategies, capabilities and funding levels are well short of where they need to be. Our report is a global call to action –especially for those who have the wealth, resources and expertise to make a difference – and offers priority actions that can be taken now to move things forward fast.” The report calls for a focus on channelling and facilitating investment into sectors where clean technologies are marketready, especially in the areas of renewables and energy efficiency, but also laying the groundwork for scaling up lowcarbon fuels and industrial infrastructure needed to decarbonise rapidly growing and urbanising economies. It also calls for strengthening sustainable finance frameworks, addressing barriers on foreign investment, easing procedures for licensing and land acquisition, and rolling back policies that distort local energy markets.

The report underscores that clean energy investments and activities can bring substantial economic opportunities and jobs in industries that are expected to flourish in the coming decades as energy transitions accelerate worldwide. ■

“Our report is a global call to action –especially for those who have the wealth, resources and expertise to make a difference – and offers priority actions that can be taken now to move things forward fast. ”

The report underscores that clean energy investments and activities can bring substantial economic opportunities and jobs.