Energy Digital Magazine - May 2021

May 2021 | energydigital.com

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Inmarsat: Focuses on Utilities

Offshore Robotics Extending Their Reach No location is off limits for robots which are rewriting the operations and maintenance rulebook by reducing costs and raising safety FIND OUT

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The Energy Team EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

DOMINIC ELLIS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

SCOTT BIRCH

PRODUCTION DIRECTORS

GEORGIA ALLEN DANIELA KIANICKOVÁ PRODUCTION MANAGERS

OWEN MARTIN PHILLINE VICENTE JENNIFER SMITH PRODUCTION EDITOR

JANET BRICE

CREATIVE TEAM

OSCAR HATHAWAY SOPHIA FORTE SOPHIE-ANN PINNELL HECTOR PENROSE SAM HUBBARD MIMI GUNN JUSTIN SMITH REBEKAH BIRLESON

VIDEO PRODUCTION MANAGER

MEDIA SALES DIRECTOR

DIGITAL VIDEO PRODUCERS

SALES AND MARKETING DIRECTOR

KIERAN WAITE

SAM KEMP EVELYN HUANG TYLER LIVINGSTONE

DIGITAL MARKETING EXECUTIVE

DAISY SLATER GRETA ANDREJEVAITE PROJECT DIRECTORS

KARL GREEN THOMAS LIVERMORE JAMES RICHARDSON

MARK CAWSTON

JASON WESTGATE MANAGING DIRECTOR

LEWIS VAUGHAN

CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER

STACY NORMAN PRESIDENT & CEO

GLEN WHITE

energydigital.com

3

Listen Now

EDITOR'S LETTER

Carbon emissions take centre stage Net zero targets are coming sharper into view but can countries deliver on ambitious timeframes?

“The perennial challenge is not so much agreeing on the urgency of the climate crisis but delivering tangible measures”

One step forward, two steps back. Climate change commitments announced at the Leaders’ Summit were overshadowed by an IEA report stating global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions are on course to surge by 1.5 billion tonnes in 2021 – the second-largest increase in history.

The perennial challenge is not so much agreeing on the urgency of the climate crisis but delivering tangible measures that can filter down to every country and community – and quickly.

Whether it’s solar, wind or hydrogen, or heat pumps, fuel cells and electric vehicles – there’s no shortage of exciting developments, all underpinned by digital transformation and the constant growth in AI, ML and data analytics. Renewables-powered Scotland is an undoubted success story and the breadth of onshore and offshore activity is testament to the changes underway.

But there’s no time for complacency. As economies eagerly look to spur into action after COVID, the challenge is to manage growth sustainably.

DOMINIC ELLIS ENERGY DIGITAL MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED BY

dominic.ellis@bizclikmedia.com

© 2021 | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

energydigital.com

5

CONTENTS

Our Regular Upfront Section: 8

Big Picture

10 The Brief 12 Global News 14 People Moves 16 Timeline:

IEA Oil 2021 Report 18 Legend:

John F. “Jack” Welch Jr. 20 Five Mins With:

Vikram Takru

24

50

Solutions driven by edge connectivity

Integrating Engineering and Infrastructure to Enhance Urban Mobility

Edzcom, a Cellnex Company

Siemens

40

Digital Strategy

Can Green Alliances and Coalitions Tackle Decarbonisation?

64

Smart tech

Investing in Smart Grids

74

106

How COVID-19 has Driven Motor Oil’s Digital Transformation

Inmarsat Focuses on Utilities

Motor Oil

Inmarsat

88

114

Offshore Robotics Extend Their Reach

Procurement and Sustainability Strategy in Africa

RPA

96

SSE Energy Services

Digital transformation to deliver next-gen services at pace

Anheuser-Busch InBev

124 Top 10

Smart Cities

BIG PICTURE

Danish Energy Agency

8

May 2021

World’s First Wind Energy Hub Denmark

Denmark has reached a landmark agreement on the construction of an energy hub in the North Sea, 80kms from the Jutland peninsula shore. The hub will strengthen the integration of Europe’s power grids and increase renewable electricity production necessary for a climate-neutral Europe. Denmark has introduced a cut-off date of 2050 for oil and gas extraction in the North Sea and cancelled all future licensing rounds. energydigital.com

9

THE BRIEF “The pandemic has made everyone realize that we are vulnerable to natural events and raised the consciousness around the need to reduce carbon emissions and help fight climate change” Jean-Pascal Tricoire CEO, Schneider Electric  READ MORE

BY THE NUMBERS

Carbon emission cut commitments under the UK North Sea Transition Deal

£16 billion funding for O&G sector

25% 10%

by 2027

50%

by 2030

by 2025

“There’s a role for robotics to play in improving these processes and a real drive within the industry to adopt this new technology over the next five to 10 years” Matthew Hadden

Deputy Head of Delivery, ORE Catapult  READ MORE

“Utilities is a big focus for us, and with the onset of automation and need for high connectivity in the field, it’s a really good fit for satellite communications” Steven Tompkins

Director of Sector Development, Inmarsat 

EDITOR'S CHOICE UPSTREAM INVESTMENT CRUCIAL DURING TRANSITION PHASE It is crucial that the oil industry continues to invest in the upstream sector as it will take years to shift global transport fleets to EVs. READ MORE

PERSONAL AND PAPERLESS DRIVING DIGITAL UTILITY STRATEGIES Utilities are focusing on personalisation and paperless billing as they strive to increase engagement as a result of the digital changes accelerated by the pandemic.

READ MORE

TOP 10 NET ZERO BEHAVIOURAL CHANGES The road to net zero is sure to be complex but this report from the Energy Research Partnership succinctly explains the challenges and solutions ahead.

READ MORE READ MORE

10

May 2021

 SCOTTISHPOWER ScottishPower has submitted a planning application to deliver the UK’s largest electrolyser which will be the key component of a green hydrogen facility located close to its Whitelee windfarm.

Have we reached a hydrogen tipping point?

It may be expensive, challenging to store and highly flammable – but the energy industry remains gripped by hydrogen’s rising potential.

The newly launched India H2 Alliance aims to develop a 'hydrogen valley' supply chain across the country through proactive industry collaboration and government support.

The UK’s first hydrogen transport hub is one step closer to becoming a reality, following the unveiling of a masterplan backed by £3 million government funding in Teesside.

In Australia, Toyota has commissioned Victoria’s first commercial-grade permanent hydrogen production, storage and refuelling facility at its former manufacturing site at Altona.

The markets appear equally enthusiastic, with hydrogen benefiting from demand for ESG and clean energy funds.

Independent asset manager FiveT Capital Holding has launched a private infrastructure fund, FiveT Hydrogen Fund, dedicated to delivering clean hydrogen infrastructure projects at scale.

 SSE THERMAL AND EQUINOR SSE Thermal and Equinor have unveiled plans to develop two low-carbon power stations in UK’s Humber region. Keadby 3 comprises a 900MW power station and Keadby Hydrogen would have peak demand of 1,800MW of hydrogen.  CCUS PROJECTS Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) projects are 'a drop in the ocean' compared with global CO2 emissions, according to an IDXTech Ex report.  PETROFAC Petrofac has been notified by ADNOC Group that it has been suspended from competing for new awards in the UAE until further notice, following bribery and corruption charges against a former employee.

W A Y U P MAY21

W A Y D O W N energydigital.com

11

GLOBAL NEWS

1

2 UNITED STATES

Six US utilities launch Electric Highway Coalition Six major US utilities aim to ensure EV drivers can access a network of charging stations connecting highways in South, Midwest, Gulf and Central Plains regions. The coalition comprises Duke Energy, American Electric Power, Dominion Energy, Entergy Corporation, Southern Co., and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

READ MORE

12

May 2021

NORWAY

Ineos Energy sells Norwegian business to PGNiG for $615m Ineos Energy is selling its oil and gas business in Norway to PGNiG Upstream Norway for $615 million with the deal covering production, licenses, fields, facilities and pipelines on the Norwegian continental shelf. Ineos E&P Norge produces around 33,000 BOE per day from the Norwegian Sea. READ MORE

3

UZBEKISTAN

Phanes Group signs PPA for 200MW solar plant in Uzbekistan Phanes Group has signed a PPA and Investment Agreement with the Government of Uzbekistan for a 200 MWAC grid-connected solar PV plant at Nurata in the Navoi Region.

READ MORE

5

UAE

GM-based Cruise robotaxis to operate in Dubai from 2023 Futuristic-loving Dubai is teaming up with General Motors to introduce Cruise self-driving taxis from 2023 – becoming the first city to operate the vehicles outside the US. It plans to ramp up the vehicles, which have been operating in San Francisco, to 4,000 cars by 2030.

READ MORE

4

AUSTRALIA

Australia confronts ‘tidal wave’ of new renewables supply Up to 70,000GW of renewable energy supply is expected to be added to Australia's National Electricity Market (NEM) by 2025. Between three and five of the remaining 15 coal power stations in the NEM will be under financial stress by 2025.

READ MORE

energydigital.com

13

PEOPLE MOVES SIR ANDREW MACKENZIE FROM: BHP BILLITON TO: SHELL WAS: GROUP CEO NOW: CHAIRMAN Sir Andrew Mackenzie, former BHP CEO and BP veteran, succeeds Charles Holliday as Shell Chairman on May 18, after joining the company’s board in October 2020.

He transformed and simplified BHP, leading the South32 demerger and other asset sales, to focus on the safe and sustainable production of high quality orebodies.

During a 22-year career with BP, he held several senior posts, including Chief Reservoir Engineer, which holds overall responsibility for oil and gas reserves.

Mackenzie has received numerous awards, including the Geological Society of London's 2002 Aberconway Medal for his contributions to our understanding of the formation and entrapment of oil.

14

May 2021

“I look forward to working with Ben van Beurden and the Board to profitably accelerate Shell's transition into a netzero emissions energy business that continues to generate substantial value for shareholders, customers and communities alike”

NIGEL POCKLINGTON FROM: MONEYSUPERMARKET GROUP TO: GOOD ENERGY WAS: CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER NOW: CHIEF EXECUTIVE

ADRIAN BANNISTER

Pocklington takes up his position as Chief Executive at Good Energy on May 1, after working four-and-a-half years at Moneysupermarket Group, latterly as Chief Commercial Officer and previously as Managing Director of Insurance and Home Services. “I'm looking forward to joining in May and building on the pioneering work of Juliet Davenport and team,” he wrote in a post. Other roles include President of ebookers, Chief Executive of Media Ingenuity and Chief Marketing Officer of Hotels.com.

FROM: ARDYNE TO: OPTILAN WAS: CFO NOW: CFO Joining Optilan’s Executive Management Team as Chief Financial Officer, Bannister has over 25 years’ experience in CFO roles.

Prior to Ardyne, he held a series of similar strategic executive roles across a variety of Oilfield Services businesses.

With his combined energy and technology expertise, he will help spearhead Optilan’s future growth strategy in key energy and infrastructure sectors, and execute the company’s domestic and international growth strategies. energydigital.com

15

TIMELINE

IEA OIL

2021 Report Global oil demand, still reeling from the effects of the pandemic, is unlikely to catch up with its preCovid trajectory. In 2020, oil demand was nearly 9 mb/d below the level seen in 2019, and it is not expected to return to that level before 2023.

In the absence of more rapid policy intervention and behavioural

changes, longer-term drivers of growth will continue to push up oil demand. As a result, by 2026, global oil consumption is projected to reach 104.1 mb/d. This would represent an increase of 4.4 mb/d from 2019 levels. Oil demand in 2025 is set to be 2.5 mb/d lower than was forecast a year ago in the IEA’s Oil 2020 report.

World oil demand and supply (mb/d): 1Q21

2Q21

3Q21

4Q21

2021

DEMAND:

DEMAND:

DEMAND:

DEMAND:

DEMAND:

Total OECD:

Total OECD:

Total OECD:

Total OECD:

Total OECD:

43.3

43.8

45.4

46.5

44.7

Total Non-OECD:

Total Non-OECD:

Total Non-OECD:

Total Non-OECD:

Total Non-OECD:

50.7

51.1

52.3

52.7

51.7

Total Demand:

Total Demand:

Total Demand:

Total Demand:

Total Demand:

93.9

94.9

97.7

99.2

96.5

SUPPLY:

SUPPLY:

SUPPLY:

SUPPLY:

SUPPLY:

Total OECD:

Total OECD:

Total OECD:

Total OECD:

Total OECD:

27.8

28.1

28.3

28.7

28.2

Total Non-OECD:

Total Non-OECD:

Total Non-OECD:

Total Non-OECD:

Total Non-OECD:

30.3

30.8

30.8

30.7

30.6

Total Non-OPEC:

Total Non-OPEC:

Total Non-OPEC:

Total Non-OPEC:

Total Non-OPEC:

62.5

63.9

64.5

64.6

63.9

16

May 2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

DEMAND:

DEMAND:

DEMAND:

DEMAND:

DEMAND:

Total OECD:

Total OECD:

Total OECD:

Total OECD:

Total OECD:

45.8

46.2

46.2

46.0

45.8

Total Non-OECD:

Total Non-OECD:

Total Non-OECD:

Total Non-OECD:

Total Non-OECD:

53.7

55.0

56.1

57.2

58.3

Total Demand:

Total Demand:

Total Demand:

Total Demand:

Total Demand:

99.4

101.2

102.3

103.2

104.1

SUPPLY:

SUPPLY:

SUPPLY:

SUPPLY:

SUPPLY:

Total OECD:

Total OECD:

Total OECD:

Total OECD:

Total OECD:

29.0

29.6

29.9

29.9

29.7

Total Non-OECD:

Total Non-OECD:

Total Non-OECD:

Total Non-OECD:

Total Non-OECD:

31.5

32.0

32.0

32.1

32.1

Total Non-OPEC:

Total Non-OPEC:

Total Non-OPEC:

Total Non-OPEC:

Total Non-OPEC:

66.0

67.1

67.5

67.7

67.6 energydigital.com

17

LEGEND

John F. “Jack” Welch Jr. General Electric

N

icknamed ‘Jack’ by Fortune magazine, John F. Welch Jr. was also referred to as “manager of the century” by General Electric (GE), his latest and final employer, where he was in charge for 20 years, before his retirement in 2001. Welch began his stint with GE in 1960 as a chemical engineer for the company’s plastics division and went on to climb the ladder, eventually reaching the position of chairman and CEO in 1981, at the age of 45.

Within the first five years of taking the helm, Welch made many critical choices for the company. According to Welch’s GE-written Obituary, “Between 1983 and 1985, Welch entered GE into 118 acquisitions, joint ventures, and new companies, and disposed of 71 others.”.

Welch adopted Six Sigma principles through his efforts to simplify processes within GE (which he named the company in 1986). This move would enable the company to set specific targets and push all GE businesses to the first or second positions in their respective

18

May 2021

The man who led General Electric for

20

years

Died at age

84

on 1st March 2020 When he retired, GE’s market

US $410 bn

markets. When the market position of their companies became what he called “tired”, Welch strove to keep the company from stagnating by diversifying their operations. This led GE subsidiaries to open up positions in new markets, in which the company held less than 10% share.

Welch had a vision for the company, which could only be achieved through transparency.

This meant every employee would be clear about each other's role and how their everyday work contributed to the company’s overall success. Judging by comments in a press release following his death, Welch had a strong presence that influenced the company’s ethos significantly during his tenure.

“Today is a sad day for the entire GE family. Jack was larger than life and the heart of GE for half a century.

He reshaped the face of our company and the business world. Jack was a strong and constant influence throughout my career despite never having worked directly for him,” said Henry Lawrence Culp Jr., Chairman and CEO of General Electric.

“Jack was larger than life and the heart of GE for half a century” Henry Lawrence Culp Jr., Chairman and CEO of General Electric energydigital.com

19

FIVE MINS WITH...

VIKRAM TAKRU As the CEO of KloudGin, a cloud asset management platform, Vikram Takru specialises in cloud solutions which can reduce paper waste and optimize energy savings.

Here he outlines some of the key ways that the cloud can improve efficiencies.

Q. HOW IS CLOUD COMPUTING THE 'ENABLER OF GREEN IT'?

» Cloud computing is absolutely green

technology. It allows consolidation of the computing infrastructure, which in turn enables energy and resource efficiency. Many of the AWS and other hosting facilities are also working to power their operations via renewable energy sources, to make their operations more carbon neutral.

Q. MOST OF US CAN GRASP HOW THE CLOUD AND DIGITAL WORKFLOWS REDUCE PAPER WASTAGE BUT HOW DO THEY OPTIMISE ENERGY?

» Cloud systems are often architected as

multi-tenant SaaS applications and this innovative architecture enables the efficient use of shared computing resources. As a result, business users can consume resources only when they need it. Clouds can load-balance, or ‘turn off’ resources when not in use. These applications also digitize workflows, which eliminates paper processes. The reduction - or elimination of paper reduces waste, optimizes mobile field service, asset management, and worker and customer service efficiency, and provides the ability to deliver a touchless customer interaction.

20

May 2021

Q. WHAT ARE THE KEY WAYS COMPANIES CAN MAXIMISE THEIR GREEN TECH CAPABILITIES?

» Field Service & Asset Management

scheduling and route optimization engines can be driven by AI and ML. These new apps will schedule both field crews and equipment in a way that minimizes resource use and promotes efficiency.

Delivery of AI and ML-based service, asset management and optimization will be led by innovative, mobile and cloudfirst-based applications. Rather than having Field Service Management and Enterprise Asset Management run through separate programs, companies can run both through a single cloud-native, AI-empowered system.

A modern in-memory, high-capacity scheduling engine that utilizes ML algorithms can also deliver an unfailingly accurate work route optimization schedule.

This scheduling engine allows operations to reduce truck rolls, react faster and optimize dispatch call centers, helping businesses lower their carbon footprint.

For example, Hawaiian Telcom is leveraging KloudGin to deploy a fiber footprint throughout the islands, which will allow for more Hawai'i residents and businesses to have access to broadband. This, in turn, allows more people to work remotely, which reduces commute traffic and reduces the overall environmental impact.

Q. HOW WILL PREDICTIVE ASSET MAINTENANCE CHANGE OPERATIONS AND PROCESSES?

» Predictive maintenance’s goal is to

maintain equipment before it breaks down. Maintenance can be scheduled before the point of failure by combining

collected data and predictive analytics to estimate when a piece of equipment might fail. Ideally, maintenance should be scheduled at the most convenient and most cost-efficient time, to ensure the optimal lifespan for the equipment.

Imagine if a signal comes from your transformer or hydraulic pump that automatically directs the closest utility field crew - with the right parts and skillset - to conduct maintenance and prevent an asset failure before it happens.

Preventing incidents such as water leaks or equipment breakdown will play an increasingly large role towards achieving enterprise ESG goals and increasing community safety.

Predictive asset maintenance (PdM) can be bolstered by using ML algorithms to automatically identify defects and predict failures without interrupting operations.

Q. WHAT ROLE WILL CLOUD COMPUTING PLAY IN REALISING NET ZERO TARGETS?

» Route optimization algorithms based on ML will not only contribute to operational efficiency, but also allow greater fuel efficiency. This helps operations reduce their "truck rolls" and make sure that the technicians arrive safely and on time, with the right expertise and tools.

For example, integrated environmental services company Drain-All deployed a modern digital field force transformation system through KloudGin. In a matter of months, Drain-All‘s process automation reduced field report human errors, and created automated work order assignments with more efficient scheduling and dispatch - which led to a consolidation of roles, lowered carbon footprint, and incremental cost savings. energydigital.com

21

Women in Technology Technology Magazine is proud to launch a celebration of women in Global Technology.

With a foreword by our very own COO, Stacy Norman, Technology Magazine brings you the Top 100 Women in Technology as nominated by you!

Brought to you in association with:

A BizClik Media Group Brand

READ NOW

Creating Digital Communities in Technology

EDZCOM

Solutions driven by edge connectivity WRITTEN BY: JANET BRICE PRODUCED BY: STUART IRVING

24

May 2021

EDZCOM

energydigital.com

25

EDZCOM

Mikko Uusitalo, CEO, EDZCOM

26

May 2021

EDZCOM

Seamless connectivity is the cornerstone to driving digitalisation and building smart industries of the future, says Mikko Uusitalo CEO of Edzcom

E

dzcom is a pioneer in edge connectivity, offering solutions for the enterprise sector and is now entering an exciting new era following its acquisition by Cellnex Telecom.

Seven years after Edzcom was founded

by CEO Mikko Uusitalo, the European-based company, which designs, builds and operates private 4G and 5G networks for local coverage, looks set to accelerate its expansion.

According to Uusitalo edge connectivity is forecast to be a multi-billion dollar market which Edzcom can now leverage with Cellnex on board and their decision to only work with the best-in-breed technology partners which include Intel, Athonet, Nokia, Streamwide and Signify.

“We have the experience and real references, which is very important for customers in this emerging multi-billion

“ We help enterprises do things in a smarter way and provide technology solutions to drive innovation” MIKKO UUSITALO CEO, EDZCOM

dollar market,” said Uusitalo speaking from his office in Barcelona. “Seamless connectivity is the cornerstone to driving digitalisation and building smart industries of the future.”

Uusitalo pointed out this is the ideal moment to accelerate towards Industry 4.0 as telcoms are again in the ‘S-curve’ which is forcing mobile operators to address change particularly in the areas of safety, improved efficiency and enable new revenue streams.

“We have the competitive edge in this market as we have picked the best partners to be part of our ecosystem and we are now part of Cellnex which is considered a sustainable, viable partner in the global telecoms business and will be here for the long term,” he said.

“We currently employ around 30-40 people at the moment but this is growing very rapidly because we are investing for growth in 13 different countries in Europe – mostly in France, UK, Spain, Netherlands and Northern Europe where we built the business.

“We are building the sales capabilities across the different countries where Cellnex is present as we are now part of this leading telecom infrastructure company in Europe with a market cap of more than €30 billion,” said Uusitalo who pointed out being part of Cellnex allows him to focus on growing the business through flexible and as a service business models. energydigital.com

27

EDZCOM

Providing edge connectivity solutions to enterprise and public sector | Mikko Uuzitalo | Edzcom

Solutions from edge connectivity Since its launch in 2014 Edzcom’s Edge Connectivity solutions offer highperformance wireless connectivity for enterprise resource planning, automation, robotics and real-time remote monitoring.

Edzcom brings a single point of contact to designing, building and operating a tailored private network, deploying best practices and technologies to become the long-term partner of each enterprise and help them achieve their digitalisation goals.​ According to Uusitalo, edge connectivity helps industries from manufacturing to mining, utilities and logistics and energy generation to unlock productivity and growth, by offering continuity and security for business-critical operations. Network performance is monitored by the customer via Edzcom dashboard, ensuring 100 per cent customer control.

Some of their high profile customers are Konecranes and KymiRing.

28

May 2021

It was announced in April that Edzcom will deploy a 5G SA private wireless network to support Konecranes’ advanced R&D work.

The 5G network will enable Konecranes to research and develop digitalised factory and port solutions that leverage 5G’s high bandwidth and low latency for increased productivity, improved efficiency, and enhanced safety.

“ We have the experience and real references, which is very important for customers in this emerging multi-billion dollar market” MIKKO UUSITALO CEO, EDZCOM

EDZCOM

MIKKO UUSITALO

For Kymiring motorsports and events venue, private wireless network will enable motorsport audiences around the world to get to enjoy an entirely new kind of spectator experience with KymiRing’s first-class network services. The capacity and speed of the network will enable unprecedented televising techniques for motorsport.

TITLE: CEO INDUSTRY: TELECOMMUNICATIONS LOCATION: BARCELONA Mikko Uusitalo, CEO of Edzcom, is a highly progressive, dynamic, and results oriented leader with strong track record of increasing revenues, profits and market share through generating customer focused solutions, marketing, turnarounds and increased organisational performance.

Excellent networking and crossorganizational collaboration skills.

Capable of resolving multiple and complex (leadership, management, strategy, sales and business development, marketing, operational, financial, and legal) challenges, and motivating teams to achieve peak performance through collaboration.

Edzcom is focused on building solutions for enterprises which include: • Logistics (ports and airports) Enabling higher productivity, improved situational awareness and safety while creating new revenue streams.

• Manufacturing Connecting an unprecedented volume of machines, IoT sensors and data to drive cost-efficiency and improve quality.

• Mining Connecting assets in open-pit and underground mines to enable automation and accelerate productivity.

2014 Year founded

40

Number of employees

EXECUTIVE BIO

• Utilities and Energy Providing connectivity to boost situational awareness and predictive maintenance for safer and efficient operations.

EDZCOM

Athonet Private 5G Wi-Fi-like Simplicity. Wire-like Reliability.

Is your Private 5G technology vendor trusted by the world’s major governments, utilities, ports and airports?

With over 10 years of experience and over 500K private SIMs deployed, Athonet is the established market leader in Private LTE &5G Core Network technology.

For Private 5G as simple as Wi-Fi Open5G@athonet.com

EDZCOM

“ Not technology first, but business and customers first” MIKKO UUSITALO

He gives an example that if connectivity goes down at a mine for more than 20 minutes work has to stop – costing the enterprise millions of dollars per day. “We can avoid this by designing, building and operating the network to provide as much uptime as customer requires.

CEO, EDZCOM

Uusitalo points out there are three advantages to an enterprise investing in a private network closer to the site, including: • Improving safety Ensuring 24/7 communications and enabling automatisation of hazardous operations • Accelerating efficiency Securing 24/7/365 continuity of business critical operations and increasing productivity

WHAT IS EDGE CONNECTIVITY? Edge connectivity is a private network solution, connecting assets, equipment and people in the field that is designed, built and operated at the edge – meaning the local coverage site.​ Network design ensures full autonomy and reliability for business-critical operations by ensuring all network components are at the edge:

“We help enterprises do things in a smarter way and provide technology solutions to drive innovation. We do that by providing a high-performance next generation wireless connectivity environment for enterprise customers to work smarter which drives growth and revenue streams,” he said.

Commenting on the benefits of a tailored private network compared to Wifi, Uusitalo said: “What we bring on board is the 4G and 5G radio components that ensure highperformance connectivity with very low latency and high uptime which is always available and designed for the customer use cases.”

DID YOU KNOW...

• New revenue streams Enabling micro-operator opportunities and enabling new revenue streams through innovative product development

• Private, geo-redundant network architecture • Dedicated spectrum • Interconnection to the existing architecture • Data stays on site • Network performance dashboard and control • Connection for all assets with seamless handover

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EDZCOM

“ What we bring on board is the 4G and 5G radio components that ensure highperformance connectivity with very low latency and high uptime which is always available and designed for the customer use cases” MIKKO UUSITALO CEO, EDZCOM

We do this by duplicating the components, adding battery and backup generators which will make the network always available.”

Competitive edge Edzcom may be known for its edge connectivity but when it comes to their competitive edge, Uusitalo cites the following factors: • Provide leading network experience with superior connectivity and communications solutions • Unbeatable experience from 32 network deployments • World-class team to deploy your network “We are the market leader and have the most references in Europe for these kinds of solutions. We now have 32 live networks that we've designed, built and operate,” he said.

Customer solutions over technology “Our key message is it's not just about the technology but about how we can help the customer solve the challenges they have and how we can help them to make their calls. Not technology first, but business and customers first.

32

May 2021

EDZCOM

32

private 4G/5G networks deployed

13

covered countries in Europe and expanding

7

years of experience and market leaders in Edge Connectivity

15

years of experience in mission critical communications

100%

owned by Cellnex Telecom

energydigital.com

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EDZCOM

EDZCOM

QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS...

What top 3 benefits will 5G bring your clients?

“The implementation of 5G will bring incredible benefits for our clients as it will enable a new set of use cases as you can operate in a different way when you have a connectivity that's always on, that's mobile and is low latency. That should improve your bottom line by saving and being more efficient or by actually constantly innovating. Another bonus is the increased safety of employees.”

What future technology trend are you most excited about?

“I'm very excited about the trend of everything moving towards edge – meaning that edge connectivity and computing are at the

customer side – at the edge. In the past years we've mainly focused on cloud, which is of course also a very important trend, but now the trend is moving back to the edge.

What message would you give an enterprise hesitant about moving to edge connectivity with Edzcom?

“My message to prospective customers is to look at our track record and talk to us as we can share use cases from other, or similar, industries which will inspire you to move to edge connectivity. Talk to us and we can figure out the best result. I can guarantee the outcome will be positive, I think our proposition should get any business person excited. We are able to do some very cool things with edge.”

energydigital.com

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EDZCOM

ADVERT SILVER

ADVERT SILVER

“ We believe the solutions we offer are valuable to our customers as edge connectivity close to a site is vital for a successful future” MIKKO UUSITALO CEO, EDZCOM

36

May 2021

EDZCOM

CELLNEX TELECOM

DID YOU KNOW...

Cellnex Telecom is Europe’s leading Title of the video operator of wireless telecommunications and broadcasting infrastructures with a portfolio of more than 128,000 sites.

The Company operates in Spain, Italy, Netherlands, France, Switzerland, the UK, Ireland, Portugal, Austria, Denmark, Sweden and Poland.

“Cellnex is a very interesting growth story because they have transformed from a local Spanish company in a PanEuropean player in just six years mainly to M&A and long term as a service based business model,” commented CEO of Edzcom Mikko Uusitalo.

“From starting in Spain they are now present in 13 countries and they provide their main business to provide the telecom infrastructure which powers the mobile operators.

They have now diversified into the enterprise sector which Edzcom is now part of.”

Cellnex provides the infrastructure for voice and data in broadcasting serving more than 200 million people in Europe.

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EDZCOM

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

DID YOU KNOW...

Associations: At a corporate level Cellnex is a member of the EWIA (www.ewia.org) association. Tobias Martinez (Cellnex CEO) is currently the Chairman of the Association.

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Events: The most significant international event we participate in is the Mobile World Congress. There is also the Meetup Europe organised by TowerXchange.

In terms of Private Networks, we participate at several industry events like Private networks in a 5G world

by Informa, UPTIME by Athonet and the Critical Communications World by TCCA.

May 2021

“The world is constantly changing and in order to continue to be viable and sustainable one, has to look at the new base of doing things and new technologies. We believe the solutions we offer are valuable to our customers as edge connectivity close to a site is vital for a successful future.”

Best-of-breed technology partners Uusitalo highlights the importance of their best-of-breed technology partnerships with Intel, Athonet and Nokia to drive forward their growth.

“No-one can do this alone. If you want to be really valued by the customer – who are investing capital in you – then bring the best you can. Our philosophy and strategy is to work with the best companies in the industry where we don’t have the competence to do it ourselves.

“We work with leaders in the market like Athonet that provides critical components in

EDZCOM

Meet EDZCOM

the mobile cellular network which is kind of the brain of the network called core network. This is an Italian company which we believe is the market leader and innovator in this space. They deployed one of the the world’s first private LTE core networks over a decade ago and are a very affordable but reliable partner for the most critical component – the core network.”

Uusitalo also points out the importance of Edzom’s partnership with Intel which he describes as having “tremendous innovation capabilities”.

Focusing on Intel he said they work to ensure the hardware partners use that technology and more importantly are investing in innovation.

“For example, in the new use cases it means they just don’t have the connectivity part, but also the computing power on site close to the customer. This brings a lot of insight, innovation and technical competence for us to make sure we design our solutions that are innovative and state-of-the-art.”

Focus on the future Looking ahead, Uusitalo says the aim for the coming year will be to grow which means acquiring more customers. “It is a challenging environment, but what we have to do is find the customers who need the solutions offered by edge connectivity.

We are investing in marketing to become more well known and try to deploy our solutions to customers in areas where there might be a lockdown or restrictions in their country.

“But when we are able to travel and meet customers it's very rewarding to help them with new ideas and innovation that will help them to be more efficient or provide a safer environment in the future,” he said.

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Can Green Alliances and Coalitions Tackle

Decarbonisation?

As leading European companies pledge €100 billion to be carbon-free by 2030, and a new Green Digital Coalition is launched, digital strategies must focus on renewables and sustainability

WRITTEN BY: DOMINIC ELLIS

T

en years seems a reasonable length of time but it’s not long when you’re tackling decarbonisation, pursuing a standardized cross-sector CO2 price and setting end dates for carbon-intense technologies – all with the responsibility of an €100 billion price tag hanging over you.

That’s the situation facing the European CEO Alliance, which was formed in 2020 against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic and the historic European Green Deal – which proposes €1 trillion 40

May 2021

in sustainable investments over the next decade (the complementary Just Transition Mechanism aims to mobilize at least €100 billion from 2021-2027 in financial and technical assistance).

The businesses making up the alliance are ABB, AkzoNobel, ENEL, E.ON, Iberdrola, Maersk, SAP, Scania, Schneider Electric, Philips, Siemens and Volkswagen.

Collectively, they generate €600 billion in annual revenues and employ 1.7 million people.

DIGITAL STRATEGY

Their common goal is to make the EU the world's leading region for climate protection while unlocking investments, driving innovations in tomorrow’s technologies and creating future proof jobs.

Less a think tank, the alliance pitches itself as an ‘Action Tank’, collaborating practically in concrete joint projects.

Specific collaborations will encompass energy systems and see how renewable power generation can be scaled up rapidly and power grids modernised; expanding

EV charging infrastructure in tandem with low-carbon transport; zero-impact production – particularly for renewable power generation components – along with zero-emissions offices and green city planning, as well as carbon tracking with digital tech in the supply chain and sustainable finance.

European Commission Executive VicePresident Frans Timmermans acknowledges that making Europe climate neutral by 2050 is a huge challenge but it will propose energydigital.com

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Transforming Utilities Projects to Meet the Challenges of the 21st Century To effectively manage growing portfolios of capital projects, organizations require project management solutions that offer mobility, accessibility, and visibility across entire programs and functional teams to help streamline and automate processes.

Do you have what it takes?

DIGITAL STRATEGY

legislation to put key sectors such as energy and transport on the right track.

“Our long-term plan includes investment in charging infrastructure, battery production, renovation and renewable energy production,” he said, adding that the NextGeneration EU recovery fund, a €750 billion temporary recovery instrument to repair economic damage from COVID, will aim to kick-start the new green drive.

The CEO Alliance is convinced that ambitious decarbonisation and crosssector collaboration require ambitious and cross-sector policy frameworks, for example carbon pricing with a minimum floor price in the EU Emissions Trading System, a reform of the energy taxation system, and driving demand for sustainable, innovative and digital solutions, among other things by using renewal schemes, public procurement and investments.

For Schneider Electric, recently recognised by Ethisphere as one of the world's most ethical companies, sustainability and technology have always been at the heart of its business – which means it now finds itself in a sweet spot as demand for both escalates.

CEO Jean-Pascal Tricoire said: “At the start of 2020, I feared that people facing a crisis would stop their environmental commitments, but it has been just the contrary. The pandemic has made everyone realize that we are vulnerable to natural events and raised the consciousness around the need to reduce carbon emissions and help fight climate change. The second major trend to emerge from the crisis was a shift towards digital technologies and automated systems, which have been the foundation of Schneider’s business for the last 20 years.” energydigital.com

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DIGITAL STRATEGY

Jerome Soltani, SVP US Services, Schneider Electric, added that its focus on digitization and partnership with partners like ServiceMax have helped eliminate up to 70 percent of paper-based processes and unlocked operational efficiencies which help service customers faster and more effectively.

“The transformation has also led to an improved install base knowledge among our technicians, who now help service more than eight million assets, five times the number before embarking upon the digital transformation journey,” he said.

The pandemic has enhanced remote strategies and rather than deliver hardware assets to customers, it can now remotely offer customers diagnosis, maintenance and uptime to keep their operations running.

“Through thermal and environmental sensing technologies, we are able to enable analytics based 24/7 remote monitoring and expert recommendations to help maintain

optimum safety and performance from critical field equipment assets,” he said.

Delivering on decarbonisation will be taxing for governments and corporations globally.

The UK's net-zero carbon target for all homes by 2050 is unlikely to be met without a major overhaul of the current system, MPs were warned recently, with The House of Commons environmental audit committee stating decarbonising UK homes within 30 years will cost £342bn – way above the government's estimates of between £35-£65bn.

The Dutch government is expected to decide by the end of April on a climate change policy program after a consultation led to a series of measures proposed by businesses, activists and other groups. Plans include a tax on CO2 emissions for corporations, on top of the EU’s current Emissions Trading System. The Supreme Court of Canada recently upheld a national carbon tax that is the cornerstone of Prime Minister Justin Trudea’s climate plan.

EU to set up Ten NEW European Partnerships for Green and Digital investment

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May 2021

DIGITAL STRATEGY

James Fisher targets renewables growth James Fisher is harnessing its 14 years’ experience in the offshore wind sector to launch James Fisher Renewables. The new brand aligns the specialist capabilities from existing group companies Rotos 360, EDS HV, James Fisher, Asset Information Services, Strainstall, James Fisher Offshore, Scantech Offshore, and Scantech AS. Additionally, James Fisher Subtech will deliver subsea expertise (PLGR, UXO EOD, route clearance, IRM etc) through James Fisher Renewables as well as continuing its work in the oil and gas, nearshore marine and civil construction, rapid response & salvage, and decommissioning industries.

“The rapid evolution of offshore wind, compounded by additional pandemic induced challenges, has led to an increasing reliance on digital tools throughout the wind energy industry,” said Laura Fairley, Market Development Manager. “Factoring in a subsidy-free market, our priority is to drive efficiencies by supporting our partners

to implement an effective digitalisation measures that ease some of the pain points around construction, maintenance, data and process.”

The higher costs of financing projects in a subsidy free market means that steps have been taken to reduce the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for consumers, such as building larger turbines further offshore.

To keep up with the monitoring, management and maintenance of these next generation assets, along with managing the increased logistical challenges associated with construction, its digital tools can support planning, building and operations.

Solutions include R2S, its digital twin for remote management, Mermaid, its operational risk planning solutions, designed to quantify and reduce the effect of metocean conditions on marine operations, and OWMS, its marine management and co-ordinate systems for enhanced decision-making in construction, operations and maintenance phases. energydigital.com

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DIGITAL STRATEGY

News in brief AVEVA has joined forces with OSIsoft to meet the expanding information management needs of industrial companies and accelerate their digital transformation. The combined portfolio brings OSIsoft’s data management together with AVEVA’s industrial software to unlock Performance Intelligence.

Smart Energy scale-up Sensorfact has raised €3.7 million to expand across Europe. Established in 2016, Sensorfact developed a plug-and-play energy management system, to provide an ‘easy and affordable solution’ for industrial SMEs to reduce their energy consumption.

Sweden battery factory

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Liberty Global drives European Green Digital Coalition EU Member States recently convened to discuss current and future challenges of digital technologies in Digital Day 2021 and the European Green Digital Coalition was launched. The coalition not only aims to help the tech sector become more sustainable, circular and a zero polluter, but also support sustainability goals of other priority sectors such as energy, transport, agriculture, and construction.

DIGITAL STRATEGY

Mike Fries, CEO of founding member Liberty Global, said: “Digital technologies have a huge role to play in the fight against climate change and we look forward to utilising our networks and expertise to help deliver a greener and more sustainable future.”

Companies take action to support the green and digital transformation of the EU | Shaping Europe’s digital future (europa.eu) VodafoneZiggo, Liberty Global’s Joint Venture in the Netherlands, launched its first Green Bond in December. The bond will be used to

finance projects that support VodafoneZiggo’s transition towards low-carbon, climate-resilient growth in areas such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean transportation, ecoefficient products, technology and processes and green buildings.

Virgin Media Ireland is bringing 100% renewable energy to their access network, while Sunrise UPC in Switzerland has rolled out new technology which increases the energy efficiency of its 5G mobile network.

Under the European Green Digital Declaration, companies commit to establishing science-based targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 and becoming climate neutral no later than 2040.

Growing international synergies in battery development, focus on electrification Shenzhen Senior Technology Material recently announced plans to invest €250 million until 2025 to establish a production facility at Svista industrial estate in Eskilstuna, Sweden. The facility will be one of Europe’s largest factories and supply Northvolt with separator film for lithiumion batteries.

Shenzhen Senior Technology Material recently announced plans to invest

€250 million until 2025 to establish a production facility at Svista industrial estate in Eskilstuna, Sweden

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DIGITAL STRATEGY

“ The pandemic has made everyone realize that we are vulnerable to natural events and raised the consciousness around the need to reduce carbon emissions and help fight climate change” JEAN-PASCAL TRICOIRE

CEO, SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC

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DIGITAL STRATEGY

In February, Northvolt announced a $200 million investment in Gdansk, marking Europe’s largest factory for energy storage solutions, which will begin production next year with an initial annual capacity of 5 GWh. Last year Northvolt signed a raw material supply agreement with China’s Kedali Industry.

The European Battery Alliance (EBA) was launched in October 2017 by European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič. Its purpose is to ensure that all Europeans benefit from safer traffic, cleaner vehicles and more sustainable technological solutions, through the development of a sustainable battery cell manufacturing value chain on the continent.

Sylvie Ouziel, International President, Envision Digital, said many countries are engaged in the transition toward renewable electrification of their economies but renewables create challenges for power grids and the continuity of electricity supply, which are experienced during extreme weather conditions or in low demand days during COVID. “Our conviction is that renewables’ industrial progress and increased penetration are indissociable from adopting the latest technologies,” she said. It is providing high resolution weather forecast, high accuracy power forecast, and optimization algorithms coupled with battery storage charging control solutions to different players (grid operators, energy generators, large commercial and industrial electricity clients, or individual consumers) to support this permanent balance challenge.

“To allow further adoption of renewables, we are collaborating with a specialized research institute to constantly reduce latency and ensure milli-second controls. We are also exploring graph databases to allow the grid to solve optimization challenges faster compared with conventional, relational databases,” she added. energydigital.com

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SIEMENS

INTEGRATING

ENGINEERING AND INFRASTRUCTURE

TO ENHANCE URBAN MOBILITY WRITTEN BY: DAN BRIGHTMORE PRODUCED BY: KARL GREEN

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May 2021

SIEMENS

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SIEMENS

Kunal Chandra Vice President, Shared Autonomous Mobility at Siemens Mobility

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SIEMENS

How Siemens is developing a digital twin vehicle model for smart cities to help enable a safe and accessible future for autonomous transport.

H

ow will the hard-fought vision of autonomous mobility finally be realised? Siemens has brought together two of its global businesses to achieve a goal that will pave the way for safer, greener more efficient modes of travel in our cities. Siemens Digital Industries Software is working with OEMs to guide the development of the hardware and software required for safe, highly autonomous vehicles. Allied to this, Siemens Mobility’s efforts to deliver the compute requirements and communication capabilities needed for the smart city infrastructure will allow vehicles to apply the information received and make intelligent decisions.

A challenge met through collaboration “Ours is a multi-pronged approach,” explains David Fritz, Senior Director, Autonomous and ADAS at Siemens Digital Industries Software (DISW). “At Siemens, we’re engineeringcentric and, with automotive, need to help our partners understand how to make the journey from the mechanical to the digital.

It's a big leap and the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of integrated software and services is helping us make that jump, by providing our partners with the ability to transition many disparate parts into a cohesive system. This includes not only engineering level simulation, but also requirements tracking and traceability from concept all the way through to the production of the vehicle itself.” energydigital.com

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SIEMENS

DAVID FRITZ TITLE: SENIOR DIRECTOR, AUTONOMOUS AND ADAS AT SIEMENS DIGITAL INDUSTRIES SOFTWARE (DISW) David Fritz joined Siemens with the acquisition of Mentor Graphics and is currently the Senior Director for Autonomous and ADAS systems at Siemens Digital Industries. David is focused on the modelling of autonomous vehicles and addressing the complexities that the automotive industry and its suppliers are encountering. Before joining Mentor Graphics, Fritz was Senior Director of Technical Program Management at Qualcomm. Previously Fritz worked for NVIDIA as a Tegra chip manager.

KUNAL CHANDRA

MEET THE TEAM

TITLE: VICE PRESIDENT, SHARED AUTONOMOUS MOBILITY AT SIEMENS MOBILITY

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Kunal Chandra is currently the VicePresident for Shared Autonomous Mobility in Siemens Mobility. In his role Kunal leads the development of autonomous mobility solutions for cities and public transport operators. Prior to this Kunal led the New Energy Businesses for Siemens energy where he was responsible for diversification of its portfolio into new energy value chains. In this role Kunal developed the hydrogen and Powerto-X portfolio. Kunal holds a Bachelor in Technology degree from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and an MBA (Hons.) from IMD Business School, Switzerland.

May 2021

Siemens Mobility is working to prove the concept of smart cities with governmental bodies and municipalities to deliver the future of mobility, particularly in urban environments. “Technology works best when it’s in the background,” maintains Kunal Chandra, Vice President, Shared Autonomous Mobility at Siemens Mobility.

“The purpose that a technology serves should be the driving factor. If you apply autonomous vehicles to public transport you can achieve much higher decongestion

SIEMENS

of cities. Right now, cities are designed around accommodating vehicles. Frankly, it's bizarre that we have so many journeys of two kilometers where a 75-kilo person is transported in a two-ton car. It’s a problem we’re aiming to solve while making that solution cost-efficient, safe, demand responsive, accessible, and convenient.”

Safety, Security & Reliability “If you're going to entrust your well-being to a computer, you want to make sure it’s

safe to do so,” reasons Fritz. “A big part of the problem is how you can actually show that the vehicle making decisions for you is making them with the appropriate amount of caution. We’re working with governments and regulatory bodies on solutions that make engineering and practical sense.”

Fritz explains his team’s approach is based around scenario level testing for safety. This is combined with security that goes beyond software, starting at the chipset level with integrated circuit design implementation. energydigital.com

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SIEMENS

PAVE360

Architect, design, devlop, test and validate your next-generation vehicle years before SOP. Shift software left and improve quality, safety, security and reliability with Siemens’ comprehensive PAVE360 environment.

Learn more > 56

May 2021

SIEMENS

“We’re working with governments and regulatory bodies on solutions for safety, reliability and security that make engineering and statistical sense” DAVID FRITZ

SENIOR DIRECTOR, AUTONOMOUS AND ADAS, SIEMENS DIGITAL INDUSTRIES SOFTWARE (DISW)

Reliability is key, because, he reasons, it’s no good having a safe and secure vehicle you can’t rely on to get you from A to B. “There are many standards emerging to address the key issues at various levels.

Therefore, getting involved in their creation and promoting those initiatives is key.

However, the big issue remains: How do you show safe, secure, and reliable? Today, everyone is aware of the likes of Tesla and GM, but it's going to take a fleet of hundreds of cars, decades, if not centuries, to drive enough unique miles and encounter enough unique situations to statistically show they're safer than a human driver.”

That approach is, of course, totally impractical and not the one preferred by engineers like Fritz and Chandra. “We’re leveraging the formalism and determinism of digital twins of the vehicle,” explains Fritz.

“It can then be shown to behave just like the physical vehicle it models, and it can be driven in a virtual world with all of its practical and complex scenarios validated.”

Digital Twin Using a digital twin enables Siemens to simulate thousands of scenarios to develop the learning that will ultimately support intelligent and safe decisions. In the virtual energydigital.com

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Copyright by Hamburger Hochbahn

world there are no boundaries to the scenarios the vehicle can learn from. “I can guarantee you that no autonomous vehicle is sitting at the base of a bridge in San Francisco waiting for an earthquake so it can drive across that bridge to ensure it behaves properly,” reasons Fritz.

“Yet, if you're in San Francisco and want to buy an autonomous vehicle, that's an important consideration.”

Region-specific scenarios like this may not happen very often but, when they do, the implications are potentially serious and 58

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need to be validated. Many of these are too unsafe or just too difficult to do in a physical vehicle, which is what makes the use of a digital twin so vital.

“Driving students are taught to watch out for pedestrians crossing the road between cars, we’ve all been through that standard process,” reasons Fritz. “If we take that process and identify 50 things you’ve got to learn, we can begin to set up the scenarios for autonomous vehicles that can deliver timeless learnings applicable in all regional settings. Sure, there

SIEMENS

“The purpose that a technology serves should be the driving factor. If we apply autonomous vehicles to public transport we can achieve much higher decongestion of cities” KUNAL CHANDRA

VICE PRESIDENT, SHARED AUTONOMOUS MOBILITY SIEMENS MOBILITY energydigital.com

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SIEMENS

“ The vision for this technology is to make our cities less passive. Cities need to become smarter and ready to interact with citizens, however they choose to travel.”

KUNAL CHANDRA

VICE PRESIDENT, SHARED AUTONOMOUS MOBILITY SIEMENS MOBILITY

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are many thousands of potential variants of scenarios, but a new driver does not need to experience them all before getting a learner’s permit. What we are saying is that there should be a reasonable set of unsafe and practical scenarios that must be navigated virtually for an autonomous vehicle to earn its learner’s permit.”

Smart Cities Outside of the Middle East - Neom in Saudia Arabia and Masdar in the UAE being recent examples - there are very few cities that can be built smart from the ground up. In most cities across the globe it’s a case of brownfield development notes Chandra.

SIEMENS

“It’s important to accurately diagnose the current status of the system before you can implement change. You might want to deploy autonomous shuttles across Paris, but without understanding the overall impact it will have on the city, we might end up creating many unpriced externalities. Therefore, it is crucial to create a digital twin of the city before you implement any large-scale changes to be able to properly evaluate the overall system impact of the changes. Paris is already on track with this approach, and countries like Singapore are building on the work already done with analogue twins.

The synergy between the digital twin of the autonomous vehicle and the smart city it will operate within needs to be nurtured. “By interfacing with a digital version of the smart city infrastructure we can show that when these vehicles are produced in reality will behave properly in thousands of important scenarios,” adds Fritz.

The ability to communicate across that environment will be supported by cloudbased data handling that allows vehicles to understand, recover and re-use information.

Chandra highlights that fast data requirements will rely on low latency communications, which the advent of 5G will further enhance.

“The next step would be to take a vehicle into a real urban environment for testing,” continues Fritz. “In effect, the vehicle would have earned its learner’s permit in the virtual world before it is tested to ensure the physical vehicle behaves as the digital twin predicted it would. This requires the application of a practical methodology based on engineering principles to deliver a safe vehicle.”

To gain traction, Siemens is working with major metropolitan municipalities to develop this synergy and put together a certification process to provide a pathway for autonomous vehicles to get their learner’s permit. “It’s the same process your smartphone has to go

Siemens – Driving the future of mobility

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SIEMENS

“ By interfacing with a digital version of the smart city infrastructure we can show that when these vehicles are produced in reality they will behave properly in thousands of important scenarios” DAVID FRITZ SENIOR DIRECTOR, AUTONOMOUS AND ADAS, SIEMENS DIGITAL INDUSTRIES, SOFTWARE (DISW)

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SIEMENS

1847

Year Founded.

293,000

Number of Employees.

€57bn Revenue.

through before it can be placed on a network,” says Fritz. “There are environments used to show correct operation before you could take that device to market and connect up to a carrier’s network. Obviously, vehicles require many more checks and balances, which is where the digital twin can help us demonstrate correct interoperability with the smart city infrastructure that will support safe operation.”

A new vision for mobility Siemens aims to deploy solutions that give back more space to people in cities so they can actually use it to live. “In the long-term, we need to tackle the peak hour problem,” maintains Chandra. “There are certain hours of the day when the demand placed on the entire city infrastructure is high. Yet, as this demand starts to plateau, much of this peak hour infrastructure is sitting there without being utilized.”

Chandra believes it’s vital to make it extremely easy for people to move from one place to another, without having to find a parking spot, or match their schedule with this peak hour problem. “We have to make things demand-responsive,” he says.

“The vision for this technology is to make our cities less passive. They need to become smart and ready to interact with their citizens, however they choose to travel.

With the development of fast, low latency communications, we can actually make our cities talk. And with sensors everywhere to monitor the quality of life, to monitor all aspects of mobility, this information would enhance the driving experience and ultimately lower accident rates. Cities can tell us so much, we just need to embrace the opportunity to listen.”

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SMART GRIDS

Investing in Smart Grids

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May 2021

SMART GRIDS

As demand for data-driven efficiencies rises Energy Digital reviews the latest smart grid and nanogrid developments and considers vehicle-to-grid’s potential WRITTEN BY: TILLY KENYON

I

n tandem with wider digital transformation, smart grids are rising in stature. The ‘demand/response capacity’ helps balance or match electrical consumption with supply and can be achieved through the integration of automated digital metering, such as smart meters and appliances. Devices are capable of two-way communication, relaying information about both supply and demand between producers and consumers.

The smart grid enables for real time monitoring of the system which can reduce electrical wastage, plus the companies and the consumer can see electrical usage as it occurs. Real time control also increases the reliability, efficiency and speed of the grid.

When an area is affected by an unforeseen event that causes a loss of power, electricity will be automatically redirected via an alternative route, ensuring that there is no impact on the consumer. The introduction of smart meters allows the consumer to manage energy usage more efficiently than before, creating a more reliable and low carbon energy industry.

The UK’s smart meter rollout programme has now installed over 15 million devices since starting in 2012. ElectraLink’s Energy Market Data Hub recorded 163,000 smart meter installations in February alone.

The areas with the highest installations in February were east and southern England, which both recorded 23,000 in the month, followed by the east midlands with 18,000 installations. energydigital.com

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You see the Windy City.

We see an imminent power outage on Michigan Avenue.

C3.ai transforms Utilities. © 2020 C3.ai, Inc. All Rights Reserved. is a mark of C3.ai, Inc.

SMART GRIDS

T:297 mm

“ The success of the UK’s net zero ambitions is hinged on the smart meter rollout reaching a large majority of households and businesses, therefore the 15 million installation milestone marks positive news for both programmes” DAN HOPKINSON

DIRECTOR OF DATA AND TRANSFORMATION, ELECTRALINK

Dan Hopkinson, Director of Data and Transformation, said: “The success of the UK’s net zero ambitions is hinged on the smart meter rollout reaching a large majority of households and businesses, therefore the 15 million installation milestone marks positive news for both programmes.

“We look forward to a re-energised smart meter rollout emerging as the government lifts social restrictions and more households and businesses can benefit from greater awareness of their energy consumption.”

According to the Smart Metering in North America and Asia-Pacific report the penetration of smart electricity meters in North America reached 68 per cent in 2020.

The study found that the installation of the devices will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.7 per cent during 2019-2025 to reach a total of 153.8 million units at the end of the forecast period. energydigital.com

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SMART GRIDS

Driving energy intelligence, Smart Grid

Data from the study suggests that yearly shipments of smart electricity meters in North America will grow from 9.8 million units in 2019 to 17.4 million units in 2025.

Over the next five years, the penetration of smart meters in the US will grow to reach a level of 84 percent while the respective figure for the more advanced Canadian market will reach 92 percent.

The Government of Canada is aiming to build a low-emissions energy future and earlier this year in February The Honourable Jim Carr, Special Representative for the Prairies, on behalf of Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Seamus O'Regan Jr., announced a combined investment of over $900,000 for two smart grid projects in Alberta that will enhance the energy grid and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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One investment supports the Waterton Energy Storage Project by showcasing how battery energy storage and advanced distribution control systems can provide reliable access to the grid. The second investment is for Lethbridge Electric Utility to enhance its distribution network by using Conservation Voltage Reduction software technology in its metering system to conserve energy and reduce demand on the energy grid, providing financial benefits to over 40,000 customers.

"Using innovation and technology to improve our grid will help decrease the demand on it and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Our government will continue to support projects like this that advance a lowemissions energy future." Jim Carr, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Centre and Special Representative for the Prairies.

SMART GRIDS

MENA targets smart meter growth

Vehicle-to-grid potential Sebastian Peck, Managing Director of InMotion Ventures, said the electrification of the transport sector is creating new challenges for our ageing grid infrastructure, and EVs can play an important role in local energy storage and grid-balancing.

He said the storage capacity of an EV represents two to five days of average household requirements of 10 kWh per day, assuming annual consumption of 3,650 kWh, which is approximately the current UK average (assuming a battery pack between 20 to 50 kWh).

“Vehicle-to-grid technology can be employed to turn each vehicle into a distributed load-balancing device or emergency power source. It also opens up the possibility to generate some incremental

The ambitious sustainability targets implemented by governments in MENA are pushing utilities and power transmission companies to invest in smart grid technology and infrastructure, according to Aveva.

In its recent outlook to 2024, the Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (APICORP) highlighted the expected investment increase in power and distribution projects in several countries, driven by the rise of renewable generation and the increased focus on boosting regional interconnectivity.

New technologies featuring cloud based, AI and ML are expected to play a major role in greener, smarter electricity grid for the MENA region. To support this digitalization effort, many countries, Saudi Arabia for example, have invested billions of dollars to deploy 10 million smart meters across the region. energydigital.com

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SMART GRIDS

Awesense and vadimUS unveil Digital Energy Platform Awesense and vadimUS recently announced a collaboration that aims to address the roadblocks faced by electric utilities in nanogrid integration.

Combining their expertise, the two companies are tackling decentralization, decarbonization and digitalization, and working to make all three easier, faster and more precise than before.

Utilities will now be able to seamlessly track the evolution and performance of nanogrid projects in their distribution grid, and monitor real-time performance of their C&I customers’ nanogrids.

Making this possible is the Awesense Digital Energy Platform, which can virtualize and analyze utilities’ data, and identify optimal target customers to approach. In lockstep with

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vadimUS’ vadiMAP, the turnkey solution allows to automatically select the optimal nanogrid configuration in the geographic, operational and technical contexts of a C&I customer’s building using advanced proprietary algorithms. It also allows to execute, control and monitor this nanogrid.

Dan Boucher, CEO at vadimUS attests that “The combination of Awesense and vadiMAP will lead to the most reliable distributed energy resource (DER) solution, one that both the utility and the real estate property owner can use together to help them reach their goals faster.”

Mischa Steiner, CEO at Awesense, said Nanogrids should be a key strategy for all electric utilities, as they negate the need to build expensive fossil fuel peaker plants.

SMART GRIDS

income for EV owners by returning electricity to the grid,” he said.

“To be widely adopted, vehicle-togrid technology will have to demonstrate that it can be safely used without accelerating battery degradation while yielding sufficient financial incentives to warrant the initial investment. At InMotion Ventures, we are very excited about the investment opportunities resulting from these challenges in areas such as smart charging technologies, energy management, battery technology and battery lifecycle management.”

What effect has the pandemic had on energy storage?

The fifth European Market Monitor on Energy Storage (EMMES) report has been published and reveals the effects of the pandemic on the energy storage market, with lockdown affecting commercial and industrial and

behind-the-meter segments, while front-ofmeter projects proved more resilient.

The total annual energy storage market in Europe is expected to reach 3,000 MWh in 2021, almost double the annual storage deployments seen in 2020.

The EMMES highlights the strong performance of front-of-meter market across Europe in 2020, with new balancing and ancillary services in countries such as Italy, the UK and the Nordic region supporting demand for grid-level storage projects of increasing duration.

Behind the meter however, the residential and commercial and industrial sectors felt the impact of the pandemic much harder, with onsite installations inhibited by lockdowns. The €1.8 trillion EU COVID-19 Recovery Plan expects to deliver significant public investment into clean energy technologies, including storage. The European Parliament has

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SMART GRIDS

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SMART GRIDS

"Using innovation and technology to improve our grid will help decrease the demand on it and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Our government will continue to support projects like this that advance a low-emissions energy future" JIM CARR

MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR WINNIPEG SOUTH CENTRE AND SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE PRAIRIES

called on the Commission to develop a new comprehensive EU energy storage strategy which could create new market incentives and help accelerate recovery.

Planning key to grid modernization Although there are many benefits of smart grids, there are also drawbacks and preparations that need to be made.

Replacing the existing electrical grid can be extremely expensive and time consuming, also using the internet to provide real time grid data increases the risk of privacy and security breaches.

McKinsey found that sufficient planning was key to grid modernization. “Developing an appropriate modernization plan is difficult and will inevitably be an iterative process. Utilities should start by clearly defining their goals and embedding disciplined, rigorous investmentplanning processes that are aligned to those goals. Only through these processes can they mitigate the risk of misdirected investments and make real progress toward building the best possible grid of the future—for both themselves and their customers.”

The energy sector has an exciting future ahead but remains extremely complex with new innovations appearing, as time goes on hopefully all technology will develop so that the industry can run smoothly. energydigital.com

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WRITTEN BY: LEILA HAWKINS PRODUCED BY: KRISTOFER PALMER

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MOTOR OIL

How COVID-19 has Driven Motor Oil’s Digital Transformation energydigital.com

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MOTOR OIL

Nick Giannakakis, Group CIO at Greece’s Motor Oil, discusses accelerating digital strategy, digitising manufacturing processes and the customer experience

I

n the months since the Covid-19 pandemic began, numerous industries have reported a fast acceleration in terms of moving to digital processes. This certainly rings true for Motor Oil, an oil refinery based in Greece that is one of the largest in Europe.

“In the last two months we’ve seen two years’ worth of acceleration,” its Group Chief Information Officer Nick Giannakakis says.

It has also been a complex endeavour, as Giannakakis describes the company as “one of the biggest, most complex manufacturing refineries in Europe”.

Motor Oil has a strong export branch, with 78% of its operations coming from export sales that need to be facilitated via loading ports and vehicles.

As well as being an oil refinery they have a large retail operation, with hundreds of petrol stations selling non-fuel products as well as petrol, making up a large part of the business.

A key aspect of the acceleration caused

by COVID was ensuring employees could continue to perform their daily duties remotely. “We had to address the end user computer experience for staff, to make sure they could still work collaboratively from home and get the best possible performance,” Giannakakis says.

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While the pandemic of course brought challenges, Motor Oil decided to not stop any of its investments in technology, which meant much of its digital programme could continue and it also ensured a good, continued relationship with their partners.

That also meant it didn’t have to delay its digital transformation.

Giannakakis is a believer in resilience in the face of adversity. To handle the challenges of COVID to the business, he says Motor Oil showed great resilience. They demonstrated this by creating new solutions. “At the peak of the crisis we developed a digital planning tool that allows our employees to perform their daily business,” says Giannakakis.

“When you have an organisation that needs to communicate by making hundreds of calls on a daily basis and do their jobs from home, having the same quality in terms of communication is a very important aspect.”

For the retail side of the business the company used advanced analytics to deep dive into sales models, identifying relevant models that could predict future sales. This helped them develop solutions to scale up, such as a new pay at pump service which eliminates the need for customers to step inside a shop to pay.

MOTOR OIL

Nick Giannakakis, Group CIO, Motor Oil

ADVERT DIAMO PLATI ABOUT OTE GROUP OTE Group is the largest technology company in Greece and a member of Deutsche Telekom AG. It is one of the top three listed companies, with respect to capitalization, in the Athens Stock Exchange and is also listed in the London Stock Exchange.

OTE Group offers a wide range of services, under the unif ied brand COSMOTE: f ixed and mobile telephony, broadband services, pay-TV and ICT solutions. In addition, the Group in Greece is also involved in maritime communications and real estate.

In the f ield of System Integration, OTE Group has developed diverse capabilities and constitutes a leading partner of choice for businesses seeking innovative solutions in the f ields of Data Centers, Cloud, Information Security, Networking, Big Data and IoT. Leveraging strategic partnerships with IT market leaders and thanks to its large IT & Network workforce, it has delivered large scale and complex ICT projects, offering managed services to customers in Europe.

WE EMPOWER. YOU LEAD Focusing on continuously developing innovative solutions and building strategic partnerships with global IT leaders, OTE Group stands out to be a trusted technology partner for large business customers. By modernizing its IT infrastructure, as well as maintaining operational and people excellence, OTE Group delivers and supports sophisticated tailor-made projects.

The state-of-the-art services and solutions offered by OTE Group enable businesses dynamically to the new digital era and ensure their business continuity and efficiency.

SPREAD OND OR INUM

The strategic partnership with Motor Oil for the implementation of an SDWAN (Software Defined-WAN) solution acts as an accelerator of the company’s digital transformation journey through a robust technology strategy.

Motor Oil is one of the leading players in Greece and the eastern Mediterranean region in the areas of crude oil refining and petroleum products. The company has large campuses all over Greece with distinct connectivity and communication needs. Some of the installations are in remote areas, where as others need to operate uninterrupted 24/7. At the same time, these installations need to have independent and safe access to the Internet and to cloud services, with an extremely high SLA, regarding both network and services as well as applications.

OTE has provided Motor Oil with a turn-key solution to modernize its corporate network with a Software

www.cosmote.gr

Defined-WAN implementation. The SD-WAN solution provides a virtual WAN architecture, with users controlling and managing the entire system via software running on a central platform. One of the main advantages of this approach is that it can offer a combination of communication technologies (MPLS, dedicated broadband Internet and LTE), to safely interconnect a company’s point of presence, while improving overall user experience and increasing productivity.

The Motor Oil project includes 30 sites all over Greece. OTE Group has selected Cisco Meraki SD-WAN services in order to provide Motor Oil a complete solution that includes the necessary connectivity, hardware equipment, a management platform and all the SLA agreements needed.

With the implementation of the SD-WAN project, Motor Oil will have achieved a simplified, fully secured network, with high availability and scalability. Both user experience and productivity will have improved. The company’s IT department has now more agility, being able to integrate new points of presence whenever needed and much faster. Also, the project provides better management of capital, as well as operational expenses.

Holistically looking at Motor Oil operations, OTE Group aims to empower our customer’s vision for having a leading role in the crude oil ref ining and marketing of petroleum products sectors in Greece. energydigital.com

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“ In the last two months we’ve seen two years’ worth of acceleration” NICK GIANNAKAKIS,

CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER, MOTOR OIL

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Another change he has seen is the way the customer experience is framed. “Some say we’re living in the age of the customer, but I think we are beyond that,” he says. “Before COVID we were in the age of the platform, and COVID has brought the necessity of this platform because of the importance of having collaborative activities.

“Customer interactions through these platforms continue to be at the top of our priorities. We have seen changes, and with a change in focus sales have significantly increased, and we want to be able to react to that customer experience. I would say that now customer-centricity along with data is the new priority for our business.”

MOTOR OIL

NICK GIANNAKAKIS TITLE: CIO

In terms of manufacturing, Motor Oil developed the concept of a smart factory.

Giannakakis explains this is focused on five pillars: digital engineering; digital production, where the remote operation centre is the north star; digital asset management; digital workers and equipping them with the relevant tools so they can perform their tasks; and the digital optimisation of processes.

“Everything to do with the smart factory is classified in those five pillars,” he says. “With the help of our partner ecosystem working in each of these pillars allowed us to achieve increased production, reduced downtime, reduced production cost, and focus on product optimisation.”

EXECUTIVE BIO

COMPANY: MOTOR OIL Nick Giannakakis has over 20 years of experience working in IT. Throughout his career he’s worked for Richemont in Switzerland, British American Tobacco in the UK, and in his native Greece for the Coca-Cola Hellenic Company. His current role is at Motor Oil, where he’s based in Athens.

He describes his style of management as being both a mentor and a team member, commenting that he prides himself on a daily basis of being able to combine these two aspects. He believes in the importance of being able to influence decisions working with senior executives.

He’s also a big believer in diversity.

“We try to encourage everyone to bring a difference to everything they do,” he says. “When you are leading a tech department, and I have been on this journey for years and years now, you need to be able to focus on diversity.

When I say diversity I also mean in the way of thinking, combining a more agile way of thinking and understanding the power of prioritisation.”

Giannakakis is collaborative, always a team player, and always keen to learn. “I don’t want to be left behind in this new reality, and I always try to bring new ideas to the table” he adds.

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MOTOR OIL

“ It’s an industry that needs to change and with COVID this has been magnified and accelerated” NICK GIANNAKAKIS,

CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER, MOTOR OIL

Giannakakis says that although COVID19 has certainly accelerated all these processes, the need to do this already existed. “The challenges in the energy and oil and gas industries were already there.

It’s an industry that needs to change and with COVID this has been magnified and accelerated,” says Giannakakis.

“At the same time you have two frontiers: you have to keep the business going with the new reality, while not losing time regarding the digital transformation.”

Strong partnerships have been vital for this. “I’ve always been a big believer in having relevant partner ecosystems,” he says. “Companies like ours, who are manufacturing and retail companies, cannot focus on technology ourselves, because it’s not part of our mandate. We need to have a partner ecosystem around us to help us scale up and provide us with the relevant innovation in the areas and the priorities that we set. It’s exactly what we have done both before and during the crisis.”

He explains that having partners in various sectors help them to have the right focus and pilot new systems. “It’s good for us to be able to go with a swift pilot to learn and have a partner at the same time ready to scale it up. We need to be able to combine the energydigital.com

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MOTOR OIL

“ Whatever is good for the environment is good for the business too” NICK GIANNAKAKIS,

CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER, MOTOR OIL

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MOTOR OIL

1970

Year founded

3,000

Number of Employees

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Support IoT devices and utilize state-of-the-art technologies such as real-time analytics, ML and AI. And all these must be provided with maximum security and minimum cost.

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value offering from International and Local partners in order to be able to maximize the impact.”

From the International field SAP is an important partner for Motor Oil. “They help us with all of our transactions, whether it’s on the customer side or the manufacturing side.

Every inventory and every shipment lives in SAP, so it’s a no-brainer for us to look to SAP to also help us innovate.”

One of the largest local players is OTE. OTE has provided Motor Oil with a turnkey solution to modernise its corporate network with a Software Defined-WAN implementation. The SD-WAN solution provides a virtual WAN architecture, with users controlling and managing the entire system via software running on a central platform.

With the implementation of the SD-WAN project, Motor Oil will have achieved a

simplified, fully secured network, with high availability and scalability to improve both the user experience and productivity.

Looking ahead, Giannakakis believes the major oil players will all adapt to new ways of working post-COVID. “I think we are going to live in a new reality where our priorities and our digital transformation will be accelerated, but also I think the traditional model was always focused on two pillars: innovation of the business model, and the operational side,” concludes Giannakakis. “Now we’ve added sustainability into the mix too. It’s a strong directive from the European Union but also from across the sector. Whatever is good for the environment is good for the business too.”

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RPA

Offshore Robotics Extend Their Reach No location is off limits for robots which are rewriting the operations and maintenance rulebook by reducing costs and raising safety WRITTEN BY: DOMINIC ELLIS

Blade Bug

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round 25 years ago, strong winds almost blew me off my feet during a visit to Blyth port, in an era when North Sea power was synonymous with oil and offshore wind turbines had yet to spin. How times change. Now this stretch of coastline is driving much of the UK’s fastmoving renewables strategy and serving as a focal point for ‘new energy’ and technology.

Among the latest eye-catching developments is The Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Test Site – the first of its kind in the UK – which is being developed by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, supported by a £3 million grant from the government’s Getting Building Fund. The centre is one of 18 projects in the North East to be awarded government funding – and and managed by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) – which is designed to get major infrastructure projects moving quickly.

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BladeBUG - The Game-Changer Series

The facility will ramp up the demonstration, testing and evaluation of new technologies and provide links with ORE Catapult’s team of experts in research, innovation and operational maintenance.

It will have both onshore and offshore demonstration facilities, which will help the likes of SMEs, universities and other

“ There’s a role for robotics to play in improving these processes and a real drive within the industry to adopt this new technology over the next five to 10 years” MATTHEW HADDEN

DEPUTY HEAD OF DELIVERY, ORE CATAPULT

developers of new technologies to bring forward new products to market.

Matthew Hadden, deputy head of delivery at ORE Catapult, said as the offshore renewable sector continues to grow, carrying out inspections, maintenance and installation activities offshore is expensive and potentially dangerous. While robotic systems may not perform remote maintenance (i.e. repair and replacement of parts), they will certainly reduce the risks faced by engineers by minimising the time needed to be on-site.

“There’s a role for robotics to play in improving these processes and a real drive within the industry to adopt this new technology over the next five to 10 years – our aim is to support and accelerate innovation in robotics here in the North East, and see it in action in UK waters,” he said.

The remarkable strides in offshore robotics is best illustrated by BladeBUG, the lightweight inspection maintenance and repair hexapod robot which can ‘walk’ energydigital.com

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on wind turbine blades. It was founded by wind turbine engineer Chris Cieslak who was convinced that advanced robotics could transform offshore wind farm operations.

During a second phase £1 million project, with funding from Innovate UK, the robot is now road testing abilities such as ultra-sonic non-destructive testing of blade surfaces, surface mapping using an electronic skin, localised mapping and tools for repairing blade surfaces. It specialises in

accomplishing the ‘5Ds’ – tasks which are dull, dangerous, dextrous, dirty and dear (expensive). Last year BladeBUG joined the ORE Catapult’s national academy.

The iFROG, an amphibious robot capable of working in teams to clean and inspect monopiles above water level and up to 60 metres below (~6 bar), successfully completed trials at ORE Catapult’s Blyth centre last December. By upping the frequency and quality of subsea inspections,

“Robots are not going to take over the world but they will get used where they have value. Autonomous systems become the arms and legs of big data” PROFESSOR ROBERT BUCKINGHAM

DIRECTOR OF THE UK ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY

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Fort Robotics secures $13 million funding

Renewable Energy Catapult Blyth

iFROG can save up to £150,000 per offshore wind turbine per year.

The multi-robot solution was developed under a three-year project funded

by Innovate UK and brought together iFROG developer InnoTecUK, ORE Catapult, TWI and Brunel University London.

Vaarst targets offshore as COVID acts as second spur Vaarst, the tech spin-off of subsea player Rovco, formally launched in March, aiming to revolutionise the offshore robotics sector. Vaarst will leverage intelligent data flows for smart asset management to create an energy-efficient and more sustainable future.

Brian Allen, Vaarst CEO and founder, said: “Autonomous robotics are the key to reducing the cost of offshore operations. At

Fort Robotics has closed on $13 million in funding led by Prime Movers Lab, an investor in breakthrough scientific startups working to revolutionize the world's leading industries. With the new investment, Fort will more than double the size of its workforce and expand its product offerings in key markets. Founder and CEO Samuel Reeves said: "The world is on the cusp of a new industrial revolution in mobile automation.

With added investment and support, we'll be able to rapidly scale the company to capitalize on the convergence of trend and opportunity to ensure that robotic systems are safely deployed across all industries."

the same time, digitalisation of field assets is essential as the industry evolves, marrying these two concepts is needed to realise the real benefit of modern tech. It’s the data that has to drive the vehicles. Vaarst is committed to unlocking the potential of offshore robotics for all.”

Last year Rovco, which specialises in 3D vision systems and AI, claimed a ‘world first’ with SubSLAM Live providing realtime intelligent data collection through 3D streaming technology, allowing customers to view live 3D point clouds on any device globally ‘with millimetric precision’.

Professor Robert Buckingham, Director of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (OBE), said UK robotics gathered momentum after the financial crash of 2008, and was perceived as an enabling ‘horizontal’ technology cutting across many sectors. energydigital.com

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McKinsey estimates the impact from Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) will be anything between

$2-6 trillion by

2025

National Robotarium reaches into offshore energy Work has started on a research facility for robotics and AI at Heriot-Watt University’s Edinburgh campus. The National Robotarium is supported by £21 million from the UK Government, and £1.4 million from the Scottish Government as part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal. Expected to open in Spring 2022, it will create innovative solutions to global

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challenges using cutting-edge research, product design and industry collaboration.

Key areas of research application will include offshore energy, hazardous environments, manufacturing, construction, healthcare, human-robot interaction, assisted living and agritech. Sustainable touches include a rooftop solar PV array and EV charging spaces.

RPA

National Robotarium

“Politicians woke up to the idea that you can’t just rely on financial services as being the driver of the country and you need industrial services as well,” he said, delivering a presentation to The Institution of Engineering and Technology in 2014. “Robots are not going to take over the world but they will get used where they have value. Autonomous systems become the arms and legs of big data.”

Seven years on, the COVID crisis is acting as another spur, in tandem with the universal focus on digital transformation. McKinsey

estimates the impact from Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) will be anything between $2-6 trillion dollars by 2025.

A quick click on the energy section of SAP’s website and you’re greeted with a large heading that ‘40 percent of digital transformation initiatives will use RPA services’. SAP Intelligent RPA enables companies to automate business processes by emulating human actions with software applications, explains Lars Heppner in a recent blog. A graphic outlines the differences between attended and unattended modes. energydigital.com

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SSE ENERGY SERVICES

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

TO DELIVER NEXT-GEN SERVICES AT PACE WRITTEN BY: WILL GIRLING PRODUCED BY: LEWIS VAUGHAN

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SSE ENERGY SERVICES

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SSE ENERGY SERVICES

Philip Clayson, CIO, explains how SSE Energy Services’ transformation is leading to a digital revolution that will benefit customers directly

S

SE Energy Services has distinguished itself in the energy industry via its pioneering attitude, which saw bold investments in core services, home repair services, broadband, and has one of the highest customer satisfaction ratings in the sector, where strong, customer-centric business ethics ensure the company’s competitiveness in the market.

In 2019, Bristol-based energy supplier OVO Energy acquired SSE Energy Services, a move which accelerated OVO’s ‘Plan Zero’ sustainability strategy to tackle the most important issue of our time; the climate crisis, by bringing customers with us on the journey towards zero carbon living. OVO Energy has committed to being a net zero carbon business and achieve bold science-based carbon reduction targets by 2030, while helping members halve their carbon footprint at the same time.

The acquisition was significant, states Philip Clayson, Chief Information Officer, because with new ownership came an entirely different and exciting way of operating. Clayson’s expertise and skill in his field is apparent from an impressive career, including executivelevel positions with some of the largest UK and international brands. One thing that has characterised his approach in each role has been fast-paced, visionary leadership: “I’m not a steady-state CIO; I’m a transformational CIO. It’s what I do.” Recognised as ‘Transformation

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SSE ENERGY SERVICES

1998

Year founded .

9,000 Number of employees

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BECOME A SELF-HEALING, SUSTAINABLE AND ADAPTING LIVE ENTERPRISE Experience

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through DevOps and Agile adoption to implement business-critical projects in a smooth and expedited manner

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by safeguarding the digital utility and protecting customer data with cybersecurity policies

On the one hand, your utilities enterprise needs to maintain a smart grid network that provides reliable service. On the other, your consumers expect clean energy, customized service and cost-effective tariff plans.

Technology enables a utility to reinvent itself to be a Live Enterprise – learning, adapting, healing, and growing smarter in real-time.

You need to strike a balance by navigating business challenges and opportunities by harnessing digital technologies to ‘Navigate the Future of Energy’.

The journey to digital has so many nexts.

Navigate your next with Infosys. www.infosys.com/industries/utilities #Navigatethefutureofenergy

3 decades of experience in IT Modernization, Transformation and Support 23+ years of global Utilities experience Work with 6 out of the Top 10 UK and European Utilities Utility Market leaders in Smart IT Services, Customer Experience and Digital Transformation Ranked #3 in Forbes Best Regarded Global companies list for 2019

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. We enable clients in 46 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over three decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer our clients through their digital journey. We do it by enabling the enterprise with an AI-powered core that helps prioritize the execution of change. We also empower the business with agile digital at scale to deliver unprecedented levels of performance and customer delight. Our always-on learning agenda drives their continuous improvement through building and transferring digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem.

Infosys Utilities practice has been partnering with Utilities across the globe for over two decades, modernizing and transforming Utilities ability to meet and exceed the evolving needs of a customer while being ever resilient. The opportunity before a Utility today is to transform into a responsive enterprise–soaking up a real time data, analyzing it and publishing actionable insights to the right decision-makers.

Technology will play a pivotal role in accelerating the digital evolution of a traditional Utility.

Infosys helps water, gas and power utilities adopt digital technology with its two pronged strategy: Industrialize for Efficiency, Agility, Safety & Resilience Digitize for newer business models with Customer, Grid and Workforce Our offerings for the Utilities industry are based on a few fundamental questions:  How are Utilities deriving better analytics and insights around Customer, Grid and Workforce for planning, and operations?  How can Utilities achieve Omni-channel and personalized experience across stakeholders?  Are Utilities leveraging newer business models and advanced technologies to transform Work, Workforce and Workplace?

 How are Utilities accelerating adoption of ERP, and other business critical systems with Cloud and Automation?  How can Utilities make IT/OT systems and operations more efficient, resilient and secure?

It all eventually translates to leveraging the convergence of information and operational technologies. Real-time data integration facilitates advanced analytics – from predictive maintenance of legacy infrastructure to predictive modeling for load management.

Technology enables a utility to reinvent itself to be a Live Enterprise–learning, adapting, healing, and growing smarter in real-time.

You need to strike a balance by navigating business challenges and opportunities by harnessing digital technologies to ‘Navigate the Future of Energy’

Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys can help your enterprise navigate your next.

Contact: askus@infosys.com

© 2020 Infosys Limited, Bengaluru, India.

SSE ENERGY SERVICES

“ BEING PART OF THE OVO FAMILY IS ANOTHER MAGNITUDE OF SPEED: IT’S AN INCREDIBLY AGILE, NIMBLE BUSINESS” PHILIP CLAYSON

CIO, SSE ENERGY SERVICES

Leader of the Year’ at the 2019 Tech Leaders Awards and also a finalist for ‘CIO of the Year’, it is with this inspiring attitude that Clayson has been spearheading the company’s digital evolution since mid-2019.

Chirag Khergamkar, Client Partner to SSE Energy Services at Infosys, says that the two companies have a history that reaches back to 2004, a relationship which has continued to develop ever since. “In 2019, we were selected

by SSE Energy Services as one of its partners for a digital implementation project with Pegasystems,” Khergamkar explains. Infosys provided DevOps and security monitoring services for SSE Energy Services’ collaboration with Pega, a telco helping to transform the company’s customer service experience.

“As I look at the partnership today, it is about 102

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being closer and more strategic to SSE Energy Services by jointly exploring where we can make a big difference.”

Whilst the objective of digital transformation is relatively commonplace in contemporary enterprise strategy, Clayson highlights that the OVO acquisition has given SSE Energy Services an edge that few of its competitors share. ““OVO is another magnitude of speed: it’s an incredibly agile, nimble business”, and Clayson’s fresh attitude compliments what both companies already share: a dedication to best-in-class services, high-quality customer service and outstanding products.

Additionally, recognising that customer preferences for digital journeys have increased in recent years, the expansion of self-service capabilities for apps and websites has been

SSE ENERGY SERVICES

PHILIP CLAYSON TITLE: CIO INDUSTRY: ENERGY

EXECUTIVE BIO

LOCATION: UNITED KINGDOM Phliip Clayson is an award winning transformational CIO, passionate about inspiring technology teams to engage with pace to create, implement and operationalise transformational strategy, in business critical, time and cost sensitive environments. Having delivered all aspects of technology transformation from growth and investment planning, M&A (acquiring, divesting, on both buy and sell side) and completed international product and service launches as well as rationalisation

and recovery turnarounds, Philip} has delivered transformation in both startups and where legacy technology underpins an existing business.

Philip has operated across pre-IPO, VC and PE funded, private and public organisations and across sectors including Telco, Energy, Utilities, Broadcast and Media, in both B2C and B2B.

SSE ENERGY SERVICES

a central focus for SSE Energy Services. With downloads of the ‘My SSE’ app gaining speed and very positive consumer reviews (currently 4.6/5 on the app store), Clayson is confident that the appropriate level of developmental pace is being set. Simultaneously, the company has embarked on a digital data journey, combining the insights of multiple departments and teams to discover the best method of leveraging enterprise data and unlocking its value.

This accelerated R&D capability will see it build on current success within the smart home and smart utility sector. These are concepts being explored by the company as it seeks to deliver savings, efficiency and a next-gen experience to its customers.

“There are big investments coming into electric vehicles: charging points on the streets and much more engagement with all sorts of home-related energy-saving 104

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“ BEING A PROPER PARTNER MEANS BLURRING THE LINE BETWEEN ONE ORGANISATION AND ANOTHER. INFOSYS IS EXCEPTIONAL AT PROVIDING THIS NEXT LEVEL COOPERATION PHILIP CLAYSON

CIO, SSE ENERGY SERVICES

SSE ENERGY SERVICES

devices,” informs Clayson. “It will include joining up the ecosystem including solar panels, ground pumps and more. It’s a cohesive carbon reduction agenda; the smart meter is just the beginning.” Distributed energy management, in particular, holds very exciting possibilities: a future where all electrical appliances are connected to the grid to maximise energy efficiency by eliminating excess and channelling power to where it is most needed. Clayson confirms “The technology exists to make every household a contributor to the grid rather than simply a user of the grid.”

Focusing on the future of the industry calls into question the concept of the ‘new normal’ - how workplaces will operate postCOVID-19 - and how SSE Energy Services will adapt to the challenges therein. When the business community collectively realised that prior paradigms for working had to be

discarded in order to ensure continuity, Clayson states that the creativity afforded to the IT sector was refreshing and invigorating.

“The amount of remote working we now do and our usage of video conferencing technology has been a massive change.”

Customer-centricity is, of course, something that will not change for SSE Energy Services, whatever the business landscape shapes up to be. When asked what he considers to be the company’s greatest accomplishment, Clayson has no hesitation in identifying SSE Energy Services’ enduring acclaim amongst its customers. An appreciation which is unquestionably reciprocated, SSE Energy Services has been able to give back to its customers via OVO’s £50mn Coronavirus Hardship Scheme – an initiative to help members who’ve been impacted by COVID19 the most.

The digital future looks positive for SSE Energy Services. With the company’s agility and innovative, forward-thinking approach augmented by the latest digital tech, SSE Energy Services looks set to deliver solutions to customers at a new, unprecedented pace.

“I like pace: people understand it. Delivering at pace is what it’s all about.

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TECHNOLOGY

Remote control:

Inmarsat focuses on utilities Inmarsat has utilities firmly in its sights as the satellite provider targets new opportunities in the energy sector WRITTEN BY: DOMINIC ELLIS

Steven Tompkins, Director of Sector Development, Inmarsat

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mid such digitally transformative times, traditional boundaries continue to break down and preconceived notions of companies’ capabilities are constantly being redefined.

Inmarsat, which was ostensibly set up in 1979 as an inter-government agency by the UN’s International Maritime Organisation to provide ubiquitous connectivity for vessels, is a case in point. While still very much active in the maritime sector, along with other traditional strongholds such as aviation, government and defence, its profile continues to broaden in line with the growth in broadband, digital and satellite technology.

That means the energy sector – one it has served for a number of years – is now being targeted with renewed vigour as demand rises for better connectivity, modern smart grids and data analytics.

“Utilities is a big focus for us, and with the onset of automation and need for high connectivity in the field, it’s a really good fit for satellite communications,” explains Steven Tompkins, Director of Sector Development at Inmarsat.

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TECHNOLOGY

“We want to ensure the utilities industry is aware of the breadth and ability of Satcomms” STEVEN TOMPKINS

DIRECTOR OF SECTOR DEVELOPMENT, INMARSAT

“We’re seeing particularly opportunities in that space because there’s more of a need for highly reliable connectivity, to get evergreater control of overheads in the field – whether that’s for reclosers or taking back information from meters or having a view of activity in a substation.”

The enduring perception of satellite is it’s costly, clunky and hard to use, but Inmarsat has proved over the years that’s not the case, he adds. The pandemic has served as a catalyst, highlighting the costs of monitoring assets remotely.

“Both the hardware and data costs are fairly cost effective compared with other connectivity methods. We hear it time again, whether it’s utilities or rail tracks, the perception is ‘satellite is expensive compared with cellular’, but compared with the wider cost of ownership, it’s very cost effective to connect industrial assets in remote locations.”

The clear benefit of its Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) M2M service, which is being promoted in a new campaign, is its ‘always on’ connectivity with Inmarsat operating 14 geostationary satellites 35,000kms above earth – unconstrained from the pressures affecting terrestrial and private networks. This year its L-band network - the frequency its BGAN M2M service runs on - will be further upgraded energydigital.com

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TECHNOLOGY

GX5 goes live

with the launch of a new satellite; the second following in 2022.

“We want to ensure the utilities industry is aware of the breadth and ability of Satcomms,” he says. “The solution has applicability anywhere on the planet and we have distribution partners that cover everywhere. Of course remote areas with connectivity issues like parts of Latin America have a particular need for Satcomms – but even here in the UK, there is a need, even if it’s just a back-up so you’re not reliant on public terrestrial networks.

With ever more stringent targets with outages, the last thing you want as a utility organization is to rely on a public network which could be prone to failure, and the cost of having a back-up is negligible compared with the fines that could be levied.”

“One of the main advantages of the Inmarsat solution is how reliable it is, both with the network offering the highest levels of uptime and our hardware being incredibly 110

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TECHNOLOGY

“Utilities is a big focus for us, and with the onset of automation and need for high connectivity in the field, it’s a really good fit for satellite communications” STEVEN TOMPKINS

DIRECTOR OF SECTOR DEVELOPMENT, INMARSAT

robust and resilient, allowing the terminals to sit in the field for years. Electricity companies have enough to monitor, inspect and repair without their connectivity solutions adding to their challenges. Our BGAN M2M service is also very compatible with lots of different technologies, and easy for electrical companies and our service providers to install.”

“From the point of view of being able to lower your operational cost and the amount of effort and carbon it takes to do this manually, and to have it all connected reliably with less maintenance costs, the environmental benefits are massive. If you can automate the process and not send people out in trucks, that’s a huge saving in carbon. It definitely has a contribution to play in net zero and renewable energy.”

“Another area we are helping to support is enhance is safety and efficiency for remote workers through the provision of internet and voice communications and even augmented reality video headsets.

With our mobile BGAN units we can ensure that remote workers are always in touch with their control rooms and colleagues.

Headsets from partners like Realwear can help show their colleagues hundreds of miles away conditions on the ground so they can access expertise much more quickly than if the specialist had to travel themselves.”

Case studies: Ergon Energy and Cemig Ergon Energy maintains and manages the regional electric distribution network across Queensland, providing energy for more than 720,000 homes and businesses and covering 97% of the Australian state.

Ergon Energy has installed hundreds of reclosers throughout their network, with a significant number operating in the most energydigital.com

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Ergon Energy maintains and manages the electric network across Queensland, providing energy for more than

720,000 homes and businesses and covering

90%

of the Australian state

isolated parts of the state, areas in which traditional connectivity methods, such as cellular and terrestrial, are limited or not available. Its requirements for remote connectivity were a single, ubiquitous, reliable network that was impervious to natural disasters and weather events, while providing a high level of security.

Inmarsat’s BGAN M2M service met those requirements, providing a seamless, easy to integrate, real-time, IP-based connectivity service, to remotely monitor, control, and manage their recloser network. BGAN M2M provided the reliability, cost effectiveness, security and ease of use that Ergon Energy 112

May 2021

were looking for to automate and monitor their distribution network, and with the service expected to have an operational lifetime well into the 2020s, BGAN M2M will continue to serve efficiently and effectively for many years to come.

Cemig is the largest integrated electric power company in Brazil, with 83 power stations and participation in nearly 200 companies and consortia in 22 Brazilian states and the Federal District. One of the main problems it faces as an electric distribution company is in improving cellular connectivity performance in remote areas of Minas Gerais.

TECHNOLOGY

While the state plays host to major cities such as Belo Horizonte, it is also made up of very remote areas with lower population densities. In the event that there is an incident with the electrical system, Cemig uses reclosers to test the medium voltage distribution network automatically, interrupting the power in the event of a problem and restoring the supply if they detect the problem is no longer present.

OnixSat and Inmarsat developed a solution based on satellite connectivity to enable Cemig to increase availability and improve its remote controlling of reclosers. The solution uses a serial/ ethernet converter and Hughes’

BGAN 9502 terminal to connect the reclosers to Inmarsat’s ultra-reliable L-band satellite network, in order to ensure the effectiveness of the commands issued to the reclosers by Cemig’s Centre of Operations.

The collaboration between OnixSat and Inmarsat has produced impressive results for Cemig. Before deploying the solution, Cemig had an effective availability of remotely controlling the reclosers in the remote recloser project of less than 90%.

After deployment of the Inmarsat and OnixSat solution, this indicator now shows an average of 98% at the points where satellite communication was installed. energydigital.com

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PROCUREMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY IN AFRICA WRITTEN BY: MARCUS LAWRENCE PRODUCED BY: RYAN HALL

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AB InBev harbours significant sustainability goals and is aiming to create a “company to last” through its green approach and initiatives

A

nheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) is “building a company to last”, and this claim has historically been backed by its strong consciousness of the environment and supply chain ethics.

As procurement and sustainability have become more central to many businesses’ operations worldwide, so too has their inextricable relationship. AB InBev is one company whose sustainability-driven business ethos hasn’t been born during this new era of climate consciousness; instead, it has been supercharged by it.

The realisation of the company’s 2025 Sustainability Goals, informed by reflection on the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), relies on the strength of AB InBev’s procurement function in environmental and economic ethics, and in developing robust supply chains that ensure smooth business operations whilst having a positive impact on communities and the natural world. Across its global operations, AB InBev serves and operates in territories across the market readiness spectrum. At AB InBev Africa, a microcosm of that spectrum can be seen across the continent’s markets, and rising to the strategic dynamism needed for this environment is a core focus of procurement.

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PIONEERING AFRICA’S SOLUTIONS TO CHEAPER, GREENER ELECTRICITY FOR BUSINESSES CrossBoundary Energy pioneered the Solar-As-A-Service model in Africa, which is now enabling businesses across the continent to enjoy cheaper, cleaner power with no upfront cost or technical risk. Customers just sign an agreement to purchase solar electricity and we provide 100% financing, installation, and all-inclusive maintenance.You only pay for the power produced. In fact, if it doesn’t produce, we’ll pay you.

CBE owns the largest portfolio of commercial & industrial solar solutions in Africa with our customers, including Unilever, Diageo, Coca-Cola Bottling, Heineken, Actis and many leading local companies. If you’re interested in receiving more information or to schedule a site visit and presentation, please contact us via the details below.

Become a part of the movement and switch your company to cheaper, cleaner power today by completing this form and sending it to James Shoetan projects@crossboundary.com. We’ll respond within one week to get you started.

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ANHEUSER - BUSCH INBEV AFRICA

Ricardo Tadeu, Africa Zone President at AB InBev

AB InBev Africa alignment with the 2025 Sustainability Goals necessitates a region-specific approach to partnering for large-scale projects but, in some African markets, in-country expertise at the standard required can be challenging to source.

Using the company’s on-site solar power objectives, namely installing panels at sites to power both the breweries and charge an incoming fleet of EV trucks, as an example, there are particular challenges in the Tanzanian market. The breweries in Tanzania, from the facility in the densely populated Dar Es Salaam to the spaciously located one in Mbeya, lack the support structures capable of sustaining large solar panel arrays on their rooftops. In Mbeya, this can be rectified by using a ground-level solar field in the area around the brewery but, in Dar Es Salaam, space limitations and the risk of flooding close off the possibility 120

May 2021

of developing a local solar field, meaning technology must catch up with the needs of the Dar Es Salaam plant.

This desire to run independently of the grid is compounded by the company’s wider emissions reduction targets, with electric vehicles (EVs) set to replace fleets around the world. AB InBev Africa currently has one operational EV truck in its fleet, but its size limits it to journeys between its facilities and its smaller suppliers and customers.

However, in the long-term, AB InBev aims to get a larger vehicle that can be used for the bigger bulk deliveries to its key customers.

The organisation’s overall aim is to source less fuel from an organisational point of view across Africa and reduce its carbon footprint in Africa.

Electricity, and the infrastructure to produce and use it sustainably, are not the only solutions that AB InBev is deploying

ANHEUSER - BUSCH INBEV AFRICA

for its procurement operations in Africa.

Its plants, where necessary, have been relaid to accommodate its forklift trucks for maximum efficiency, and a new fleet of LNG-fueled forklifts has been deployed across its continental operations. The trial has been successful, with its LNG forklift performing at 100% the same as a diesel equivalent.

Having signed a contract with Tetra4, 50% of its fleet has been converted to LNG, resulting in a 15% CO2 emissions reduction.

Forklifts, being nimble and easy to move in and out of facilities, represent a far more efficient method of transporting loads around sites than trucks, and LNG itself is easier to store and more difficult to spill than diesel. Another key advantage over electric units is that LNG forklifts do not require sizable batteries and space to store

$52.3bn Revenue in US dollars (2019)

2008

Year founded

170,000+ Number of employees

© Hideki Machida - cleantechnica.com

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ABOUT AB INBEV • AB InBev’s 2025 Sustainability Goals are split into five key pillars: Smart Agriculture, Water Stewardship, Circular Packaging, Climate Action, and Smart Drinking.

DID YOU KNOW...

• Smart Agriculture – ensuring farming practices are powered by the latest technology and strategies to maximise yield, minimise spend, and mitigate environmental disruption.

• Water Stewardship – exploring novel methods to cut water usage and waste across operations.

• Circular Packaging – developing packaging that can be reused and recycled, as well as supporting the infrastructure that is vital to

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both encouraging and enabling consumers to return packaging to the manufacturing ecosystem wherever possible.

• Climate Action – working to cut greenhouse gas emissions across operations by deploying new energy technologies, developing on-site electricity generation solutions, optimising waste management, and optimising logistics operations to lower fuel consumption and switch to greener alternatives.

• Smart Drinking – fostering healthy attitudes to alcohol consumption across the breadth of AB InBev’s employees, partners, and customers.

ANHEUSER - BUSCH INBEV AFRICA

them. The lifespan of the batteries would also be an unwelcome additional variable, particularly as solutions to the company’s on-site solar ambitions are still a work in progress. Battery technology’s incremental advances, namely in delivering higher performance at smaller sizes and weights, will be closely watched as solutions to energy demands around AB InBev’s African breweries are addressed.

The fact remains that, owing to the challenges of infrastructure, expertise, and market readiness, developing sustainable procurement operations in African markets via locally sourced solutions is a considerable challenge. In order to rise to it, AB InBev has sought to solidify its supply chain through a mentorship programme for both its suppliers and customers.

By developing their skills in business management, and coaching through

operations, AB InBev works to grow the business of its suppliers and customers to increase their capability whilst boosting their own profitability. This approach reaps dividends, with more competitive and financially stable links in the supply chain opening up new possibilities for improved business and more efficient operations. By approaching suppliers with propositions beyond their current capabilities and explaining the value that expanding those capabilities will have for business growth, they are encouraged to seek the investment required to diversify their offerings. In effect, AB InBev creates the partners it needs, and the partners’ success in the market is positioned to grow simultaneously.

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SMART CITIES 124

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TOP 10

From Europe to Asia, we take a look at 10 of the top smart cities in the world WRITTEN BY: TILLY KENYON

I

n many ways the smart city concept is quite simply good urban planning that includes new thinking and advances in technology. As more people surge into urban areas, the need for a stronger and smarter infrastructure is growing. Energy Magazine takes a look at the Top 10 smart cities across the world, as highlighted by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). energydigital.com

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TOP 10

09

BARCELONA

10

HONG KONG Hong Kong has huge plans for developing the city and back in 2017 the government announced more than 70 initiatives as part of the smart city blueprint. One feature they have developed is a mobile friendly city dashboard screen. It uses data from various government departments to show real time information about the weather, transport, traffic and more. 5G is fast developing here and SmarTone, Hong Kong’s smallest mobile provider, already covers 95% of the population.

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Barcelona is committed to transforming the quality of life for its residents and has achieved this through a number of initiatives.

The high tech improvements seen throughout the city range from noise sensors to city bike systems. Smart street light sensors have been installed with LED technology to reduce heat and save energy, they also detect if there are no pedestrians around and dim themselves. The city even has smart bins that use a vacuum to suck the waste into underground storage, reducing the smell.

07

TOP 10

NEW YORK

08

The big apple is constantly working towards improving their technology and has launched a new Internet of Things (IoT) strategy covering areas such as governance, privacy, security, and sustainability. For a city that does not sleep, smart is definitely the way forward and they use smart technology to deal with public safety, waste management, water quality and more. LinkNYC is one of the innovations installed to replace pay phones, and provide services such as free public Wi-Fi, device charging and phone calls.

LONDON London has a long and well established reputation as a smart city and is constantly trying to improve the city through a variety of ways. They are aiming to improve the city’s air quality through the Ultra Low Emissions Zones and by installing more electric car charging points. In 2018 London's Mayor, Sadiq Khan, launched the Smarter Together London initiative, with the aim to make London the smartest city in the world. energydigital.com

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TOP 10

06

AMSTERDAM Amsterdam was one of the early adopters of the smart city concept in Europe. In 2009 they launched Amsterdam Smart City, which is an open innovation platform with the mission of creating a greener, smarter and cleaner city. They are keen to reduce traffic on their streets, one of their latest innovations to help them achieve this includes autonomous boats.

05

BOSTON Using high-tech materials, sensor networks, data and science, Boston is transforming. A campaign created by the mayor, Go Boston 2030, is an action plan that aims to address the transportation imbalance, and has targets including reducing emissions and improving safety.

Hungry and unsure where to go? Fear not, Wicked Free Wi-Fi is Boston's outdoor wireless network, where you can find places to eat, shop and more. They have created numerous apps to serve the residents, from reporting potholes to paying parking tickets. energydigital.com

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04

COPENHAGEN Denmark's capital is well known for being one of the happiest cities in the world. They have set themselves an ambitious target to be the world's first carbon neutral city by 2025, compared to countries in the Paris Agreement which is 2050.

In order to help them reach this target a ‘Street Lab’ has been installed that uses state-ofthe-art measuring sensors and city wifi to collect data that can provide a unique insight into Copenhagen’s current condition.

03 OSLO

Aiming to reduce carbon emissions by 95% by 2030, the Norwegion capital has set its sights high with its green goals. One of the city's newest developments is the eco-friendly neighbourhood of Vulkan. Travellers can stay at the Scandic Vulkan hotel which is powered by geo-thermal energy and was the first Norwegian hotel to gain an official class A energy rating. The city also has one of the highest proportions of electric cars in the world.

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TOP 10

DUBAI

Home to the world's tallest building, Dubai has plenty of ambition and aims to transform itself into the model smart city.

The government office, Smart Dubai, has announced a roadmap to prepare themselves for the future and to emerge as a wordleading city by the end of 2021.

Another target they aim to fulfil by the end of the year is for the government to go completely paper-free, all digital, this would eliminate more than 1 billion pieces of paper used for government transactions every year. Smart Dubai envisions a city where all its resources are optimised for maximum efficiency and where services are integrated seamlessly into daily life. It is one of the world's most connected cities and is now modifying itself into one of the smartest.

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Bringing the Community to LIVE Broadcast from London to the World

September

28th - 30th 2021 A BizClik Media Group Brand

Featuring:

Keynote Speakers LIVE Roundtable Q&As Networking Lunch Inspirational Presentations

Over 5 Stages:

Main Stage Procurement Stage Supply Chain Stage Sustainability Stage Tech Expo Stage

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Creating Digital Communities

TOP TEN 10

Singapore 8K

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TOP 10

SINGAPORE Singapore's reputation as the world's leading smart city won’t come as a surprise, and very few would dispute it. The Lion City has invested profoundly in magnifying their digital infrastructure to become a smart city, over US$2 billion has been spent since the start of the Smart nation initiative that was created in 2014.The city has announced it is building a 42,000 home ‘eco town’, which will have a car-free city center and homes that feature centralized cooling and automated trash pickup, with the hope of reducing carbon emissions. Around 90% of the population have smartphones, and you can probably find an app for most services you require, you can even hail a self-driving taxi.

The developments in this city are rapid, and it seems that there is nothing that will stop them.

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