Energy transition
TECHNOLOGY
E
very aspect of the energy spectrum is changing in the drive for a more sustainable future. The energy market is being transformed, with the move to distributed power, new sources of energy like blue and green hydrogen, decarbonisation and digitalisation. Innovation is key. So, it was with eager anticipation that I attended the E.ON Innovation conference in early October, in the guise of a little robot avatar at a three-day virtual event, rather than winging my way to Dortmund, Germany. Given there were 83 speakers and 1,250 minutes of live streaming of Europe’s largest virtual energy event, this report focuses on some of the key themes, although there was food for thought in nearly every session. Leonhard Birnbaum, CEO of E.ON set the picture. ‘The biggest challenge today is the energy transition. There are big and small innovations in every area, which by definition require small steps every day. Innovation also leads to more CO2 reduction and the key area of innovation will be to digitise our full eco-systems.’ Birnbaum emphasised The three-day E.ON Innovation conference that ‘sustainability means highlighted a plethora of comment and electrification, and particularly renewable electrification with strategies for transforming the energy market, hydrogen development from from distributed power and renewables to new renewable sources at scale’. However, ‘building this eco-system hydrogen developments and regulatory will require significant finance and challenges. Brian Davis reports. demographics, which is a major challenge to reach E.ON’s target observable and steerable across all of net zero by 2045 or sooner’, he König sees networks as the voltage levels over coming years,’ noted. common denominator today, he said. connecting wind turbines, solar Numerous opportunities Interconnection is about panels, electric vehicles (EVs), etc sustainability to support the environment. ‘Every are offered by digitalisation throughout the entire value chain, ‘E.ON has completely transformed new connection of renewable from intelligent network planning its business to prepare for a carbon energy sources replacing fossil and efficient operation of energy neutral world,’ explained Thomas fuel brings us closer to the Paris networks to new digital solutions König, Chief Operating Officer for Agreement goals,’ he commented. for customers. E.ON is focused on Networks at E.ON. The traditional relationship building a single digital platform But how are connectivity and between energy suppliers and for its entire network business sustainability linked? users is changing. With more across Europe, linking all its König drew attention to the and more people producing their efforts and bundling solutions for extreme heat and floods that hit own green electricity, using solar customers and network businesses. many countries across the globe panels and onsite storage, E.ON ‘You can no longer talk about this summer and reflected: ‘There’s has coined the name for these no doubt these disasters are manflexible consumers as ‘flexsumers’. the distributed grid without talking about renewable energy made. It has become more critical Orchestrating interconnection of systems and all the regulations than ever to drastically reduce our flexsumers with the grid requires coming,’ remarked Benjamin CO2 emissions and live sustainably. a high degree of coordination Jambor, Director of Regional Grids At the same time, the flood disaster and automation. The number of at Westnetz and CEO/Founder of in Germany showed the importance connected devices is forecast to grid solution provider Digikoo. ‘The increase to 500bn by 2030. ‘The of connectivity, as 200,000 people system can no longer be controlled grid is no longer linear but raises were temporarily without power. increasing questions about the by humans. Digitalisation is key Fortunately, customers were connection of PV [photovoltaics], to our future – optimising the reconnected in record time, due wind turbines, etc. It’s about capacity of distribution systems to collaboration, creating new balancing and looking towards to ensure energy supply security solutions and support from other sustainability goals.’ and make power distribution countries.’
Innovation is key
14 Petroleum Review | November 2021
The virtual world of the E.ON Innovation event was a gateway to discussions on every aspect of energy market transformation Photo: E.ON Innovation
