RE+ Tech Supp to POWER September 2023 - 37

SEPTEMBER 2023 | WWW.POWERMAG.COM
Driving on Electric Avenue-Innovation
Pushes Energy Transformation
A seismic shift is ongoing in the energy space, as transportation, industry, and
other sectors turn toward electricity and away from fossil fuels to supply their
power.
T
he push for decarbonization of
the electric power sector has
several elements, though many
in the industry sum up the movement
with one word: electrification. Replacing
technologies that use fossil fuels to
produce electricity, and instead relying
on resources that reduce or eliminate
carbon emissions, has brought plenty
of debate.
Much of the discussion centers on
whether the power grid (Figure 1) can
handle increased demand from electric
vehicles (EVs), from the commercial
and industrial sector for heating
and cooling, and from a residential
community being urged to replace natural
gas-powered furnaces and appliances
with all-electric equipment such
as heat pumps and induction cooktops.
Those who spoke with POWER repeatedly
noted the fight against climate
change as a reason to support electrification,
saying reducing the use of fossil
fuels is critical to decarbonizing the economy
and meeting climate goals. There is
concern, though, that the transmission
grid is not ready to support a significant
increase in demand for electricity, as infrastructure
already is challenged when
it comes to resiliency and reliability of the
power supply.
" No one entity is responsible for the
push toward electrification; however,
every business entity and economic
sector has a lot to gain from electrification's
impacts on the energy grid, "
said Hari Nayar, vice president of Fleet
Electrification and Sustainability at
Merchants Fleet, a national fleet management
company. " Up until recently,
the grid has grown organically to
support demand but has not been the
focus of proactive investments to im1.
Energy experts have said upgrades to infrastructure, and certainly to the transmission grid, will be needed
to support increased electrification. Source: Envato Elements
prove its modernity, security, and resiliency
that we are now seeing due to
surface transport electrification. "
Nayar said, " Though I believe the responsibility
for pushing electrification
is shared, we are seeing certain sectors
eagerly lean in to take the lead.
Demand from both the commercial
and passenger vehicles industry has
been surging thanks in part to massive
investments in R&D [research and development]
from the OEMs [original
equipment manufacturers] and enticing
government incentives. Many experts
think that the utility sector will be
ready to generate enough power for the
electrification wave through planned
capacity increases and efficiency improvements
in other sectors, but that
doesn't mean that residential homes
and businesses are equipped for this
power distribution. "
Nayar, like others who spoke with
www.re-plus.com
POWER, said, " One limiting factor is
the speed and scale at which the infrastructure
can be put into place. Some
grid operators are already struggling to
keep up with demand in certain areas,
and power authorities fear the possibility
of blackouts with the overloading
grid use. "
Working Smarter and Harder
Utilities and other power generators
planning for electrification know there's
more to it than just managing loads on
the power grid. Nelly Maximous, vice
president, Energy Transition for Eaton
in North America, told POWER, " Electrification
is not just about adding new
load to the grid or building industrial or
home energy systems. It requires that
existing energy systems work smarter
and harder to accelerate decarbonization
and optimize how energy is used
through intelligence, control, and automation.
37
http://WWW.POWERMAG.COM http://www.re-plus.com
RE+ Tech Supp to POWER September 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of RE+ Tech Supp to POWER September 2023
