EXPERT OPINION
The energy system of tomorrow
Electricity consumption continues to increase globally day by day, largely due to economies
of developing countries. Industrial enterprises and buildings need more and more electricity.
It is not surprising, therefore, that the overall demand for oil fueled by low market prices is
steadily growing. The energy system of the future will have to meet not only the economic
requirements of the market, but also effectively use the existing resources without polluting
the environment. The future energy supply must be safe and affordable.
Audris Barcevicius,
President and CEO,
Siemens Central Asia
Energy of the future
Oil and gas will remain the foundation for
the global power supply for many decades.
The importance of natural gas – the
cleanest fossil fuel – will definitely increase.
We cannot forget that a sustainable future
can only be achieved by switching the
energy system to electricity produced,
transmitted and distributed with minimal
losses, using a high proportion of renewable
energy resources with an emphasis on the
most effective consumption. At the same time, a high level of CO 2
emissions contributes to a slow but steady
increase in global temperature. With this as
a priority, the seven largest countries with
highly developed economies (USA, Japan,
Germany, UK, France, Italy and Canada) met
in Elmau, Germany in June 2015 coming
together on a a revolutionary decision to
decarbonize their economies during the 21st
century. In other words, the G7 countries
have agreed on the need to end the
dependence on fossil fuels.
We observe three main trends affecting
the formation of the future energy
system: a change in energy markets and
the emerging role of alternative fuels,
growing decentralized energy production,
which in turn creates a more complex
network format. In the second half of
this century, electricity is expected to
replace traditional energy sources in all
economic areas, as well as in public life –
in industry, on roads, in heating systems
for buildings and so on. All these will
be possible due to digitalization, which
is spreading at an incredibly fast pace.
Information technologies and software
regulate the increasingly complex processes
and reasonably link data obtained from
equipment and machinery sensors, helping
to handle information correctly. Decarbonization is really possible despite
all probable difficulties. The implementation
of this initiative is based on essential key
directions: improving energy efficiency
(for example, by construction of intelligent
buildings), generating electricity using
alternative sources (wind, solar, water,
geothermal energy), and changing over
from fossil fuels to electricity.
All changes, especially large-scale ones,
require investments. Here we have to keep
in mind that in the long run the irreversible
climate changes on the planet can become
even more expensive than investments in a
new energy infrastructure. Approximately
40 percent of global greenhouse gas is
produced by the power-generating sector.
Accordingly, it is necessary to establish
this power generating in a more 'clean'
way. Renewable energy sources like wind
and solar will play decisive roles in future
energy production.
'Green' factors
Recently, the well-known research center,
The Global Foot print Network, has noted
that mankind uses 50 percent more
resources than the planet is able to provide.
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world monitor
For example, Germany has taken
appropriate measures in relation to the