Lack of data a challenge to decarbonisation – Siemens study
Image: Siemens
Digitalisation is key for decarbonisation but availability and access to the right data is the biggest challenge to efforts, a new study from Siemens indicates.
The study, based on a survey of 650 senior executives across the power and other sectors, revealed that more than half say digital technologies have significant or massive potential to advance the decarbonisation of their operations and a similar proportion report that their organisations are mature or advanced in data driven operations.
But many organisations still remain in the early stages of their digitalisation journeys and many may not fully appreciate the links with decarbonisation.
A significant proportion also says that they have little or none of the data they need in areas that are key to improving decarbonisation and resource efficiency.
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For example, almost half lacked decentralised energy resources data and almost a third lacked energy consumption data.
However, with the solid digital foundation, AI, with its ability to analyse vast datasets and optimise operations, is expected to have the biggest impact for decarbonisation – but more will need to be done to improve its energy efficiency.
“Digitalisation is a powerful enabler of sustainability, and decarbonising our buildings, grids and infrastructure is within reach with solutions that exist today,” said Thomas Kiessling, CTO of Siemens Smart Infrastructure, on the survey findings.
“To accelerate decarbonisation and meet critical climate targets, we must harness digital technologies like AI and IoT in a more transformative way. The solutions exist, the savings are clear – there is no reason not to act now.”
Digitalisation in power sector decarbonisation
Turning to the power sector specifically, utilities see particularly strong potential to use digitalisation to decarbonise, with two-thirds reporting significant or massive potential.
One reason for this is that grid operators can use digitalisation to increase dramatically the visibility of asset performance and energy flows – and especially in LV grids, Siemens points out.
As an example Siemens highlights Norway as having the world’s highest penetration of heat pumps and EVs, as well as widely distributed energy resources and prosumers, both residential and business.
Elvia, the country’s largest grid operator, has transformed the operation of its LV grid by feeding various data sources into its intelligent software. Using a digital twin of its LV grid, Elvia is now able to make more precise investment decisions and squeeze more grid capacity out of the existing infrastructure.
“Greater awareness has increased the flexibility, automation and reliability of the grid, leading to a 30% reduction in outage times”.
The survey also highlighted five factors as the top benefits of adopting digital business platforms – scalability, time and cost efficiency, faster implementation, reliability and interoperability.
Collaboration is suggested as arguably the most underappreciated benefit.
