Imagining Earth Day 2050 might seem a long way off, but to make a net zero environment a reality we have to envision it and prepare for the future. The reality of climate change is indisputable - we recorded the hottest year on record in 2023 (source: Copernicus) with no immediate signs of abatement.
Technology and innovation can slow climate change down:
Last week, our LinkedIn followers told us what technology investments will have the greatest positive impact on Earth Day in 2050 and the results confirm what the IEA has already highlighted: To reach our net zero goals, the world needs to triple renewable energy generation and double annual energy efficiency savings by 2030 (source: IEA).
Significantly increasing renewables in the energy mix, while meeting growing demand for power, requires greater innovation. Work is underway, but there is still a great deal to do.
A smarter, resilient and safer grid:
By Earth Day 2050, the grid will need to be more resilient, safer, and smarter. Not just to meet demand, but also respond to extreme weather events, and provide energy security. Investment is required to update ageing infrastructure and strengthen the grid.
The grid is getting smarter enabling the change from large-scale power generation to local or distributed generation. Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are a key component to reduce stress on the system and help integrate wind and solar by balancing supply and demand.
A smart grid offers monitoring, control, load and outage management, and remote access. Preventive maintenance and distribution automation can predict potential outages. These capabilities, together with advancements in AI, will mean the intelligent matching of supply capacity and resources with complex demand patterns. This will facilitate the seamless integration of renewables within a secure, resilient, and sustainable energy grid.
Energy Efficiency:
We don’t have to wait for new technologies and infrastructure investments to start to reduce emissions. Energy efficiency technologies are already available to help make meaningful reductions to energy consumption. These technologies offer the fastest way to net zero by using mature, low-risk solutions like smart buildings and cloud-based energy management systems that can deliver significant ROI. The NDB bank in Shanghai achieved15% energy savings with intelligent building controls, while Bangkok’s Unicorn Phayathai building uses ABB Ability™ Energy Manager to provide real-time insights to optimize energy consumption and reduce operational costs by up to 40%. Improving energy and asset monitoring solutions like this at scale - in industrial applications, commercial buildings and in data centers, in particular - will help the world achieve net zero.
Earth Day 2050 success story – Technology and Collaboration:
At ABB, our technology roadmap ranges from MV and DC solutions to energy management innovations. From AC and DC microgrids, to building automation, and sustainable switchgear. We also continue to invest in digital tools that offer insights on operations and equipment, and energy consumption patterns. Responsibly implementing AI will help boost efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. ABB is also focused on reducing the impact of our own operations and in the products and services we offer.
We will not do this alone. Beyond technology advancements, collaboration and partnership with our customers, suppliers, start-up innovators and stakeholders will be essential to reach our net zero targets by 2050. Together, we can all make a difference to ensure Earth Day 2050 is safe, smart and sustainable. What are you doing, either through your business or at home, to support the energy transition?
Click here to find out more about how ABB is helping accelerate the path to net zero.
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