[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Decarbonization is the hard part. As opposed to the easy part with eco-certificates and the rest of the indulgence trade. Decarbonization can be achieved via abandonment and via storage (CCS). Both options still contain many stumbling blocks. But one after the other …
Decarbonization of the economy
I would like to start with a quote from Christian Rickens, head of text at Handelsblatt:
“… one chastises oneself to the extreme for a week, completely renounces potato chips (except for the one opened bag in the cupboard that had to go) and even almost went jogging. Then, on Sunday, you step on the scales – and weigh a kilo more than on Monday.
It feels a lot like that with the climate protection efforts of the past few years. All that effort – and now we learn that mankind’s CO2 emissions have risen yet again. In 2022, it will be around one percent higher than in 2021. If emissions continue to develop as they have, the remaining carbon budget to meet the 1.5-degree limit will be used up in nine years.”
Option 1: CO2 is omitted
This refers to the switch from fossil fuels to completely renewable energies. (Small note to Austria: wood is not renewable, unless we disregard the time factor).
Stumbling block 1: The place. Energy is usually not produced where it is needed (keyword offshore). This results not only in transportation losses but also in impacts on the area, because most of the pipelines are above ground.
Stumbling block 2: The time. Energy is usually not produced when it is needed (keyword simultaneity). Expensive energy storage systems with their losses help here – or temporal flexibilities (my favorite topic, more later).
Stumbling block 3: Acceptance. Metaphor: Everyone likes wind turbines as long as they are not in front of their own house.
Option 2: CO2 is stored
This refers to capture and storage (CCS). CO2, which is already in the atmosphere, is extracted from it at great expense. In this way, the mistakes of the past could be virtually undone.
Stumbling block 1: The separation (and compression). This process requires high pressure and high temperatures, and is thus very energy-intensive.
Stumbling block 2: The transport. Extra pipelines or special ships are needed for this. These have yet to be built and are very expensive.
Stumbling block 3: Storage. The laboriously extracted CO2 must be stored forever (!). “Forever” here is longer than the storage of nuclear waste that will eventually decay. CO2 can be stored well at depths of several hundred meters. Here there are conflicts of use with geothermal energy.
Conclusion
Both options take time and also condition each other to achieve 100% decarbonization. Energy efficiency defuses the situation and thus helps with the stumbling blocks. Energy efficiency is very diverse (see also our portfolio) and can help in 2 directions:
Direction 1: Reduction of consumption
More efficient processes and technologies such as volt management or energy-saving films or ice storage or heat recovery or frequency-controlled motors, to name just a few examples, reduce consumption and thus the expense of transport and storage. All these topics can be found on our website both in text form and in the form of our popular Quick Checks, free interactive online forms that directly assess potential.
Direction 2: Time flexibility
Now we’re finally on to my favorite topic: load management.
Load management works in any industry above a certain level of output or consumption. Load management means avoiding peak loads. Load peaks are expensive because they occur unexpectedly. These peaks can be avoided by load shedding (earlier) or by load shifting or using self-generated energy.
But what if …
I would like to present here a hypothesis, a concept, an idea of my own. You are all invited for criticism, improvements, and whatever else you can think of.
All loads can be divided into A) flexible loads, B) inflexible loads and C ) inertial loads (loads in stock). Time flexibility must be identified and differentiated. All loads can be divided into these 3 categories.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”17016″ img_size=”large”][vc_single_image image=”17003″ img_size=”large”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Load splitting
The fact that flexible loads can be shifted within certain time periods and inert loads have inherent potentials (do not really need electricity all the time) and can be shifted flexibly, the possibilities of load management increase significantly!
Here we are actually looking for a partner with whom we can build this together.
If it works on a small scale, it DOES work on a large scale.
Economic component
In principle, I have now described the prerequisites for the energy transition to take place not only locally in companies, but to have an impact on the entire national economy. The technology needed everywhere is smart meters and special routers to achieve grid parity.
Flexibilities
And here we are in the market for flexibilities. These are a prerequisite for the marketing of balancing energy. These are precisely the flexible and, above all, inertial loads that can be marketed on a national economic scale.
Demand side management: provision of system services: Provision of control power, i.e. reaction to switching signals of third parties for control power call-off (primary control power: 30 sec or secondary control power: 5 min or minute reserve power: 15 min + constant holding of this power).
Demand Response: Reacting to electricity price signals (reacting to electricity price fluctuations on the electricity exchange or due to dynamic electricity prices of the energy supplier).
Flexibilities bring the benefits of load management to the economic level and provide additional incentives (mainly monetary).
Conclusion
How or in what way can energy efficiency help:
Reduction consumption:
Energy efficiency (the quantitative component) ensures in its entirety that energy consumption decreases.
Thus, less energy is needed and thus less energy has to be generated and transported (with corresponding losses). This means that fewer fossil fuels are needed, especially for the base load.
Flexibility:
More flexibility (the temporal component) makes “work” easier for the – not constantly available – renewable energies. Energy is retrieved more evenly. The networks are relieved. Also the employees in the network nodes. The volume of expensive balancing energy decreases and thus energy becomes cheaper overall.
From my point of view, flexibilities are the key to the acceptance of renewables and the use of 100% renewables.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]