How tech can ease the energy crisis

Everyone is aware that the world is currently going through an energy crisis. Global costs of gas and electricity have spiralled over the last few months, prompting many governments to offer support through grants and subsidies to help their citizens through the crisis.

While this is necessary to help some of the least well off in society, it is only a short-term solution for a problem that will require huge amounts of investment to fully solve in the long term. In fact, research from the Energy Information Administration has projected a 50% increase in global energy usage by 2050. On top of all of this, countries are also looking for ways to decarbonise their supply without making the crisis even worse for their citizens.

Fortunately, there are other ways that the impact of the crisis can be lessened through the use of technology. From helping households improve how they manage their energy, to helping companies become more proactive in how they manage supply and distribution, here are a few approaches to be considered.

Managing energy in the home

A key place for households to start if they are worried about energy costs is understanding how much energy they use and when. Without these insights it is impossible to know what to change, whether it’s turning off appliances at peak times, or reducing usage of certain devices that consume a lot of power – though all of these changes are likely good practice.

Combining technology like smart meters with advanced analytics and AI can provide this information. It can also then be tailored to individual households, ensuring each user has access to advice that is relevant to them.

However, while some countries like Spain are at 100% deployment of smart meters, there are many that are still lagging behind. For example, the UK is still trailing leading European countries. Fixing this problem should be paramount for governments of countries that have fallen behind. Likewise, those that have rolled them out need to ensure they are being used to their fullest extent. For instance, in the UK only 42% of smart meters are operating in smart mode, greatly diminishing the benefit they can bring to households.

Upgrading the grid

It is no secret that many countries’ energy infrastructure was built decades ago. This has meant legacy equipment has endured largely because it is too complicated, or impossible, to remove it without causing widespread disruption.

As a result, energy operators have not been able to gain a full insight into how their networks operate. For instance, as more people have installed solar panels onto their houses, it has become more complex to track when energy has been sent back into the grid from households, or what condition assets such as transformers or sub-stations are in.

Fortunately, this is beginning to change. The development of more precise and easy-to-install IoT devices has made it possible to shine a light on these previously dark areas. Not only can this help companies be more proactive in managing their assets, minimising downtime caused by maintenance, but it can also help predict energy usage across the whole network. This enables engineers to more efficiently distribute power to the areas that need it, thereby reducing wastage and unnecessary production.

Helping transition to a greener economy

Amid the current energy crisis, there is also the need to continue to develop greener alternatives so that future generations can live more sustainably. As supply for energy in some areas has been restricted, it has forced some countries to turn back to fossil fuels to meet demand – for instance, Germany has recently restarted coal power stations in order to boost its energy supply.

Combating this requires investment in new areas, including the development of new sources such as hydrogen. In fact, the development of ‘green hydrogen’ has now become more cost effective than gas. It can also provide a reliable alternative to fuel and remove the long charge times from electric vehicles, while not polluting the atmosphere.

From smart grids to AI and IoT, technology has the potential to help everyone through both a challenging winter of high energy bills and longer-term improvements. With a smarter approach, we can change how people use energy and help create a more sustainable population.

Governments around the world have woken up to the potential hazards of relying on the old forms of energy. It is now crucial that they look ahead to make sure future generations do not face the same problem.