Power April 2022 - 28

ELECTRIFICATION
Electrification Ignites Debate
Over Future of Energy
Electrification-replacing fossil fuels with electricity to provide power-is a major
part of the global effort toward decarbonization. It touches many sectors, and is
sparking even more discussion about its impact on energy consumption and cost.
Darrell Proctor
T
he energy transition encompasses
many aspects of power generation,
with a common theme of finding
the most efficient way to produce electricity
while minimizing costs. Other factors,
though, are impacting today's decisions
about how this energy is produced,
and how it is used.
Environmental concerns are part of
the equation, as generators consider
regulations that increasingly impact their
operations. As more industries embrace
sustainable business practices, the carbon
footprint of their manufacturing becomes
a consideration.
Electricity consumers are weighing
their own priorities, looking at cost,
convenience-and sometimes climate
change-when deciding whether to buy
an electric vehicle (EV), choose between
electric or gas-powered tools and appliances,
or heating their home with natural
gas or a heat pump.
The trend toward electrification reflects
the broader energy transition,
a move away from fossil fuels toward
cleaner forms of energy. As with any
change in the power sector, there are
plenty of issues to discuss, many moving
parts, and continuing debate about
the role of government in determining
how fast electrification will change the
energy landscape-and how far it will go
with its impact on utilities, industry, and
electricity consumers.
" I think the most important focus
should be on creating a low-carbon future,
so that we can improve the quality
of life and protect the environment
for people everywhere, " said John Vernacchia,
the energy transition segment
director for Eaton, a global power management
company. " Energy consumption
is steadily increasing around the
world, the adoption of electric transportation
is accelerating, and buildings are
becoming more energy-hungry than
ever before. We need to rethink energy
systems to sustainably meet these new
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1. Eaton has taken an " Everything as a Grid " approach to the energy transition that creates energy
hubs with flexible electrical systems-transforming infrastructure for electrification. Solutions
include photovoltaic (PV) inverters, electric vehicle (EV) charging systems, and distributed
energy resource (DER) management software, among other things. Courtesy: Eaton
demands. To get there, the sources of
power need to become more renewable,
resilient, and intelligent. "
" The best argument for electrification
is one of necessity, " said Curtis Tongue,
co-founder and chief strategy officer at
OhmConnect, which works with residential
electricity customers on ways to save
energy and money. " If we are to stave off
the 1.5-degree increase in temperatures
before the end of the century, we need
to figure out how to effectively decarbonize
the economy. About one-third of U.S.
emissions come from transportation and
another one-third comes from energy
use in homes or buildings, so that's a
good place to start. We have the tech and
know-how needed to decarbonize those
sectors through electrification today. "
'Opportunity for Consumers'
Electrification at its core is simply replacing
the use of fossil fuels with technologies
that use electricity as a source of
energy-using electricity to heat a home
or office building (Figure 1), instead of
natural gas, or driving an electric vehicle
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rather than a car that runs on gasoline.
It is, as Vernacchia told POWER, a " real
opportunity for consumers ... to become
producers of energy and have far greater
control of when and how they use it, "
adding that his company is " working to
make sure that power can come from
everywhere, and helping our customers
seize opportunities created by electrification
by breaking traditional boundaries of
what electrical systems can do. "
There are economic arguments around
electrification, from higher prices for energy,
to job losses in the fossil fuel sector,
to the cost of electric vehicles compared
to gasoline-powered cars and trucks. But
analysts acknowledge electrification has
environmental benefits, will create jobs,
and expand the ways energy is produced
and distributed.
Eric Powell, director, North America,
at Partners in Performance, told POWER:
" There is benefit and bias in every argument,
but the best argument that benefits
us all and that cuts through the bias is
that electrification is the catalyst for new
micro-economies that will allow everyone
POWER | April 2022

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Power April 2022

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