World Economic Forum report considers smart grid to be the key to a green economy

The report “Accelerating the Success of the Smart Grid Pilot Program” jointly launched by the World Economic Forum, Accenture, and industry experts will be released on September 13 in Davos, Tianjin. The "Report" pointed out that the smart grid is a key enabling factor for achieving a low-carbon economy. It is essential to respond to the growing demand for energy. At present, 40% of energy is used to generate electricity, but the technology used in power systems has been more than 50 years old. Today's old-fashioned grids need to be substantially upgraded to smart grids to meet 21st- century energy needs.

More than 60 industry, policy and regulatory stakeholders participated in the preparation of the report “Accelerating the Success of the Smart Grid Pilot Project” to identify the success or failure factors of the smart grid pilot project. Relevant studies have found many lessons from existing pilot projects, and put forward practical recommendations to make the smart grid pilot projects as successful as possible.

World Economic Forum, the power industry, head of Ace classes • Mei Lamu (Espen Mehlum) said: "The United States each year about $ 150 billion loss due to power failure and the smart grid is a more reliable system, the flexibility to use renewable energy sources. Full potential. However, it is difficult for utility companies to give business reasons for using smart grids because incentive policies often fail to provide appropriate incentives and reflect low-carbon processes. "

The "Report" pointed out that through information and communication technologies, the power grid can become more intelligent and will be able to significantly increase efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. At the same time, consumers can also use new methods to optimize electricity usage.

Governments have begun to recognize the importance of smart grids in promoting the development of low-carbon technologies, and they increasingly see smart grids as a strategic infrastructure investment. In the past year, China alone invested 7.3 billion U.S. dollars in the development of smart grids, and the U.S. also spent US$ 4.5 billion in its fiscal stimulus package for smart grid construction. As a result, the number of smart grid pilot projects that are being implemented has increased dramatically, and the industry estimates that there are about 90 sites worldwide.

“ Smart grids can make a dramatic change in the energy system, it will change the way people and businesses interact with energy, and it will change the way value creation in the utility market. On the road to a low-carbon economy, the smart grid pilot project is both the first step in an exciting and very important, "Accenture's global head of strategy • Mark Spelman (Mark Spelman) said.

The "Report" pointed out that the regulatory framework should allow investors to be rewarded for facing risks and encourage the smart grid to create benefits, so the "Report" also stressed that pilot projects should play a key role in the development of such a regulatory framework. Utilities companies and their partners also need to rethink how they provide services and value to consumers. Pilot program pilot projects can significantly accelerate the application of smart grids and vice versa. Poorly planned and poorly piloted projects will hinder the application of smart grids and create a negative public perception of smart grids. Now we have the opportunity to make significant progress in establishing a low-carbon energy system, and successful smart grid pilot projects will be a key step in this process.