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Several energy industry experts recently spoke Power Electrification feature published in the April 2023 issue. Electrification has many facets and its adoption has different impacts on different areas of power generation and the overall energy landscape.
From energy efficiency to sustainability initiatives, electrification is a key driver of change in transportation, manufacturing, residential, commercial and industrial buildings.people who talked to me Power We agreed that electrification will be a long-term process that requires cooperation between different sectors to achieve a sustainable future. Electrification is one of the major topics in 2019. powers Distributed Energy Conference, August 14-17, Savannah, GA.
ZAPI GROUP, headquartered in Italy, is the company that helps design the transition to an all-electric future. The company has system integration expertise across its entire product portfolio including motion controllers, electric motors, high frequency battery chargers and automated navigation software. Applies to fully electric and hybrid vehicles. ZAPI GROUP has more than 1,500 employees worldwide. (Editor’s Note: ZAPI GROUP is hosting a virtual conference called The Future of Electrification on May 9-10, 2023, focused on the role of electrification of industrial applications in driving sustainability.)
Claes Avasjö, Executive Director of ZAPI GROUP, discussed different aspects of electrification and its implications for different sectors in this Q&A session. PowerAvasjö’s focus is on developing its people and ensuring the sustainable growth of its business. Previously, he held executive leadership roles at Inmotion, Kollmorgen, and Danaher Motion.
POWER: What are the most important aspects of electrification? Are we moving away from fossil fuels? Is energy efficiency becoming more important? Need something else on top of your conversation?
Avache: In the early days of modern electrification, energy efficiency played a key role in driving growth. The focus was on saving fuel and improving equipment performance. However, as technology has advanced, the focus has shifted to environmental issues such as air pollution and climate change. Today, the main driver of electrification is the need to transition to a more sustainable future. Electrification has the potential to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality and create healthier and safer working environments. This includes moving away from fossil fuels in the transportation, equipment and materials sectors. Electrical devices are a key driver of change in our society and can make a big difference in mitigating climate change. Although a long-term process, the transition to electrification is essential to achieving a sustainable future.
In the industrial context, electrification has many advantages. For example, electric construction equipment has the potential to improve productivity due to improved acceleration and driving performance. However, one of the most important operational benefits is the reduction in noise and emissions. This has a direct impact on workers’ health. Safe working conditions are especially important for workers on construction sites. On construction sites, noise pollution can cause hearing loss, excessive vibration from internal combustion engines can cause fatigue problems, and diesel exhaust can lead to respiratory illness.
From a broader community perspective, electrification can lead to a better quality of life for people in urban areas where air and noise pollution are serious problems.
Power: Who is driving the push to electrification? Should it be the government (local, state, federal), the utility sector, or the commercial/industrial and/or residential sector?
Avache: The push towards electrification must be a collaborative effort between governments, utilities, residential and commercial sectors, and industrial sectors. In fact, society as a whole needs to participate and support electrification. Governments are responsible for developing policies to encourage electrification, and the utilities sector must invest in infrastructure to improve access and scalability. The residential and commercial sectors are beginning to adopt electrification in buildings and vehicles, and the industrial sector is beginning to adopt electrification in transportation, construction machinery and manufacturing processes. All sectors need to work together to reach the electrification goal.
POWER: How will the move towards electrification affect the power grid? Will there be enough power supply to meet the increasing demand?
Avache: Although this topic is debated, it is clear that we cannot rely solely on our current power supply. The transition to electrification will require more renewable energy sources, such as wind power, new nuclear power plants, or solar power plants. The move to electrification requires significant investments in infrastructure that can support widespread adoption.
As demand for electrical applications increases, governments and utility sectors must work together to ensure adequate power supplies. One of his approaches to achieving this goal is moving to a more circular economy. This concept helps discuss ways to reduce power demand. The circular economy aims to minimize waste and maximize resource use by keeping materials in use for as long as possible. By reusing the materials in the product rather than extracting new resources, we can reduce the demand for more electricity. This is because a lot of energy is required to create new resources and materials. Therefore, by continuing to use the material, less new energy is required, resulting in less power demand.
Power: Industry experts debate the economic impact of electrification, including the need to invest in more power generation and upgrades to transmission and distribution systems. Will these problems, and perhaps others, slow down the electrification process, especially when consumer utility bills rise?
Avache: Electrification faces several challenges and barriers, including a lack of infrastructure and the power grid’s ability to meet the increasing demand for electricity. Successful electrification depends on having the right infrastructure to support electrification, not just charging stations, but the aforementioned power grid itself.
In addition to infrastructure, one of the biggest challenges in vehicle or machine electrification is integrating the electrical components and moving from a combustion engine to a fully electric machine. This process requires redesigning the entire electric drive system to optimize the electric machine. Medium and small original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) may not have the necessary expertise in electric powertrain systems, so education and training are essential to ensure a successful transition to electrification. Training is essential.
Successful electrification of the industrial sector will require changes in how businesses such as equipment dealers, fleet equipment suppliers and local governments operate. For example, the move to electrical equipment requires traditional dealers to change models to include fewer parts, less frequent service, and more customer education and support. Fleet equipment suppliers may find their customers looking for lease, rental, or pay-as-you-go options as they transition to electrical equipment. Municipalities and municipalities need transportation plans to predict future travel usage demand and determine the type and number of vehicles needed, charging schedules, and infrastructure.
Ultimately, a key challenge in electrification is ensuring that it is done responsibly and sustainably. Considering the entire product life cycle, it is essential to strive for a circular economy, reusing and recycling materials wherever possible to minimize waste and reduce environmental impact.
At ZAPI GROUP, we are continually looking at how we can take action to be more transparent and support sustainability practices. We work with suppliers who share our values and are committed to making our products environmentally friendly and sustainable. We also work with global industrial vehicle manufacturers to help them transition to electrification and provide the support they need to make the transition successful.
—Darrell Proctor Senior Associate Editor at POWER (@power magazine).
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