Disruptive Energy Drivers

The crucial role that disruptive technology now plays in the energy sector.

20:58 10 May 2018

Disruptive technology refers to recent innovations that have become extremely successful that they are able to replace an existing or already established service. An example is the change from fixed landlines to mobile phones.

 

Disruptive technology is revolutionising many different sectors and one of them is the energy sector. Artificial intelligence and robotics, for example, are expected to change the entire landscape as they can be used to deliver potential efficiencies and new ways of working, which can help companies improve productivity and revenues. However, this is a relatively unchartered territory and there are a lot of considerations to keep in mind. For example, who will be held responsible when AI takes a decision that causes loss?

 

In terms of generation, transmission and distribution, small-scale generation techniques can be combined with digitisation to drive down costs and improve efficiencies across the renewable energy sector. This will allow home and business owners to harness their own energy as well as optimise their own power consumption. When this happens, a Distribution System Operator Model can be triggered, which will surely have profound consequences for the transmission system and networking charging.

 

All things considered, the next few years are expected to be interesting times for the energy sector as it starts to adapt and react to new technologies. Key players in the industry must realise that although this can deliver efficiencies and even reduce health and safety risk, it can also potentially cause uncertainty for regulators and investors in the long run.