Like many other sectors, the future of energy management will be dictated by technological advancement and innovation in the years ahead.
The future of energy is decidedly complex, however, as we’ve seen considerable diversification in this market and there are a host of variables in play. This not only includes technologies aimed at delivering clean energy, for example, but also those that will aim to revolutionise how fossil fuels are harnessed.
Below, we’ll explore some of these technologies and ask how they will impact on the energy management market.
- Smart Energy Metres
On a fundamental level, smart meters have had a significant impact on the way in which we manage energy consumption.
This is true for both households and businesses, who can leverage smart meters to reduce their consumption and the associated costs.
Smart meters use a secure national communication network known as the DCC to wirelessly share real-time energy usage to suppliers, while also enabling users to access this data through a display.
These systems are entirely accurate and automated, meaning that entities can do away with estimated energy bills and control their costs more effectively. They may also be able to identify periods of excess consumption and manage these in a more effective manner.
- Waste-to-energy Processes
Technology has also helped to make traditional energy sources such as fossil fuels cleaner, particularly in terms of how waste products are managed and utilised.
At the heart of this evolution is Weir, which is a service provide that enables businesses to leverage their waste products as a reusable source of energy (or heat).
This sustainable energy source may be generated by the primary treatment of the waste in question, although it’s possible to process discarded materials directly into fuel.
This type of process has revolutionised the way in which we manage and leverage energy, while helping businesses to reduce their carbon footprints considerably.
- Utility Scale and Rooftop Solar
Consumers are demanding increased access to clean energy in the modern age, with around 25% of respondents to a global wind survey revealing that they have the option of utilising renewable sources.
Beyond this, 48% of respondents claimed that they would like utility companies to supply renewable options to them, with a further 49% willing to pay a premium for these.
This increased demand is set to change the way in which utility firms deliver energy to their customers, with clean and renewable sources likely to become more widely available.
Renewable energy will certainly become cheaper and more accessible in the near-term, changing the way in which households and businesses consume energy and manage their output.