Innovation Insights – Role of TSO’s in Energy Transition
The energy transition, which entails a fundamental change in the energy supply system, creates new challenges for transmission system operators. In the past, a few large power plants in the transmission grid were responsible for the central provision of energy. Due to the expansion of renewable energies, the number of decentralized power generation facilities is increasing rapidly. These feeders, consumers or storage facilities are mainly connected to the distribution networks. Due to the large number of wind power- and PV systems with mostly weather-dependent generation, a variety of challenges have to be solved. Existing processes must be changed and new technical solutions created. Above all, however, distribution network operators are playing an increasingly important role in the security of electricity supply. At the same time, intensive coordination between distribution and transmission system operators is also becoming increasingly important. This publication is dedicated to the future role of transmission system operators in a flexible energy world and provides recommendations for action.
Innovation Insights – Energy Storage
As the global electricity systems are shaped by decentralisation, digitalisation and decarbonisation, the World Energy Council’s Innovation Insights Briefs explore the new frontiers in energy transitions and the challenges of keeping pace with fast moving developments. We use leadership interviews to map the state of play and case studies across the whole energy landscape and build a broader and deeper picture of new developments within and beyond the new energy technology value chain and business ecosystem.
With major decarbonisation efforts and the scaling up of renewable power generation, the widespread adoption of energy storage continues to be described as the key game changer for electricity systems. Affordable storage systems are a critical missing link between intermittent renewable power and a 24/7 reliability net-zero carbon scenario.
We interviewed energy leaders from 17 countries, exploring recent progress in terms of technology, business models and enabling policies. We showcase these in 10 case studies.
World Energy Scenarios 2019
The World Energy Scenarios 2019 report provides an update of the Council’s global energy scenarios. The three musically-named scenarios are:
- Modern Jazz, which represents a "digitally disrupted" and market-driven innovative world.
- Unfinished Symphony, a future in which more "intelligent" and circular economic growth models drive clean, affordable and sustainable energy transition and
- Hard Rock, which explores the consequences of inward-looking policies and weaker and unsustainable economic growth, in a more fragmented world.
The updated World Energy Scenarios provide new insights into the broader and fast-shifting landscape of innovation, which is emerging from within and beyond the energy system and includes not only new energy technologies but also policy, business model and social innovations. The scenarios highlight how different combinations of innovation accelerators –the "Constellations of Disruptions"– might trigger and scale to enable alternative energy pathways and disrupt existing value chains.
Energy Infrastructure:
Affordability Enabler or Decarbonisation Constraint?
The World Energy Council has launched an exclusive Innovation Insights Brief: Energy Infrastructure: Affordability Enabler or Decarbonisation Constraint? The brief contains key insights from interviews with global leaders across the energy sector.
Transitioning to a decarbonised energy system will result in stranded infrastructure assets or lead to their early decommissioning. The Insights Brief responds to the emerging need for a coordinated action plan to minimise costs. It offers a set of principles to design an effective plan for energy infrastructure.
Innovation Insights – Hydrogen Economy
The World Energy Council launched the Innovation Insights Brief: "New Hydrogen Economy - hope or hype?". The brief contains exclusive insights based on interviews with the key global leaders across the energy sector. Interviewees answered the questions about what is new and what are the critical factors for hydrogen as a key actor of the Grand Transition. The Insights Brief provides the reader with an overview of the current state of play for hydrogen as a part of energy transition and showcases emerging opportunities in four sectors: mobility, power, heat and industry. Common to all interviews was the fact that clear and long-term energy policies, along with cross-sector cooperation are necessary for the deployment of hydrogen.
Global Energy Scenarios Comparison Review
In anticipation of the 24th World Energy Congress, the Council is refreshing its global energy foresight and updating its global scenarios narratives. The focus is on an ‘innovation twist to 2040’ and the use of scenarios to explore and navigate new exponential growth opportunities for accelerating successful energy transition in an era of epic and disruptive innovation.
As a part of the refresh, the Council has conducted a comparison study of global energy scenarios in order to test the continued plausibility, relevance and challenge of its own existing scenario set.
By comparing the methods, narratives and assumptions associated with a benchmarkable set of global energy futures initiatives and studies, the Council seeks to provide our members with clearer understanding and new insights on energy transition while preparing them to better engage with leadership dialogues which pivot on visions of a new energy future.
World Energy Insights – Blockchain
The blockchain in the energy market has the first hype behind it. The technology is being used in more and more (pilot) projects, such as decentralised supply models (P2P). But is the regulatory framework in the energy market already fit for blockchain? Where changes may be necessary to raise further potential for new solutions. The World Energy Council discussed these questions in 39 interviews with representatives from the energy industry, politics and research.
The majority of respondents agreed that market participants must first develop a new block-chain-capable market before the regulatory authorities can intervene.
The developing role of blockchain
This WEC White Paper looks at the potential of Blockchain Technology for the energy sector. Although blockchain is gaining wide-spread acknowledgement and use in the sector, there are still a number of uncertainties surrounding the technology and a combination of technological, regulatory and other practical challenges could stall its growth.
Among other things, the following questions are treated:
What are blockchain’s opportunities and risks in the energy sector?
How will blockchain impact company and state value chain infrastructure related to the energy sector?
