MBN: Smart Energy Revolution
by Jeffrey Barg
October 16, 2014
Human invention has depended on fossil fuels for its energy needs for well over 150 years. When the train became the primary mode of shipment, coal was used in massive quantities. Eventually, with the invention of the combustible engine, oil became the energy source for the masses. But now even a schoolchild knows that eventually, those energy sources will be depleted. So the world is left with the problem of finding the next effective, efficient, and long-lasting energy source.
The Smart Energy Revolution panel discussion at the 15th Annual World Knowledge Forum in Seoul provided solid evidence that this new energy source may already have been found.
Among the speakers were Doctor Gunter Pauli, CEO and founder of Zero Emissions Research and Initiatives (ZERI), Doctor San Yup Lee, dean at KAIST, Seong Hoon Kim, a senior vice president of smart energy business for KT, Jaehong Jeong, director of GE Oil & Gas, and Martin Hauske, CEO of Accenture’s Smart Grid business in the Asia-Pacific. The panel of experts presented their ideas on the current direction of energy resources, creation, and application.
“I, of course, always owe an apology to the orangutan,” Dr. Pauli began. “In 1991, I saw that my biodegradable product was destroying their habitat. I realized it was biodegradable but not sustainable, and that forced me to change my model of business.”
Dr. Pauli has since spearheaded innovations across all disciplines of energy utilization, and went on to outline the myriad projects his companies have been a part of.
“Other industries pride themselves on eliminating jobs, but I don’t,” added Dr. Pauli.
His companies have focused on innovation and revenue creation. He went on to illustrate the various endeavors his company ZERI has undertaken in an effort to create renewable, sustainable resources. One such endeavor includes a water filtration system that works by extracting moisture from the air.
Dr. Pauli seems intent on changing the way the energy industry does business.
“In our organization, it is forbidden to write a business plan. You have to focus on doing things,” he said.
The sector of the energy industry that Mr. Hauske focused on was utilities. Certainly, with more people and more devices that use energy than ever before, the utilities industry is in need of its own share of resources.
“Our focus is on energy conservation, efficiency, substitution, and distribution,” he said. He added that fairly soon, there will be an app for everything, and that everyone’s devices will have to talk to each other. This unprecedented era of interconnectivity will result in more energy consumption through utilities, which his company is focused on providing in new and innovative ways.
General Electric has long been at the forefront of energy utilization and distribution, and Mr. Jeong spoke on GE’s place in the current energy revolution.
“We are trying to connect the Internet of Things, intelligent machines, big data, analytics, and people at work,” explained Mr. Jeong. By combining these five components into one fluid system, GE plans on minimizing unplanned down time and increasing result-oriented contractual services, thereby increasing overall productivity.
Mr. Kim brought the presentation back to the basics, rather than focusing on the creation and distribution of energy. KT is concentrating reducing energy consumption by analyzing customers’ lifestyles.
“Analyzing customer data allows us to use energy more effectively,” explained Mr. Kim. “The data allows us to compare energy consumption with your neighbors, and advise people on how to lower their costs. The difficult part is getting people to heed your advice and reduce their energy footprint.”
The discussion then turned to the newest form of energy creation: biofuels. Dr. Lee elaborated on several new forms of energy creation, including butanol, which is created through the fermentation processes of microorganisms.
Dr. Lee left no doubt about the importance of these biofuels as a cornerstone of future energy consumption.
“It’s not about us. It’s about our children’s children’s children,” said Dr. Lee. He then went on to explain the immense applications of the chemicals, plastics, and fuels produced through the employment of microorganisms.
With all the changes the energy industry will undergo in the near future, it appears that the majority of the panel believes we will adjust to such change, whether we are ready or not.