Tag Archives: energy

Why microgrids are big news

As the world continues its march towards a greener future, businesses, communities, and individuals alike are all increasingly turning towards renewable energy sources to power their operations. What is most interesting, though, is how many of them are taking the pro-active position of researching, selecting, and implementing their preferred solutions without the assistance of traditional players in the space.

Becoming one’s own energy supplier can be an attractive prospect for any business and is something I’d expect to see more and more of in the future. This is a good thing. Putting solar panels on the likes of superstores and data centres is good for businesses, good for electricity customers, good for the grid, and good for the environment.

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The need to weave agility throughout the business

With geopolitical tensions, more extreme weather events and the legacy of a global pandemic, it is more difficult for energy suppliers to preserve their margins and remain competitive than ever before. To thrive in the current climate, it is imperative that a supplier makes marginal gains wherever they can.

Profitability within the sector today hinges on three pillars. The company’s ability to manage risk, forecast accurately, and adapt swiftly. This article would explore how technology can be used to weave agility into the very fabric of the organisation so that suppliers have the intelligence and insight they need to make the right decision, first time, every time.

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How Predictive AI is Helping the Energy Sector

In the past year or so, we have seen the emergence of many new and exciting applications for predictive AI in the energy industry to better maintain and optimise energy assets. In fact, the advances in the technology have been nothing short of rapid. The challenge, though, has been in supplying the ‘right’ data to make them effective.

It will be interesting to see what the future holds for predictive AI. Whilst there is much to admire, predictive AI is still in the emerging technologies phase and needs to overcome the challenges of scaling up. This article focuses on the benefits of the technology and what the energy sector will need to focus on over the next 12 months to ensure it doesn’t try to run before it can walk.

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A three-step strategy to better energy management

As energy costs have continued to rise, the need for better energy management has increasingly been discussed in boardrooms up and down the land. However, it is often difficult for internal advocates to justify the ROI of such projects due to the insufficiency or inaccuracy of the data available. So much so that Garner suggests that ROI and conflicting priorities are seen as the top two challenges faced by over 40% of cases.

There is no doubt that data can be the proof point required. But how much onus should be placed on the business to establish the effective modelling strategies required to generate the requisite data to prove ROI and environmental benefits, and how much should be the energy supplier?

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The need to prove environmental accountability

We are currently in the midst of one of the most consequential energy transitions since records began. The increasing availability of clean electrons has motivated businesses in the UK and beyond to think green. And for good reason. Being environmentally conscious attracts customers, appeases regulators, retains staff, and can even gain handouts from government.

The world’s move towards a greener future will only continue to gather pace. Capturing even a sliver of this market represents a massive opportunity for energy suppliers. However, some need to work hard to win back customers. In their drive to appeal, certain energy suppliers have been guilty in the past of ‘greenwashing’ to exaggerate their environmental credentials. Those suppliers – and those that have played fair – have recognised the need for greater accountability. We explore how.

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Sustainable Data Centres: Three Key Considerations

Data centres play an invaluable role in today’s society, enabling low latency connectivity and meeting surging demands for data for organisations around the world, with the need for new ones not likely to decrease any time soon. With this, it is vital that data centre providers and customers build with sustainability in mind.

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