An electrical consumer is not interested in how the electricity they need was generated. Whether from climate-friendly and renewable sources or from fossil fuel power plants – the consumer uses any available energy. A switched-on consumer is also not picky when it comes to the amount of energy. Whether efficient or not – in this respect, its IQ is usually as high as that of a Christmas tree.
For years, we have been working on converting our energy supply to renewable and environmentally friendly generation. For many, the energy transition is not happening fast enough. Others believe that we cannot do more without causing lasting damage to the German economy. The goal of the new German government is clear: companies should consume less energy! At the same time, decarbonization in industry is to be driven forward, but this means that many production processes will have to be converted to hydrogen or electrical energy. As a result, the demand for electricity will increase. Added to this will be electrical energy for electromobility, which is to be further expanded.
In the first 11 months of this year, German nuclear power plants generated 13.2% of the country’s electricity requirements. The last two nuclear power plants will be shut down in almost exactly one year. If the new government’s plan goes ahead, the phase-out of coal-fired power generation will be completed by 2030. So far this year, German coal and lignite-fired power plants have generated 28.7% of the energy required in Germany.
Anyone who has mastered basic arithmetic will realize that more energy demand and less energy production will lead to an energy bottleneck. The expansion of renewable power plants using wind and solar energy is to be massively increased, according to government guidelines. However, these power plants only supply energy when the wind is blowing or the sun is shining.
New gas-fired power plants are intended to ensure Germany’s security of supply on a temporary basis. When expanding energy generation from gas-fired power plants, we must take into account who is at the end of the gas tap. Are we just leaving our security of supply to nature and other countries?
Decarbonization refers to the conversion of an economy towards a lower turnover of carbon. The long-term goal is to create a carbon-free economy as part of the energy transition.
The Fraunhofer Institute’s energy chart makes this very clear. In the white areas below the black line, we are already no longer able to supply ourselves with electrical energy.
Ducking away using ostrich tactics is no longer an option. We all have to take responsibility for our actions now, both in business and in our private lives. We have to ask ourselves the question every day: What energy are we consuming uselessly and without any real purpose?
As you can see, German energy technology and industry find themselves in a huge field of tension. Germany is recognized worldwide for its education system, strong civil society, high environmental awareness and great inventiveness. Now it’s time to roll up our sleeves and further increase energy efficiency and drive forward the transition to a secure and renewable energy supply.
There is a lot to do, let’s tackle it. What role does KBR play in the energy transition
Since KBR was founded, the focus has been on sustainable energy reduction, which began with the production of systems for reactive current compensation in 1976. These systems not only save the costs of offsetting reactive energy, but also relieve the power grid of reactive current at the same time. This results in lower power losses and better utilization of the transmission facilities. It is only possible to estimate approximately how many millions of GWh have already been saved by our systems due to the lower grid losses.
Just four years after the company was founded, KBR developed the first electronic energy optimization system. Even back then, the aim was to utilize the energy grids more evenly. Today, more efficient utilization of the electricity grids for the transmission of wind energy from the north to the south is more important than ever. The current multimax energy optimization system can not only optimize consumers – it also charges and discharges battery storage systems, communicates with charging stations and manages the entire energy system.
In 1994, the first digital measuring device multimess for switchgear? was presented. Over the course of time, this one measuring device developed into a whole range of measuring devices and, in 1998, the energy data management system visual energy. The constantly evolving management system enables energy managers to track down unnecessarily consumed energy and increase energy efficiency in their company. Without energy data management – the dashboard of the energy manager – the efficient operation of a commercial or industrial enterprise is no longer conceivable. The amount of energy saved is between 20 and 30 % on average.
Promotion by BAFA
BAFA promotes the KBR systems. Module 3 supports your efforts to sustainably reduce your energy consumption. The maximum funding amounts to a maximum of 15 million euros per investment project with a funding rate of up to 40 percent of the investment costs.