INDUSTRY NEWS
Electricity 4.0 – a greener future through convergence By Taru Madangombe, Vice-President, Power Systems, Schneider Electric
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ith recent media reports indicating that officials from US, UK, France, and Germany are pursuing an agreement with Eskom to shut down the majority of its coal-fired plants, the spotlight has again been placed on South Africa’s energy provision and usage. Furthermore, the impending 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as the COP26 summit, will seek feasible ways of moving towards the decarbonisation of the electricity mix throughout the world, particularly in the major emerging countries. Against this backdrop, South Africa, more than ever, needs to rethink its relationship with energy which accounts for 33% of the Africa’s s overall carbon emissions contribution.
Taru Madangombe
Against this backdrop, South Africa, more than ever, needs to rethink its relationship with energy which accounts for 33% of the Africa’s s overall carbon emissions contribution 20
SEIFSA NEWS
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Fortunately, there are attainable solutions that can set the country on a path of optimise and sustainable energy management and usage. One of these solutions is the convergence of electrical and digital at scale. It is, in fact, the fastest route clear, smarter, and more efficient energy. To contextualise the above, it’s important that we take one step back. Whilst most are familiar with Industry 4.0, the globe has, in fact, gone through four technology-driven revolutions, impacting simultaneously the worlds of industry and electricity. The solution is, therefore, a world that is more electric and more digital. An efficient, sustainable, and resilient electric world that merges digital and electric to ultimately mitigate the impact of climate change. At Schneider Electric we call this Electricity 4.0. Electricity 4.0 can play an invaluable role in South Africa considering the country’s level of carbon emission contribution. The time is now to start looking at how we can move towards Electricity 4.0, realising an economy built on sustainable practices whilst mitigating climate change.
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021
