| | AUGUST 20208E ERGYTech ReviewThe Necessary Shift Required for Low Carbon Value ChainBy Jim Donaldson, Director of Innovation, Hitachi [TYO: 6501]To quote the American psychologist, Abraham Maslow,"I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail."Those of us who work in technology should remember this and avoid the temptation to declare that our latest AI / IoT / blockchain platforms are sufficient to bring the breakthrough required to transition society to a more efficient, sustainable future. This is not to say that these technologies do not bring huge potential, but they must be considered as part of the solution, to enable an outcome, rather than the solution itself. Equally, those of us in the energy industry must not lose sight that in most cases, end users do not want to buy energy; instead they want to buy a warm home, or the latest movie on Netflix, or for companies, perhaps a method to transport their goods from factory to destination. Energy supply is a key common enabler in all cases, but not the end goal.It is almost trite to state that we need to focus on outcomes rather than our own specific product offerings. But it is surprising how often this doesn't happen. The reasons can be varied-- short-term business pressures, organisational structure, skills in the workforce. However, for complex ecosystems and value chains, I think it is as much an issue of refusing to think outside of your silo. Problems can be viewed through different lenses and it is only through embracing this complexity and collaborating with other parties, we get the full picture. By optimising at the system level, rather than our own individual business level, we create the greatest value and give ourselves the best chance of success. To choose a specific example, commercial fleets are now looking to transition to electric vehicles (EV). Often, we hear EVs referred to as `batteries on wheels', which misses the point that those wheels need to turn and therefore the `battery' may not be in the location required to deliver the forecasted energy system support. Or alternatively, that the pre-supposed charging flexibility is in reality not available, since business pressures enforce a rigid charging schedule.Viewing EVs solely from a transport system perspective exposes equivalent problems. A typical fleet manager is an expert in reliably keeping large numbers of vehicles on the road for the lowest cost. Typically, they are not energy experts. A common scenario arises when a fleet manager plans to electrify their vehicles. They may not fully appreciate what type of infrastructure is required, for example the types, power rating and number of chargers. Having decided, they request additional connection capability from the local network only to presented with a higher than expected bill. This results often in a scaling back, or even cancellation of the initiative. Even if it proceeds, it is likely that the fleet has requested more network IN MY OPINION
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