BuddeBlog

Warnings from Freedom to Connect

Several of my colleagues are at the Freedom to Connect conference in the USA (http://freedom-to-connect.net/). Many scientists are warning that the planet may be close to a tipping point where we will experience run away global warming (see Andy Revkin’s recent blog from the NYTimes for a summary of several studies on this issue http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/28/tipping-points-and-the-climate-challenge).

We simply may not have the luxury time for small incremental adaptations to address the challenge of global climatic disruption. One of the major ways we can reduce our CO2 footprint is through de-materialization where we replace physical products with virtual ones delivered over the Internet. Some studies indicated that we can reduce C02 emissions by as much as 20% with materialization. I argue that dematerialization can be further amplified through carbon rewards (instead of Carbon taxes) where consumers are rewarded with a variety of virtual products in exchange of reducing their carbon footprint in other walks of their lives. But to take advantage of this opportunity of dematerialization we need open high speed broadband networks everywhere. Hence the importance of conferences such as Freedom to Connect.

See also: 2008 Global Utilities – Environmental Focus for Smart Grids

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EnergyAustrlia’s next step towards a smart grid

In March 2009, EnergyAustralia launched a $3.2 million plan to implement an energy network monitoring and control solution, a key element within  the company’s overall intelligent network program, the Distribution Monitoring and Control (DM&C) project involves the roll-out of 12,000 sensing devices throughout the electricity distribution network, creating a smart grid.

Under the initial agreement, IBM will design and build the system IT architecture to support the project, in which sensing devices will connect with the energy utility’s operational systems using a combination of fourth generation and existing technologies.

The project will enable the utility to deliver energy more efficiently and reliably, and allow a greater number and range of environmental solutions to be integrated into the electricity network such as renewable energy.

It will reduce outages through faster fault location and preventative maintenance and, to work towards managing distributed energy sources such as solar and storage devices.

This project is an important part of the company’s initial investment of $170 million in its smart network rollout.

See also:-

• Australia – Electricity Market – in 2009
• Australia – Energy Utilities Markets
• Australia – Smart Grid Australia
• Australia – Smart Grids – Analysis – The Market in 2009
• Australia – Smart Grids – Climate Change and the Environment
• Australia – Smart Grids – Demand Side Management
• Australia – Smart Grids – Major Players & Projects
• Australia – Smart Grids and BPL
• Australia – Utilities Broadband – BPL Access

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Global policies – Copenhagen Climate Council

The Copenhagen Climate Council comprises 30 global leaders from business, science, and policy, dedicated to create awareness of the importance of COP15, the UN conference to be held in Copenhagen in December 2009.  At this conference world leaders will meet to agree on a new treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol.

At present this Kyoto Protocol regulates CO₂ emissions from a select group of mostly developed countries. If the world’s nations are to decide upon a new agreement before the Kyoto Protocol expires 2009 is the final opportunity to do so.

A global climate change agreement is necessary so that we can limit the negative man-made effects on the climatic system for future generations.

Climate changes in themselves are nothing new. What is new is that the atmospheric concentrations of man-made emissions have increased dangerously in recent decades, and that global warming is happening significantly faster than previously anticipated.

As it is a late-comer in the international debate on climate change it would be quite a challenge to get the USA to pass legislation before the December 2009 meeting. But the important issue is that America is now also firmly committed to move in this direction, and they are supportive of the Copenhagen meeting.

The other late-comer, Australia, might just be ready with its legislation before that date.

China’s position is more fluid, and quite complex. Beijing has certainly made a verbal commitment to CO₂ emission reduction, but the political structure of China makes it very difficult to implement such policies beyond the east coast. The good thing is that China increasingly wishes to show international leadership and that it is therefore becoming more and more engaged with the wider international community.

Like other nations, China is seeking to uncouple GDP growth from emissions growth. It does not want to be the spoiler in achieving an effective treaty, but it still takes a hardline position in negotiations.

Within the context of the current financial crisis it is important for stimulus packages to be constructed in such a way as to avoid locking in legacy industries; China has done well here in focussing its stimulus spending on retooling.

With the USA on board it will now be possible for agreement to be reached on the treaty. UN General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon has convened a meeting of heads of government in September 2009 to try to get some kind of consensus.

However, it is quite possible that the Copenhagen Treaty will not be able to deliver the outcome that most people would like to see. The world, individual countries and individual industries are still very much silo focussed and it is extremely difficult to generate the trans-sector thinking that is essential if we really want to find solutions for this extremely complex problem.

Rather than looking for a trans-sector approach these silos will most probably become entangled with each other. The most obvious problem area would be trade issues, especially if countries begin to introduce carbon tariffs, which would lead to the kinds of boundary problems we have discussed many times. There is a very good chance that the current system will lead to a whole new series of trade wars.

Another obvious entanglement will be between climate change and national security issues, in both the medium and the long term.

For further information, see separate report: Smart Grids – Energy & Environmental Issues.

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