Quantum Shift in Supply Chain - How Disruptive Technologies are Reshaping the Electricity Industry & what can Utilities do to Adapt?
(Room Jupiter 8)
01 Sep 15
4:00 PM
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5:30 PM
Many electricity systems around the world are experiencing unprecedented changes due to technology, policy and economic factors and these changes all have considerable implications on future investment (and retirement), prices, and regulatory reform. Technologies such as EV, Batteries, Energy Efficiency and PV (Decentralised Energy Resource or DER) will all play a major role in shaping the future electricity system. For utilities, their ability to adapt to this change will define them.
By understanding that consumer uptake drivers of DER vary according to demographics, incentive programs and the proportion of electricity charges of overall costs, utilities can reposition their service offering.
Of critical importance, is the ability of the utility to send the right price signals to consumers, so that they can maintain the reliability and quality of supply whilst also recovering their sunk investments. The uptake of new technologies by consumers, if unplanned, has the risk of exacerbating network constraints however when targeted, DER can provide significant shared benefits to the consumer and network owner.
The paper will explore the risks associated with the future uptake of ‘disruptive technologies’ and highlight the strategies that should be deployed by utilities to capitalise on the evolution. Using Australia as a case study, the focus will be on up to, and behind the meter, approaches, alternative business models, the regulatory landscape and how smarter use of new technologies can sustain efficient investment in, and use of, the electricity infrastructure.
The paper will also provide a summary of a number of studies AECOM has conducted over the last 12 months for both network asset owners, governments and financiers and will provide the audience with some insightful findings on how to navigate to a future grid.