Challenge:
The current formula for powering our planet is also a formula for changing its climate.
Real.
Clean.
Solutions.
Climate change is going to lead to economic change. Because today 40%
of the planet's CO
2
emissions come from power generation. By 2020, Europe
has committed to cutting its greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, producing
20% of its energy from renewable sources and increasing energy efficiency
by 20%. As carbon legislation becomes reality, GE smart grid customers will
have an advantage. Our efficiency technologies reduce waste in the system.
And we can help optimize renewables to add more clean wind, solar and
biomass in the generation mix enabling more domestic clean energy sources.
That means less reliance on the volatility of imported fuels and greater energy
independence and security. You get a world of advantages for a carbon-
constrained world.
It's Working:
The Hawaiian Islands are aggressively moving from their 80%-fossil-fuel-dependent energy generation to more renewable, carbon-free solutions.
GE is working with the U.S. Department of Energy, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, Maui Electric Company and Hawaiian Electric Company to
deliver smart grid solutions that will help see 40% of Hawaii's electricity coming from clean renewable energy sources by 2030. Hawaii's holistic
solution deployment includes the demonstration of increased solar and wind integration features through GE's Distribution Management
System. The deployment is also rolling out technology breakthroughs in energy storage and other renewablesintegration features to maximize
the usable energy from Hawaii's vast renewable resources. At the same time, GE will demonstrate peak load management with Demand
Response systems and Volt/VAR technologies to reduce the need for peaking generation and help manage the integration of wind and solar
power. The project is looking to reduce peak load in a substation by 15% and help enable higher penetrations of renewable energy in Maui.
20/20/20
Challenge:
Our energy workforce and infrastructure are both
fast approaching retirement age.
Real.
Productive.
Solutions.
More than 50% of grid assets are at or approaching the end of their usable
life. In the next 10 years, 50% of the grid's skilled workforce will retire with
a critical shortage of replacement workers. GE's smart grid productivity
solutions help on both fronts. Asset monitoring, management, maintenance
and optimization solutions can keep capital-intensive grid assets on the job
beyond their intended lifetimes. Workforce management and field force
automation solutions use advanced analytics, communications and geospatial
technology to apply human resources more efficiently and effectively.
It's Working:
Eneco
TM
, one of the Netherlands' leading utility companies, is using GE Energy's Field Force Automation (FFA) solutions to increase productivity
in its Joulz division including 500 field workers who provide construction, maintenance and operations services on distribution grids. Since the
introduction of GE's FFA solutions, Eneco has reported outstanding results, including significant productivity improvements for office personnel
and field workers. Yearly inspections are now completed by March instead of December and maintenance work previously completed around
year-end is now completed around September. The initiative has delivered an additional benefit not originally anticipated: Significantly increased
revenue from more accurate billing and invoicing.