European Utility Week Provided Insights into the Future of Energy

I attended this year’s European Utility Week in Amsterdam which was filled with messages of dynamic changes ahead for the Utility industry not only in Europe, but globally with speakers from all over the world providing their opinions. I would like to share some observations that I found of interest.

Predictions from the keynote speakers included acceleration toward renewable energy provided by utilities and non-utilities occurring now enabled by a mashup of technologies like advancements in Photovoltaic technology, wind turbine capacity, advanced battery technologies, and leveraging IoT devices. Presentations also focused on the customer participation as prosumers and advanced technologies like Blockchain, machine learning and AI combined with best practices for better customer engagement.

Cedrik Neike, Member of Siemens Managing Board, presenting a keynote about the 3D Model of Energy; Decarbonization through Decentralization and Digitalization. Cedrik presents an example of Blockchain based peer-to- peer energy trading in Brooklyn, New York.

One of the greatest opportunities for utilities moving forward is the ability to manage big data from IoT devices like smart meters and smart grid devices. Advanced solution strategies like SAP’s Leonardo for Utilities to manage big data from distributed energy resources (DER), battery technologies and Blockchain were validated in most of the keynotes, track sessions and on the exhibit floor.

SAP held a series of Microforums where I highlighted SAP’s Digital Utility strategy, Leonardo Portfolio and Cloud for Energy. These are cloud-based solutions to address the need for a real- time utility platform.

Holger Schweinfurth, SAP Chief Solution Manager, then talked in a Micro- forum about Cloud for Energy to address the need for utilities to better manage big data from smart meters and smart grid devices.

Gero Bieser, Chief Solution Manager, presented in a Microforum SAP’s Leonardo portfolio focusing on a Digital Asset Management strategy leveraging IoT.

SAP is member of ESMIG and for the past several years at European Utility Week, SAP has hosted a Business Women’s Network session to discuss topics of interest for Business Women in the utility industry. At this year’s event, Malaya Toll, SAP Senior Industry Value Engineer from Melbourne, Australia provide insights and her experiences as a leader at SAP.

I found that this year’s European Utility Week was filled with new ideas on how to address the dynamic utility industry’s challenges ahead with Decarbonization driving Decentralization and Digitization. As professionals in the utility industry, it is our challenge to implement these new business models and processes leveraging advanced tools and techniques.