Monday 17 June 2013

Different sectors in energy industry must collaborate

It is important for people in the energy industry to get involved with those in different sectors other than their own.

That's the view of Dr Jochen Kreusel (pictured), Head of the Smart Grids initiative at ABB Group in Zurich, who is one of the key speakers at the Erasmus Energy Forum event later this month hosted by Energy Live News Editor Sumit Bose.

Organised by the Erasmus Energy Centre for Future Energy Business, it will bring together energy practitioners, policy makers and science researchers and share knowledge on the challenges the energy industry is facing.

Mr Kreusel said: “The electricity industry is currently in transition and I believe it requires a much stronger understanding between those coming from a power technologies background and those on the other side of the technical spectrum, i.e. IT as well as with the business side.

“It’s important to be present at events where you meet others from outside your own field. Power systems as we know them today evolved in the days when the industry was vertically-integrated; they were primarily built around technical understanding. Then, with the liberalisation process in the 1990s, the utilities industry went through a phase where development of technology was neglected in favour of the business side.

“Now, the industry needs to consider both sides together – the technical challenges and the business side – but in a highly complex economic environment. Those involved in business, IT and power technology therefore must collaborate much closer than in the past.”

The event will be held in Rotterdam on Friday, 21st June.