ECA NEWS
AS MORE HOUSEHOLDS ARE NOT ONLY CONSUMING BUT ALSO PRODUCING ENERGY, THE ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION (ECA) EXPLAINS HOW THE ENERGY PROSUMER MODEL OFFERS SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITIES AND A RANGE OF NEW CHALLENGES... The rise of the prosumer: what electricians need to know to stay ahead of the curve
A s Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK attempts to use less fossil fuel and move towards a Net Zero Carbon 2050, significant new demands will be placed on our energy systems. Many more of us will become prosumers – both producing and consuming energy – thanks to the rise of new connected technologies and the increase of more renewable power like solar and wind onto our electric grid. This will have three important implications for the electrical and wider electrotechnical sector: • More business: prosumer activity is set to provide huge opportunities for existing and new buildings. • Attracting talent: as one of the sectors at the centre of a building and infrastructure Net Zero Carbon 2050, the demand for modern technology and techniques will help to drive recruitment. • Trusted experts: the electrical services sector will become increasingly relevant to policy conversations about the UK’s energy direction and future, and to clients. Prosumerism: why now? The UK and NI regularly generate more electrical energy from renewables. Renewables’ share of total generation was 42.8% at the end of 2021, up by 2.1%
on 2020. This trend is set to increase. However, growing reliance on renewables raises issues such as consistency of energy supply. To ensure a sufficiently consistent UK and NI energy supply, the ECA has actively lobbied government and industry stakeholders in three key areas: generation, storage, and energy efficiency. We need a combination of effective measures across these three areas. But even focusing on improved storage and energy efficiency could save the UK economy £30−£70 billion. More business The ECA identifies many opportunities for low-carbon electrotechnical activity. In transport, it will be necessary to build the domestic and commercial infrastructure. Electric vehicles (EVs) have already entered an early exponential growth phase. Key factors such as current fuel prices and the none-too-distant 2030 ban on the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles will reinforce this trend and increase the need for Electric Vehicle Charge Point (EVCP) installation and maintenance. Another opportunity is providing carbon- efficient heating for homes. As part of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, a £450m government grant now provides £5,000 for households to install air source
heat pumps, so electrical contractors may decide to invest in training and certification. With high energy prices set to continue, the combination of the Green Homes Grant and Building Integrated PVs (BIPV) has boosted the appeal of solar PV installations for new builds especially. Electrical Energy Storage Systems (EESS) have become more flexible and convenient and, as EVs become ubiquitous, Vehicle to Grid (V2G) charging will become an integrated feature of many homes. Attracting talent To do the work needed to meet our Net Carbon Zero targets, electricians will need to add new skills to their arsenal. This means training and certification will be incredibly important, both for businesses and qualified electricians. It will also be vital for the career progression of industry entrants. Electrical Energy Storage System (EESS),
24 | IRELAND’S ELECTRICAL MAGAZINE
FOLLOW US ON:
www.elecmagazine.com
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online