RES and ICT: the need for a systematic approach

Speakers:

Dr. Werner Brinker, CEO of EWE AG
Colette Maloney, Head of Unit Smart Cities and Sustainability, DG Communications Networks, Content and Technologies

 In June 2012, the European Commission published its Communication on renewable energy. The challenge to integrate volatile renewable energies into the grids is addressed in this document. This requires producers, consumers and grid operators to communicate in real time to ensure optimal matching and managing of demand and supply. At the same time, the Commission’s Digital Agenda explicitly aims to foster and broaden the development and application of ICT in the field of energy. Therefore, EWE AG would like to underline the need for a systematic approach in the field of Renewable Energy and ICT and to support the Commission in trying to bring the world of energy and ICT closer together.

 

EWE’s company structure with its subsidiaries EWE Tel and BTC already reflects the growing need to merge energy, IT and telecommunication. EWE is already investing substantially into research and innovation, trying to find best practices and ways to establish decentralised energy management systems which can be equally beneficial for private, commercial and industry customers to save energy and receive transparent information about their individual consumption.

In this context, the distribution grids play a crucial role. 97% of renewable energies are fed into the distribution grid. More attention should be given to intelligent distribution networks since they will be responsible to plan ahead and adjust to different time and consumption requirements to distribute energy more effectively and contribute to the smarter and more efficient use of energy.

The aim of this dinner-debate is to raise the energy policy stakeholders’ awareness for the need for developing ICT and energy infrastructure together.