2011 Survey highlights
2011 Energy survey
Full Results
The Energy survey was produced by Bloomberg Businessweek Research Services in partnership with ABB. We surveyed energy professionals, government officials and CFOs about the future of energy, the opportunities and the barriers.
Key findings
85%
of CFOs, Government Policy Makers and Energy Professionals agree that small scale electricity projects should be encouraged with taxation incentives.
Small scale electricity generation and ‘smart’ grids increasingly allow households to harness renewable energy.
They can make a valuable contribution, but to satisfy our ever increasing thirst for power, we will also need larger scale installations. But to reach a critical mass, small scale generation has to become more efficient, integrated and competitive, and demonstrate a return on investment. Governments can encourage technology developers and make renewable energy installation more widely available: our survey shows that 85% of all respondents favor incentives for small scale renewable electricity generation. What’s more, it helps reduce CO2 emissions and combats climate change at a time of sharply rising demand for energy.
Connect renewable power to the grid?
Electricity generated by water, sun and wind is most abundant in remote areas like mountains, deserts or far out at sea. ABB’s leading power and automation technologies help renewable power reach about 70 million people by integrating it into electrical grids, sometimes over vast distances. Our effort to harness renewable energy is making power networks smarter, and helping to protect the environment and fight climate change.
Naturally.
Generate
We have learned how to harness energy from many sources, including water, wind, the sun, coal, gas and nuclear. Energy can be neither created nor destroyed, but it can be harnessed in a variety of ways: pumped from the ground in the case of oil and gas, or used to turn a turbine in the case of wind or water. Energy is often converted into new forms before we use it, the most versatile of which is electricity.
98%
98% of CFOs, Government Policy Makers and Energy Professionals believe that we need to upgrade the electricity infrastructure.
Rising energy demand will put exceptional stress on distribution systems and necessitate major upgrade programs.
Emerging economies are growing so rapidly that their systems are already stretched, while some Western countries have outdated networks or insufficient capacity. Adopting renewable sources such as wind or solar energy can cause instability and storage issues. Yet as our survey found, 98% of respondents now think the need to upgrade is important. They understand the need to act on potential threats to supply, on climate change and on energy efficiency.
Cities that consume 30% less energy?
As a leading producer of energy-efficient solutions, ABB helps deliver major power savings, without compromising performance. Our lighting control systems can deliver power savings of up to 50 percent, and our building automation up to 60 percent. While everyone else is talking about energy prices, power shortages and climate change, ABB is doing something about it, right here, right now.
Certainly.
Distribute
The distribution of energy encompasses all forms of dispersal from the point at which it is harnessed to its delivery point. Energy is transported in oil pipelines, liquefied natural gas container ships, and trucks or trains loaded with coal, and as electric power supplied through cables or overhead lines. The distribution network is a crucial element in the chain, providing access to affordable energy to billions of people.
86%
of CFOs, Government Policy Makers and Energy Professionals agree that energy assessments should be mandatory for companies that use the most energy.
The financial, environmental and reputational benefits of energy efficiency are evident:
businesses gain from lower energy bills, lower pollution and CO2 emissions – reducing the risk of suffering penalties from regulators – and better relations with employees, customers and other stakeholders. An energy assessment can spur a business into making positive changes, through optimizing energy use, acquiring new equipment and adopting new habits. Our survey found that 86% of respondents favored mandatory energy assessments for energy hungry industries, showing how seriously they view the need to become more energy efficient and boost productivity.
Increasing energy efficiency by 25%?
A complete power and automation solution from ABB has helped the largest aluminum refinery in Europe to increase its energy efficiency by 25 percent, boosting productivity at the same time. With research and development geared toward improving performance and resource conservation, we’re constantly working to save energy and money. And the environment.
Certainly.
Use
Energy is used in almost everything we do including transport, heating, manufacturing, lighting, communications and computing. Energy forms the backbone of a modern industrial society, and electricity is expected to remain the most flexible and useful form of all for the foreseeable future. As the world’s population and living standards grow, the question is whether we are using energy resources efficiently enough to ensure there is enough for everyone without radically altering the climate.