Renewables top 2022 emerging energy industry predictions, energyOrbit
by CM Staff
energyOrbit predicts decarbonization will continue to justify EE and electrification efforts, but utilities' response to climate change will focus on infrastructure and resilience.
PETALUMA — energyOrbit says climate change, COVID-19 and the actions of the new U.S. administration have made adoption of electric vehicles and electrification, energy equity and clean energy solutions top priorities across various industries.
“While these elements have been a focus for some time, it has only been more recently that several solutions and concerns have risen to the top,” said Udi Merhav, CEO and founder, energyOrbit in a statement.
According to energyOrbit’s senior leaders, many implementers, companies in supporting industries and utility customers say they have struggled to recover from goals and plans disrupted during the pandemic from 2020 to 2021.
“Electrification is going to be huge,” stated Merhav.
“Workforce development, such as green jobs, will continue to grow, around wind and solar generation technologies, value chain, and new jobs, such as EV charging stations technicians. Car dealerships will need to be incentivized to sell more EVs. But, most auto dealerships make money from service contracts and the aftermarket. If there is little to nothing to fix in EVs, how do we better integrate car dealerships into the electrification revolution?”
Below are some of energyOrbit’s predictions:
- Energy service companies will see a share of federal clean energy funding. Institutional buildings at federal and state level will benefit from the federal clean energy stimulus, e.g., airports are earmarked to receive $25 billion.
- A shift to demand response (DR) – especially auto-generated DR – will change the way value is calculated for energy efficiency. New cost test formulas may be needed.
- Smart, grid-connected customer technologies continue to evolve. Integrating systems, such as for EE and DR with emerging technologies, will be key.
- Climate change is now more than just a catchphrase. Utilities are starting to expand reporting from only energy saved to GHG impact.
- Decarbonization will continue to justify EE and electrification efforts, but utilities’ response to climate change will focus on infrastructure and resilience.
