Electricity 4.0 : the next evolution in smart energy
TECHNOLOGY
Electricity 4.0 : the next evolution in smart energy
Green energy solutions have never been more critical to the future of the data centre industry .
According to Schneider Electric – one of the world ’ s leading voices in sustainable data centres – the most viable solution to the current crisis lies in the convergence of digitalization and renewables : Electricity 4.0 .
“ This is Schneider Electric ’ s vision for digital and electric : digital for efficiencies and electric for decarbonisation , leading towards a green , smart energy system for a sustainable future ,” Steve Brown , Schneider Electric ’ s Global Director of the Cloud and Service Provider Segment told Data Centre Magazine recently .
“ We call it Electricity 4.0 because it ’ s really a sea change in technological evolution , occurring over the couple of centuries that have passed since we first industrialised .”
Brown defines 1.0 as the very earliest days of electrification , 2.0 as mass electrification for the first time , and 3.0 as the establishment of distributed energy resources .
“ We ’ re now at 4.0 , for the first time . We can establish electric and digital solutions at scale , for smart , green energy . And that ’ s going to take us from a linear supply of fossil fuel towards demand without limited control and optimisation , to a flexible grid .”
“ We talk about Electricity 4.0 as a vector to decarbonise and reduce energy across the world ,” Garner says . “ To do that you ’ ll inevitably need more digital infrastructure , more data-driven and software like artificial intelligence ( AI ), to allow us to use data in a more effective and more efficient way . You also need to look at procuring green renewable energy and to fast-track the transition away from fossil fuels .
“ However what I think is missed through a lot of this conversation is that if you don ’ t have the data , you can ’ t drive efficiency in that other 99 % of industry ,” Garner
142 August 2023