Integration crucial for Asia's energy transition

As Asia races to expand its variable renewable energy generation, more integration of generation, transmission and distribution technologies will be required to balance electric grids, enhance energy security and reach decarbonisation goals, according to global construction and consulting company Black & Veatch.

The Black & Veatch 2022 Asia Electric Report has found that senior industry executives view the integration of renewable energy into grid systems as the biggest challenge facing Asia’s electric industry. One in four industry respondents revealed they were not confident in the performance and resilience of their transmission and distribution systems. Additionally, top threats to providing reliable service to customers were cited as underinvestment in transmission and insufficient energy storage.

Approximately half of the survey respondents said they believed that over the next five years there would be ‘more investment’ in gas or LNG-to-power facilities combined with carbon capture, while, separately, 46% of respondents believed gas-fired generation would remain an important part of the grid beyond 2035.

“Rising demands from intensive power users like data centres and the electrification of transportation are increasing the load burden and profiles on Asia’s grid,” said Narsingh Chaudhary, Executive Vice President & Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Black & Veatch.

“The electric industry can accelerate Asia’s energy transition by deploying existing and emerging decarbonisation, hydrogen, renewable and energy storage solutions.”

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