“Power system energy efficiency: A CIGRE technical committee project”

Energy efficiency is considered to be a very effective area to deliver an immediate impact on greenhouse gas reduction and help defer expensive upgrades and expansions to the electrical power system. Early in 2011, the CIGRE Technical Committee decided to increase the focus and coordination of its work in relation to energy efficiency, in recognition of the importance of this issue. Within a global context, this paper will summarise the framework that is being used to guide the CIGRE work and describe current findings and future opportunities to address the high priority areas. Drawing on the work of the sixteen Study Committees of CIGRE that cover aspects ranging from plant and equipment through to overall system planning and operation, the paper will describe the strategic approach that is being used to connect the various aspects of the work. A particular focus will entail analyses and commentary on four technical areas in which CIGRE is positioned to provide expert advice on international and national approaches towards energy efficiency. These are: high efficiency equipment (including the contribution offered by standardization), emerging technological options, new network topologies (in a integrated frame, to improve the overall system performance and efficiency), and energy storage. How these tools can be practically deployed to the power system will then be examined with regards to incorporating sustainability concerns into long-term decision making. Also the need of rigorous and carefully applied metrics, to evaluate the costs and benefits of efficiency improvement, will be addressed. The paper proposes that raising awareness of potential directions and their associated benefits from an impartial information source such as CIGRE will enhance national and international approaches towards energy efficiency.