Siemens to present innovative solutions at the World Future Energy Summit 2011

Siemens will again take an active part in the World Future Energy Summit (WFES), the leading renewable energy conference in the Middle East. The summit, held from January 17-20, 2011 in Abu Dhabi, has established itself as a platform for industry leaders to present concepts and solutions for energy supply of the future. Siemens, being aware of the challenges arising from the demand for a global reduction of carbon emissions, will present its proven, highest-efficiency industrial solutions as well as innovations for a future sustainable energy supply and smart consumption. 

“Whereas the 20th century was distinguished by growing energy demand, and thus a growing consumption of fossil fuels, today we face the question of how we can put our energy system on a sustainable foundation in the face of demographic change, declining fossil fuel resources and climate change. Siemens as a provider of visionary, but practical solutions has positioned itself as the leading shaper of the New Electricity Age,” said Wolfgang Dehen, CEO of the Energy Sector and member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG. Besides its versatile usage, electricity allows the extensive integration of a variety of renewables and highly efficient bulk power transport over huge distances. “The generation of renewable power in desert areas provides a potential for clean energy that could make a substantial contribution to sustainable power supply in the future energy mix. Siemens, with its broad portfolio of ready-to-use components for solar power plants, wind turbines and highly efficient power transmission, up to end-use energy efficiency would be the perfect technology partner for such trail-blazing projects,” added Dehen. 

As in the last years, Siemens will be participating in the WFES with a number of top-ranking managers. Richard Hausmann, CEO of Siemens’ company project Smart Grid Applications will take part in the  discussion “Smart Grids and Super Grids – the key to renewable integration?”. René Umlauft, CEO of the Siemens Renewable Energy Division, will join the session “business leaders in renewable energy”. Nicolas Vortmeyer, CEO for New Technologies will take place in the session, Kick Starting a CCS Future – Overcoming the Regulatory and Financial Barriers“.

Large cities with their tremendous appetite for electricity are predestinated to take a leading role in implementation of new and emission saving technologies for electrical grids, and building automation. In 2007 the portion of the global population living in urban areas exceeded 50 percent. By 2030 they will accommodate about 60 percent of the world's population. But cities already account for 75 percent of worldwide energy consumption and 80 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Siemens offers solutions for the resulting challenges based on four steps: 

- Initially, Siemens has developed solutions to optimize efficiency along the whole energy chain: From power plants with an outstanding efficiency factor, low-loss power lines (i. e. high voltage DC lines for large distances) to more efficient methods of electricity distribution in cities and highly sophisticated energy management systems for buildings. 

- In a second step, Siemens provides consultation and technology to optimize the energy mix towards greener energy generation. Highly efficient wind turbines and emission-free solar power generation help large cities to significantly reduce their carbon footprint. For example, Siemens was selected to deliver wind turbines for the world's largest offshore wind farm, the London Array, in which Masdar has a stake of 20 percent. London Array is set to become the first one gigawatt offshore wind farm, supplying enough power for approximately 750,000 households – or a quarter of the homes in the Greater London area – and cutting CO₂ emissions by 1.9 million metric tons per year. 

As a third step Siemens is able to optimize entire energy systems and to build the power grid of the future – the Smart Grid. This is an electrical grid which provides a continuous, bidirectional flow of information between suppliers and consumers. The information is used to create a better balance between supply and demand, leading to reduced costs as well as increased reliability. With a rising proportion of energy being produced by wind turbines in a sustainable but unsteady manner, it becomes more and more important to balance electrical grids with innovative ideas. 

In a fourth step, E-Mobility solutions will evolve as a perfect supplement for the Smart Grid. This includes electric cars and bikes, which can be charged with wind energy surpluses as they will be connected to the grid for longer periods over the day and night. Operation centers will control the charging process to ensure the maximum use of renewable energy.