Posts Tagged ‘energy’

The New Energy Consumer

How can utilities/electricity providers differentiate electricity management programs? How much value do consumers place on smart home technologies, mobile applications and nontraditional channels? And are consumers interested in the delivery of energy management programs through third parties?

The utilities industry is currently faced with a broad range of perspectives on what utilities/electricity providers should focus on beyond the meter. Accenture’s experience working around the world with utilities/electricity providers and our ongoing global end-consumer research program has shown that no one approach fits for all providers, but certain market trends are emerging. To help utilities/electricity providers meet the challenges and opportunities presented by the evolving energy marketplace, Accenture launched a multi-year global research program aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of consumers’ attitudes, opinions and preferences toward energy management programs.

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Making Amsterdam smarter

Each city is unique from a geographic, demographic and economic standpoint. Consequently, cities are not equal when it comes to their impact on the environment, positive or negative. Accenture believes that the cities that will thrive in this era are what we call “Intelligent Cities”. Intelligent Cities are cities that are capable of achieving and maintaining two important goals simultaneously:

  • Reducing the negative impact of people and businesses on the environment, and running government and services in a sustainable fashion; and
  • Creating an attractive economic and social environment for growth in which citizens, companies and government live, work and interact. An open, intelligent infrastructure and integrated management will be essential to create a city that is able to compete effectively for people, resources,businesses and investments.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is in the midst of an ambitious program to become the first Intelligent City in Europe. The goal of the project is to develop and implement sustainable and cost-effective programs that will help Amsterdam reduce its carbon footprint while exceeding the carbon reduction targets. Read more…

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Creating a PEV market model in the Netherlands


Click to view full size PEV market model

Recently Accenture conducted a study for two Dutch energy organizations to design the market model for Plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) charging infrastructure in the public domain. The market players involved realized the importance of stakeholder input (from traditional utility players to car manufacturers and fleet owners) to create a widely supported market model. Therefore, we conducted the study, consulting 43 companies and organizations from eight different industries, to gauge their preferences and insights.

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The debate between ‘Plug-in electric vehicles’

Plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) is a catch-all phrase to include both plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and full electric vehicles (EVs). While this phrase is often used and little distinction made between the two vehicle types, when it comes to consumer demand, these vehicles have very different implications.

However, automotive manufacturers seem to have anticipated the market and drawn a line in the sand favoring one vehicle type over the other, with GM putting its money behind the PHEV, and Renault, BMW and Nissan hedging their bets on the EV. This debate between the PHEV and the EV is one that is most transparent in the market race between GM’s Chevrolet Volt and Nissan’s LEAF, both released in late 2010. In many ways, the initial success ofone over the other is likely to shape the market going forward. Read more…

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Being smart: convincing Dutch consumers to sign up to the new energy era

Smart meters are going in and smart grids are receiving government funding. But will consumers change their habits in the battle for energy efficiency? The latest evidence indicates that Dutch consumers need some convincing.

The new energy era will be enabled by intelligent grids and connected meters, as well as new sources of renewable energy. But at the heart of this revolution will be a new dynamic relationship between households and electricity providers. And a transformation in consumption habits can only be achieved if this relationship works.

Central to the task is persuading consumers to reduce their electricity demand, in particular, at peak times. Electricity management plans will play a crucial role in allowing utilities to help consumers modify their habits. For some, this means agreeing limits on the use of certain household appliances. A consumer may agree to restrict their dishwasher use to the early hours of the morning, for instance.

But only 11 percent of Dutch households would enroll on electricity management plans where utilities had such control of their appliances, according to research carried out by Accenture. When no such limits are introduced, a more significant 39% of households in the Netherlands would sign up. Read more…

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Europe needs a coordinated renewables framework

Waxman Markey may not be perfect and it has yet to pass the Senate, but its passage through the House does move the US closer to a more robust climate change policy. Meanwhile, what of European policy? Europe has always seen itself in the vanguard of introducing renewable energy. However, analysis we have recently completed shows how a lack of a Europe wide framework for renewables is holding the EU back. Read more…

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Working with World Economic Forum on Smart Grids

Interest in smart grids has intensified in recent days. In addition to the $4.5bn of public money the US Government has put behind the infrastructure, the passing of the Waxman Markey bill in the House promises more support, which has at least satisfied some of the demands of the GridWise Alliance. But encouraging smart grid investment remains a challenge. This week we have published a report with the World Economic Forum exploring how to accelerate smart grid investments. Read more…

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