Doing your part to live in a sustainable way is a big deal and can have a larger impact as you move forward individually. At the same time, the places and ways that energy is generated and dispersed play the biggest role.

In other words, trends in the energy industry have the largest impact on how our societies impact the earth. Energy is also a central piece of modern civilization. This makes it difficult to make changes without huge impacts on the populations.

We’re going to discuss some of the changes being made in power industries, so you can be up to date on where your energy comes from.

1. Reduction of Carbon Emissions

Almost 200 of the world’s countries have united through the Paris Climate Accord to keep the earth from rising 2 degrees Celsius. A measly 2 degrees might seem small on an individual scale. However, it’s generally accepted that once the planet reaches a 2-degree increase, we will be unable to stop or slow the progression of climate change and destruction of many of the natural things we take for granted.

That means we need to reduce carbon emissions, primarily through moving the means of energy production away from the use of fossil fuels. This is difficult, though, because fossil fuels are an extremely cheap option and most of the world’s energy production is dependent on it.

Ideally, the world’s energy production will be made up of 60 percent emission-free energy sources in 2040. That means that wind and solar will increasingly take over as the preferred means of energy production.

2. Decentralization of Power Sources

One piece of the shift toward emission-free power sources is the act of decentralization. Decentralization is, generally, the change from a select few large power plants toward a number of smaller ones to produce energy for different regions.

This is a positive trend for a couple of reasons. First, it makes more sense from a safety standpoint. When energy goes out for a population, it can put that population in a lot of danger.

Aside from the immediate dangers and result of a power plant malfunction, people’s medical equipment, communication methods, and general necessities would be out of service. This is especially true in a society that is ever-shifting toward being entirely technological.

When a power plant supplies energy for a vast region, a single shutdown could put a lot of people at risk. Decentralization would allow that risk to be diminished significantly, as well as provide more power plants to supplement areas that might be out of power.

Decentralization also poses the opportunity to introduce new, greener solutions for generating power. When a plant is forced to close and make way for different plants, we give those in power the chance to fill those spots with solar and wind-based power sources.

3. Shifts and Advancements in Technology

Another huge piece of the equation is the presence of new and advanced technologies in the energy sector. This doesn’t mean that all advancements will be made off of the backs of previous technology, either.

While it’s essential that we continue to develop the way that we harness and maintain energy, it’s also key that technologies outside of the power industry advance to interact with the industry.

If you’re in the production world, you can’t forget advancements in industrial technology. Places like Kruger Power can provide equipment that is more efficient than the machines that are primarily at the moment.

Technology

For example, there is a lot of development in the way of machine learning and household appliances that conserve power. Smart technologies such as dishwashers, washing machines, thermostats all conserve energy in ways that are unprecedented.

Those technologies also gather data and send them to data banks that use artificial intelligence to make inferences about the state of energy consumption. So, the immediate benefit of smart, in-home technology is twofold:

First, these appliances don’t use more than they need to. They keep tabs on their own consumption and have the ability to be optimized for your own preferences. This is huge.

To give an example, smart dishwashers use roughly half of the energy that they did only 20 years ago. These downward shifts in consumption can be seen across appliance markets.

Second, the fact that data about use and energy consumption is transmitted to be analyzed will shift the industry in large ways. We can now see specifically how much energy is being used and make predictions about how much should be produced and provided.

In other words, energy will be managed more precisely. 

4. There are Also Negative Forces

While there’s large agreement upon the reality of climate change, there are still forces working against green efforts. Donald Trump is one such actor that has made moves toward maintaining coal and nuclear energy.

Arguably, the most important contributor to climate change, the United States has backed out of the Paris Climate Accord. Additionally, the current Department of Energy is in support of bailing out coal and nuclear power plants that are under threat of being eliminated by cleaner, cheaper energy sources.

The EPA has also begun to roll back on progressive rules concerning carbon emissions, disposal of toxic waste, and automobile emission regulations. These actions operate in pretty stark opposition to popular opinion and desires.

The intentions behind these actions are murky at best. It is hard to wrap one’s head around actions that act in clear opposition to science, the global community, and the future of mankind.

Want to Stay Up on the Power Industries?

From changes in power industries to getting a good night’s sleep, it’s essential that you’re up-to-date.

If you’re interested in learning more about issues that may be affecting your life, visit our site to get the information you need.