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Energy and power
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Around 2 billion people today do not have reliable access to electricity to meet their basic needs. But energy and power are absolute requirements for the development of a nation’s economy. Without the ability to provide a minimum standard of power to entities of economic importance and to households, economic development and individual standards of living cannot progress. Establishing energy markets, regulating prices and structures for generation and provision, and accurate planning are all critical components of sector reform.
The provision of stable power supply is a key element to successful economic development. In many developing nations a key transition point is at the policy level with the relaxing of governmental oversight, or even ownership, to make the generation and distribution of power a collaborative effort with the private sector. For some nations there may be a lack of technical expertise that can be fulfilled with the application of external experts, to jump start the client nation’s own abilities.
Our Specialisation
Electricity Deployment
The process of building electrical power access to un-serviced or under serviced areas is the essence of electricity deployment. In developing countries, it is likely that there may be economic obstacles that would make the process of electricity deployment more difficult, such as the remote nature of some communities, poor existing infrastructure, or unplanned and chaotic urban growth. If these obstacles can be overcome, there are many benefits for affected communities, including education quality, productivity and efficiency, job creation, and healthcare improvements.
Hydropower
Hydropower is the electrical energy that is derived from falling or fast-running water, often delivered from an artificial reservoir. Hydropower has been used as a renewable energy source since ancient times for the operation of mechanical devices. Today hydropower is another source of renewable electrical energy, and a non-destructive use of the earth’s resources. For developing economies the use of hydropower provides a long term investment in the provision of power, with additional benefits to irrigation and other water supply concerns.
Oil and Gas
The oil and gas industry is one of the largest sectors in the world in terms of dollar value, employing millions of workers worldwide, and generating hundreds of billions of dollars globally each year. Even in a world of increasing interest and reliance on renewables, the oil and gas sector is still crucial to the development of many nations, for power generation and the economic necessity of moving labour and materials. Current development in the sector includes more than the building of capacity, but also the reduction of harmful emissions, and transition plans to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Renewable Energy
An energy source that can be naturally replenished on a human timescale is considered renewable energy, increasingly the focus of development concerns as the world turns from fossil fuels. Examples of this are sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat. Renewable energy sources are critical, as they provide reliable energy supply and enhance energy security, as well as conserving the earth’s natural resources. Renewable energy sources are also the best path forward for combatting climate change.
Smart Grid Systems
A smart grid is an electrical network which includes a variety of operational and energy saving measures, often self-governing. Such a network functions to improve the reliability, security, and efficiency of energy distribution and provision. Smart Grid Systems are increasingly important for the reduction of reliance on fossil fuels, as they serve also to integrate generation from alternative sources such as home-based solar panels.
Solar Generation
The conversion of energy from sunlight into electricity is referred to as solar generation. Radiant light and heat are harnessed from the sun using technologies such as photovoltaic panels, concentrated solar power (liquid salt generation) or a combination of photovoltaic and heat-based generation. Solar generation is a renewable energy method that has a very low impact on the planet, and is highly efficient in areas closer to the equator.
Transmission and Distribution
Transmission and distribution of electricity is a development sector counterpart to the generation of electricity, being the means by which electricity is carried from where it was generated to where it is needed, carried over wires (underground or on poles) from generators to households or business. The main distinction between transmission and distribution is the voltage level at which the electricity moves in each stage. Quality of transmission and distribution is important as this determines how citizens receive their power, the efficiency and wastage of transmitted power, and whether the electrical grid system can support smart grid advancements.
Wind Generation
Wind generation is the use of wind to create energy through the mechanical power of wind turbines. The power drawn from wind is a sustainable and renewable energy source, and has a smaller impact on the environment than many other sources of electricity such as fossil fuels. The importance of Wind Generation aligns with Renewable Energy, the impact on the planet is low while sourcing energy sustainably.