2010-09-06 - Demand for electricity and water -- two resources essential for a growing world.
Demand for electricity and water -- two resources essential for a growing world -- is expected to increase drastically over the next 20 years. But what can we do in our country, companies, communities and homes to better use and manage these ever scarce resources?
These and other questions concerning sustainability were discussed recently at the ABB stakeholder engagement session at ABB South Africa's head office in Johannesburg. Such debates have been voluntarily held by the power and automation technology leader over the past four years to engage stakeholders on key issues such as energy efficiency, renewable energy and skills development.
A clear call from stakeholders including customers, employee representatives, suppliers, universities, municipalities, business organisations as well as community-based organisations was for technology companies such as ABB to assist in creating more awareness of technologies to move efficiently use energy and water. Stakeholders felt ABB should promote more awareness of its technologies, products, systems and after-market services to help manage and more efficiently use electricity and water resources.
Carlos Pone, CEO, ABB South Africa, said that the ABB Group increased investment in R&D by 7 percent in 2008 and a further 5 percent in 2009 despite the latest recession. A major part of the investment went towards energy efficient technologies. He added that energy efficiency was vital with ever growing electricity demand and the pressure of carbon emissions on the environment. Debate, he said, should be focus on energy savings, efficiency and conservation through behaviour change and technology.
ABB South Africa will incorporate these insights into its sustainability and social development programme which has a focus on youth in energy, energy efficiency, minimising environmental impact and supporting communities. In its local operations ABB has introduced its own energy efficiency technology and products as well as implemented rainwater harvesting and solar heating at its head office, manufacturing and logistics centre in Johannesburg.
It is also important to develop skills in the industry together with customers, suppliers and tertiary institutions, Pone said. "We are developing engineers as well as artisans. We need to make artisan professions more attractive for young people."
Technology companies such as ABB are helping to create awareness of the issues concerning both electricity and water and are working together with stakeholders such as customers, business organisations and community-based organisations to find innovative solutions to meeting the challenges of a changing world both now and in the future.