We need to provide maximum flexibility to the grid without jeopardizing its integrity'

In an Enlit exclusive, Christina Macatee, Director of Marketing & Product Strategy at Solar Turbines, stresses the need for an effective policy framework that supports the big and small energy producers, and energy consumers to secure a just energy transition.

What are the top three challenges in delivering the energy transition?

Legislation that enables flexible solutions: Policies that enable sectoral integration, that reward high-efficiency solutions instead of penalizing the diversity of fuels.

Technology that contributes to carbon reduction today and solutions that will support the needs of the future: Carbon capture for example is available today and can help mitigate emissions now. At the same time, we need to continue to develop further solutions for low-carbon fuels for a future when they will be widely available.

Affordable energy and security of supply: These two elements of the energy trilemma enable growth and give consumers the possibility of choosing a balanced solution that fits their needs. Not all industries operate the same way and not all of them will have the same energy needs.

In your own words, what single action will accelerate the deployment of renewable generation?

Legislation that will allow the rapid deployment of technologies like high-efficiency SMART-integrated CHP, to enable the integration of distributed power alternatives to support grid stability.

We need to provide maximum flexibility to the grid without jeopardizing its integrity. This means that the deployment of renewables will require us to be able to use them efficiently where they make the best sense (i.e.: hard-to-decarbonize industries).

We have to target solutions that generate minimum waste, which goes back to solutions like high-efficiency CHP and Cogeneration.

But all of this is moot if we do not have the right policy framework – one that protects the little producer/consumer (or prosumer) and also enables the large industries to shift to more efficient energy sources.

What excites you most about the European energy transition?

The European energy transition is singular as it is the first and it is incredibly ambitious.

The opportunity to lead the change in terms of technological innovation, sectoral integration, and energy efficiency. However, the EU has realized that the plan for the transition depended on certain factors outside of European control (i.e.: the Invasion of Ukraine). Hence, more flexibility and more integration are needed quickly to enable a smooth transition. In order to demonstrate that the transition is possible, we will need to use all of the energy alternatives at our disposal to keep a balanced approach, while focusing on emissions mitigation without disparaging the energy sources, especially natural gas.

How are industry experts from SolarTurbines going to address these challenges at Enlit Europe in Frankfurt?

Our goal at Enlit Europe is to continue to share the capabilities of Solar Turbines and the industry to support one critical part of the energy transition – through elements like Cogeneration and SMART CHP. Gas turbines are at the core of an efficient transition given that they offer tremendous flexibility to local grids and to customer operations while offering reliable and robust solutions with very high efficiencies and minimal emissions output. Our equipment can run on the fuels that are readily available today, as well as on the low-carbon fuels of the future like hydrogen. This means that customers will enjoy a future-proof solution to their energy needs.