Chris Collins
Country President Ireland, Schneider Electric
Chris Collins, Country President Ireland, Schneider Electric, outlines the challenges and opportunities of integrating energy efficiency and microgrids into the energy landscape.
What role can energy management and efficiency play in reducing grid demand in Ireland’s renewable energy transition?
Chris Collins: A big part. Every night in Dublin, some buildings are lit up with no one in them. Using energy in a smarter way can also help businesses manage their own energy costs. That starts with monitoring. Use a metering system to understand how and where you are using your energy. Microgrids have an important cost-saving role, too.
What is a microgrid?
A self-contained electrical network that allows you to generate your own electricity on-site. It’s connected to the main grid, so when you produce more energy than you need, you either store it for later or sell it back to the grid.
Microgrids offer businesses energy stability, resilience and improved efficiency. There’s a lot of inefficiency in the way the centralised grid works, so microgrids offer a more efficient alternative.
How do businesses assess if a microgrid is right for them?
Start with understanding your energy needs for the next five, 10, 20 years — and how critical it is for your business to have power availability. Then think about your commitment to sustainability and your energy costs.
Microgrids offer a
more efficient alternative.
How can a business procure a microgrid?
One way is by buying all the infrastructure — solar panels, battery storage and management software — you need to build and manage it yourself. That comes with an upfront capital cost. Another model is energy-as-a-service. Simply go to a provider that designs, constructs and operates the system for you over a fixed-term contract. There’s no outlay, and fixed energy costs provide financial security.
What are the challenges of a microgrid?
One is choosing the right financial model. Plus, there are still limits on how much power can be exported to the main grid, so if you’re a large commercial user looking to build your own microgrid, it can challenge the financial viability of your project. We still need regulatory reform in this area — but once we get it, I think we’ll see microgrids take off.
Can public-private partnerships advance the adoption of energy-efficient solutions and microgrid development?
Two of our biggest industries in Ireland are information and communication technology (ICT) and life sciences. You won’t find two sectors that are more committed to sustainability. So, I think public-private partnerships are going to be very important to the energy transition.
