Managing Energy Transition Through Partnership

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 23, 2023 / Eaton

"The customer is always right."

And certainly, when business dealings were more frequently transactional, this old adage made all the sense in the world. Sell the component and exchange the capital. Rinse and repeat.

But in today's global marketplace, discrete product transactions are more frequently replaced by larger system solutions. Reliable guidance, service and support are often just as critical as the solution itself. Indeed, today's B2B market transactions are multifaceted, and customer conditions are changing at a rate unlike any previously experienced. Customers aren't always in the market for a one-off solution to an easily identifiable obstacle-they need future-proofed solutions for complications they may not yet know are coming. Are the customers always right if they are uncertain about what will best help them meet their goals?

Electrification and the race to net zero

For example: as the world races to deliver on net-zero pledges, companies must reconcile growing their businesses while reducing negative climate contributions, including carbon emissions, which can be achieved by switching from fossil fuels to electricity for energy needs. Indeed, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), electrification is the dominant focus in net-zero emissions. This is a new frontier and the increasing global demand for electricity* will likely challenge industrial companies in unprecedented ways. In addition to more investment in electricity generation, there is a significant focus on growing and modernizing electricity networks to support this generation.

Put simply, industrial-scale electrical systems are becoming more interconnected and more intricate. Consider that building operators must increase load capacity to handle more and larger electrical equipment as well as more sophisticated building energy management systems (BEMS). Data centers are increasing their footprint - to handle the world's growing electrification and computing requirements - and density, necessitating solutions such as more frequent cooling and uninterruptable power solutions to ensure the world's access to information doesn't suffer downtime. And oil and gas companies are seeking more sustainable operations by exploring integrated energy companies with more electrical elements. All this exploration and commitment to a greener future requires significant vision and capital outlay.