Leveraging Technology for Energy Innovation

There are industries and then there is the global energy market. Very few other industries have as profound an effect on the global economy as the energy market. Industry reports forecast it to reach more than $11,250B by the end of 2014, its growth and importance will accelerate even more.

Business as usual in the energy sector is not sustainable. Not surprisingly, governments throughout the world are investing in developing various energy generation and management applications, including renewable energy, smart grid, smart energy management, and various green appliances and transportation options. What links all these options together?  Advanced technology.

Innovative Use of Technology

Technology advances have been brought to bear to solve the most difficult energy challenges: intelligently predict and generate energy for consumption and efficiently using renewable resources generation.  Smart grids are being created to convert the industry from the  traditional one way “send the energy from the core to all consumers” consumption-based approach to a more effective and efficient demand and response and monitoring system.

Intelligent electric meters and embedded devices  are installed to connect consumers and suppliers and to monitor their energy consumption behavior.  By matching  the demand to the energy supply, utilities can provide a more cost effective, reliable and sustainable service.

Not only will distributed demand be better understood, distributed supply through renewable energy resources, such as wind and solar, will be better managed. Traditional grids were designed for one-way flow to the consumer, while our smart grid future includes two-way flows of energy that can be hazardous if not properly managed.

Smart Grids Are Only One Example

And it goes far beyond just smart grids.  We are seeing technology applied for innovations in all parts of the value chain.  As a semiconductor company, Spansion is acutely aware of the energy challenges of the future.  Over the next few months, I will elaborate more about our efforts to provide technology solutions for the energy market.  Exciting times are ahead.