ABB Showcases the Future of Electrification

Nov 14, 2019

ABB presented its electrification solutions that will allow customers to take full advantage of the trends that will accelerate the global market and drive the business’s profitability. During a media day in Bergamo, Italy, ABB highlighted these trends that will significantly impact electrification:

Digitalization – Demand for data is increasing, driven by the digital transformation of industries, processes, procurement, and services. By 2022, 75 percent of data will be processed outside of the originating core. In 2018 this was 10 percent, according to data from research firm Gartner.

Urbanization – Cities across the world are experiencing an accelerated population growth and associated infrastructure development. By 2040, about 6 billion people will be living in cities, compared to 4 billion in 2018, the United Nations estimates.

Shift to electricity – Electricity use is growing at two times the rate of any other form of energy. This is driven by new consumption modes, such as electric vehicles, advancing data centers, and enabled by more efficient use, integration of distributed generation, and energy storage. The International Energy Agency estimates that the share of electricity in the energy mix will rise to more than 30 percent in 2040, from 23 percent in 2018.

“These megatrends are creating high-growth pockets within the electrification market, such as data centers, electric mobility and commercial buildings, which we are well positioned to serve,” said Tarak Mehta, President of ABB’s Electrification business. “Our key goal is to deliver safe, smart and sustainable electrification for our customers and partners.”

ABB’s Electrification business is spending approximately 3 percent of annual revenues on research and development on core technology and new products, with a strong focus on digital solutions.

Among the product highlights participants could experience was NeoGear, ABB’s low-voltage switchgear, which was launched last month. It combines the innovative bus plate technology with the connectivity and digital smartness of the ABB Ability™ platform.

NeoGear is the safest option for operators with no exposure to live parts. It reduces the physical switchgear footprint by up to 25 percent, increases cooling efficiency to reduce heat losses by up to 20 percent, and reduces overall operational costs by up to 30 percent, due to more efficient condition monitoring.

Also on display was ABB’s solid-state circuit breaker concept, which will enable electrical grids to better keep up with the rapid growth of renewable energy sources and the shift towards electrification of transport – whether electric cars, buses, trucks or maritime vessels.

Developed in Bergamo, the ABB solid-state breaker concept works by replacing the traditional moving parts of an electro-mechanical circuit breaker with power electronics and advanced software algorithms that control the power and can interrupt extreme currents faster than ever before.