Global Electrification Forum
Moderator Barry Perry is a former CEO of Fortis Inc. Heather Ferguson is Senior VP of Corporate Affairs at Ontario Power Generation. Pat O'Doherty is the CEO of the Electricity Supply Board. Pedro Pizarro is the CEO of Edison International. Christian Rynning-Tønnesen is the CEO of Statkraft AS.
As countries commit to decarbonizing economies, the electric power sector will play a leading role in reducing emissions in other sectors such as transportation and industry. Electric vehicle sales are growing as charging infrastructure is scaled up and smart charging programs are launched. Investment is growing in electric buses, ferries, and aviation. This session at EEI's Global Electrification Forum examined new technologies and services to support electrification of our economies. Enjoy these excerpts.
Moderator, former CEO of Fortis Inc., Barry Perry: In regard to economy wide electrification, where are you at this point in time? How are you going to make improvements?
CEO, Electricity Supply Board, Pat O'Doherty: Ireland has a government climate action plan with strong ambitions for 2030. Seventy percent of electricity generated from renewables by 2030, significant uptake in electric vehicles, and electrification of heat. Putting in place the institutional readiness to make that happen.
We're a vertically integrated electricity company. We have big investment in the electricity distribution system, and in Europe these distribution system operators, or DSOs, are going to be key enablers of electrification of heat and transportation. Big investment is needed and re-imagining and transforming the distribution network.