The ‘All’ makes the difference

The term ‘All Electric Society’ is already firmly established. However, its actual realisation is still a long way off. In this interview, Andreas Huhmann, Strategy Consultant, and Stephan Middelkamp, General Manager for Quality and Technologies at HARTING, explain what it will take.

Andreas Huhmann (AH): We should not see the All Electric Society as a mere vision, but rather as a statement that is already present in many aspects of our everyday lives. Many processes in our society and also in our working lives are strongly characterised by electricity. This means that we have already taken some steps in the right direction. However, we still lack the comprehensive integration of all the technological advances and systems that would be necessary to truly realise the All Electric Society. We live in a time in which the technical possibilities exist to make significant progress. But the key that we are missing is the clear strategy of how we can connect these different systems and processes to achieve the true benefits for our sustainability and society. So we are already living in an Electric Society and still need to take the final steps towards an All Electric Society.

AH: Yes, we are indeed already living in an electric society in which electricity is used for a variety of applications every day. This is significant progress that we should not underestimate. But of course, there are still a few important steps missing towards an all-electric society. This society should not only include the use of electricity, but also the full integration of all stakeholders - both consumers and producers. The difference lies in the way these players interact with each other and create a dynamic, intelligent system.

It's not just about making electricity available, but about utilising it in such a way that everyone involved can benefit to the maximum.

Stephan Middelkamp (SM): It starts with the fact that change is needed in diversified sectors such as energy production, the automotive industry and other areas in order to ultimately realise the All Electric Society. These sectors face specific problems that are often deeply rooted in their existing structures. We currently have to work on several fronts simultaneously: driving technological innovation, gaining consumer acceptance and promoting price reductions in the renewable sector. The key will be to recognise and accept that such change is often not painless.

SM: Fundamentally, it's about connecting different sectors - let's take energy, industry or transport, for example - more closely. When we talk about sector coupling, it is important to understand that many sectors traditionally work in isolation and are often unwilling to cooperate beyond their own borders. This isolation means that we have to overcome major hurdles in the area of standards and interoperability. At present, there are many sector-specific standards that hinder this cooperation. In order to actually achieve sector coupling, it will be crucial that we electrify and interconnect the existing sectors. This means that we need to adapt the infrastructure and existing technologies so that they can offer practicable solutions and be integrated in the shortest possible time. Without such integration, progress will be very limited.

AH: At HARTING, we see our technologies as one of the keys to cross-sector applications. It is important that we not only optimise our products for a specific sector, but also think beyond it. A key example is the use of technologies from the data centre sector, which we can also apply in other, perhaps less obvious sectors. By transferring these technologies, we can achieve significant efficiency gains in energy transmission. So by working closely between the sectors and utilising synergies, we can not only advance the All Electric Society, but also show how much potential there is in this integration. If we are able to develop the 360-degree view, it will not only help our company, but it will also be of great benefit to society as a whole.

SM: Absoult! I think a certain degree of standardisation is essential if we want to achieve more effective collaboration in the All Electric Society. But, as the question suggests, we should be careful, as excessive standardisation can also limit the ability to innovate. It is therefore of the utmost importance to find a balance. Standardisation must be designed in such a way that it benefits companies and their products without them losing flexibility and individuality. The standards should not only fulfil the technical requirements, but also ensure that every manufacturer has the freedom to develop innovative solutions. This will allow us to design robust and future-proof systems that are tailored to the specific needs of the applications. Ultimately, standardisation must therefore offer both a long-term vision and practical applicability.