(Expansion) – The new normal doesn’t seem new and it doesn’t seem normal either. Vaccination in the world and in Mexico feeds the hope of an accelerated return. It is true, we are growing, especially in the sectors of the economy that weigh the most.
Faced with this scenario in the process of normalization, it is worth asking ourselves how different will this new world be? What type of economy will we evolve into? The businesses that give life, will they be the same? And, if they are the same, what profound or structural changes do we expect in them?
According to a report by McKinsey, companies have accelerated the digitization of customer and supply chain interactions and their internal operations for three to four years; and the percentage of digital products or products made possible by digital technologies has advanced in seven years.
We have been hearing for years that digitization had not brought the expected productivity benefits, some call it the productivity paradox. Well, the cultural change that was required in the rate of technological adoption seems to be here and could put an end to this paradox.
In Mexico, the Mexican Association for Online Sales has indicated that the use of applications to make online purchases increased by 90% between the months of April to June 2020 and two out of 10 of its members registered growth of more than 300%. Online commerce had a significant influence on the success of El Buen Fin last November and is expected to continue growing throughout this year.
But perhaps it is worth asking ourselves, how do we want it to change? The answer is not simple or unique, but there is one issue that is at the center of all debates. António Guterres, UN Secretary General, called 2021 a crucial year to take bolder action on climate change, “the greatest challenge humanity has ever faced.”
The pandemic has once again reminded us of the vulnerability to which humanity is exposed, but also of the tremendous capacity for adaptation and innovation that human beings have.
For the energy sector, 2020 and 2021 are years that will set trends. In this period, practically all developed economies announced emission neutrality targets (net-zero), to be met between 2050 and 2060, which will require the addition of renewable energy, which in 2020 was 280GW, 30% more than the year above, follow accelerated growth.
In the United States, Joe Biden will undertake an unprecedented stimulus plan in terms of its size and, above all, in terms of its destination. Most of the $ 2.7 trillion from this plan will go to projects related to decarbonizing the economy and reducing inequality. Europe did it before, with an aid plan for economic recovery that has the use of hydrogen for decarbonisation at the center.
The transformation continues and goes beyond these decisions, it is an unstoppable trend. The arrival of innovation is touching all phases of the electrical process: from generation, with new forms of production and storage of electricity, to the end user.
Electrification and customer empowerment are changing the electrical industry at the same rate that Volkswagen has to transform the design of its vehicles, which will only resemble the previous ones in that they will continue to have four wheels and a steering wheel. And the steering wheel will disappear soon too. The sale of electric vehicles registered a growth of 40% in 2020, despite the pandemic.
We are facing the opportunity to take advantage of the transformations in the electricity sector to bring more well-being to Mexicans. I have the honor of leading the Mexican Energy Association, an association that integrates the private generators with the greatest experience and commitment to the well-being of Mexico.
Globally, the transformation of the electricity sector is underway. The companies that are part of the AME are involved in the development of technology for the sector. Some examples of actions at the global level of affiliates in technologies that seek to bring more well-being to the world are:
– The first blockchain carbon rights trading platform in the world, created by the start-up Climate Blockchain Initiatives (CBI) to facilitate transactions in emission rights, one of the ways for a cleaner economy.
– Use of digital twins, augmented reality and virtual reality and digitization in their operations.
– Installation of more than 85,000 electric car charging points worldwide to contribute to the goals of reducing mobile emissions.
– Development of the “Renewable Hybridization Project”, to demonstrate the technical viability of a hybrid installation – including two types of electrical generation – manageable.
– Launch of the Global Smartgrid Innovation Hub, a global center for smart grid innovation to lead the energy transition.
– Production of methanol by capturing, storing and using CO2, a key process for the decarbonization not only of electricity production, but of many industrial processes.
For more than 20 years they have sought to integrate innovation into electricity generation plants for a more efficient operation, and to reduce impacts on the environment.
As Guterres pointed out, we are in a crucial year to transform economic development into a model that brings well-being both in social and environmental terms. The partners and associates of the AME, as well as each worker in the sector, know that their participation in Mexico is essential to achieve this objective and generate well-being.
Editor’s note: Ramón Moreno is president of the Mexican Energy Association. Follow him on. The opinions published in this column belong exclusively to the author.
