Siemens 2009 Annual Report Download - page 31

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Smart grid technology
A smart grid is an intelligent network
for power transmission and distribution
that is based on bidirectional communi-
cation among all the players in the
electricity market. It encompasses the
entire energy conversion chain, from
power generation to end consumer.
Power utilities must achieve a balance
between electricity production and the
actual electricity consumption of
households and industry. This task is all
the more daunting because energy
from renewable sources is fed into the
grid at irregular intervals. That’s where
the smart grid comes in, creating an
overarching structure comprising large,
centralized suppliers, small, decen-
tralized suppliers who feed into the
network only intermittently, and con-
sumers. This integrated approach is
made possible by features such as the
grid’s expanded automation structure,
advanced sensors and decentralized
information and communications
structure. In addition to enhancing the
efficiency and reliability of the power
supply chain, smart grids enable con-
sumers to actively participate in the
energy market and thus contribute to
climate protection.
Green data centers
Computers, servers and data centers
devour enormous amounts of electric-
ity. In Germany alone, data centers
consume as much power as . million
households. That translates into near-
ly  million tons of CO – and the figure
is rising. In response to these chal-
lenges, we’ve developed our integrat-
ed Transformational Data Center port-
folio to address all data center needs
– from planning and assembly to op-
eration and outsourcing.
By consolidating data centers and
introducing leading-edge virtualiza-
tion technologies, we’re pushing the
capacity utilization of the data centers
we operate to over  percent while
cutting energy consumption more
than  percent. We also offer energy
recovery concepts that include the use
of waste heat and groundwater-based
cooling.
Energy-saving motors
Electric motors are now an integral
part of daily life and industrial activity,
powering everything from escalators,
ventilators and trains to paper ma-
chines. At a medium-sized paper-mak-
ing
company, for example, more than
, motors operate around the
clock. And they consume a lot of elec-
tricity: electric drives and motors ac-
count for up to  percent of the en-
ergy consumed in industrial plants.
We’re tackling this challenge with new
energy-saving motors that reduce
power losses by as much as  percent
compared to conventional motors. By
using frequency converters on previ-
ously unregulated drives, energy con-
sumption can be cut by up to  per-
cent. When energy-saving motors and
frequency converters from Siemens
were installed at an automotive paint
line, for instance, the amount of power
consumed by the pumps, ventilators
and logistics installations was slashed
by an impressive two-thirds.
// 03
Climate change
and energy supply
66 Our structure
 Climate change and energy supply 30 Globalization and competitiveness