WIKA Group, active in the field of measurement technology for the past 77 years, is focused on three main mega trends included in the energy transition, and these are decarbonisation, digitalization and decentralization.
“The world is changing fast and change is part of our life but its speed can overwhelm us. Decarbonisation, digitalization and demographic change may be perceived as mega challenges or mega trends but they are interlinked, interconnected. Whenever you start to approach one of them you realize that you will get interference from the other two. Our strategy for 2030 is these three mega trends”, according to Sorin Balasko, Senior Vice President Eastern Europe, WIKA Group, at the 9th edition of the Energy Strategy Summit, an event organized by Energynomics.
One of the challenges of the energy transition is the replacement of the SF6 gas, which has the potential warming 25.000 times higher than CO2. SF6 is commonly used in electrical switchgear due to its chemical properties as an insulator and the switchgear ensures the safety and reliability of the European electricity grid. The European Commission plans to phase-out SF6 by 2032 but the European energy industry warns that this must be done in a gradual and realistic manner so that it will not jeopardize Europe’s energy transition.
“SF6 is a perfect gas in terms of stability and insulating properties. The only problem with this gas is that its potential for global warming is extremely high”, said Martin Kovarik, Senior Consultant IIoT, WIKA Group.
Kovarik warned that the energy assets installed in the past years even this year still contain SF6 and will have to function for the future 30-40 years.
“So, on one hand, we are getting rid of these gases in the transmission and distribution networks but we must take care about these assets not to have too much pollution coming out of them in the future and to focus on how to monitor and how to keep healthy the assets with the new alternative gases”, he added.
WIKA Group has currently 10.200 employees worldwide and 43 subsidiaries, including one in Romania.
Energy Strategy Summit 2023 was organised by Energynomics with the support of ABB, ASTRASUN Solar, BCR, CEZ Romania, Eaton Electric, Electrica Furnizare, Electro Service RB, Elektra Renewable Support, EnergoBit, Enevo Group, E.ON, Finder, Huawei, MET România Energy, OMV Petrom, OX2 România, Phoenix Contact, Photomate, ProCredit Bank, REI Grup, Renomia Gallagher, Romgaz, Schneider Electric, Signify, Transelectrica, Taw Energy, Volt, WIKA, Wiren, Alexandrion Group, Aqua Carpatica, Klarmedia and Mobexpert.