Electric Dreams
May 15, 2023
Global, energy-related CO2 emissions hit an all-time high of 36 billion tons in 2022, with output coming from vehicles, industrial activity, infrastructure, utilities and more. It’s a warning that, when it comes to eliminating the largest contributor to climate change, the world is moving in the wrong direction. The impact is profound. By one estimate, climate change could cost the global economy $23 trillion by 2050. And it could eventually account for over 3 million deaths per year if left unabated, according to data presented last year at COP 27 in Egypt.
But it’s not too late to turn things around. Experts say humanity’s biggest hope for combatting climate change lies in electrification. Moving from an economy powered by fossil fuels to one driven mainly by renewable electricity could help nations meet and even surpass goals laid out in accords such as the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal. “Electrification is the use of electricity for more of our energy needs,” said Terry Collier, vice president of research and development in the Electrical Markets Division at 3M, speaking via a video presentation at a Washington Post Live event in March 2023.
Electricity is already powering a greater share of business and consumer life, and increasingly that power is coming from alternative renewable sources like wind and solar. For progress to continue, innovations that can solve certain technical challenges and make electricity from renewables cheaper, easier, cleaner and safer to use will be essential. The good news is that the generation, storage distribution and use of clean electricity are all benefiting from 3M technologies and innovations.
Generational changes
Electrification won’t improve the environment if the bulk of electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels like coal and petroleum. Unfortunately, about two-thirds of the world’s electricity is currently derived from such sources. Infrastructure that can generate and store clean electricity, including solar arrays and wind farms, must improve if fossil fuels are to be phased out.
Here, 3M offers a number of helpful innovations, including:
- • 3M™ Wind Blade Protection Tape: Wind turbines are exposed to the elements 24/7. The tip of a typical wind turbine blade spins at speeds well over 100 mph, and can be damaged over time by rain and other environmental materials. 3M offers tape that forms a protective barrier on the leading edge of turbine blades and can help extend the lifespan and electricity output of these key assets for renewable energy.
- • 3M solar tapes: 3M has created tapes that improve the performance and reduce the cost of solar arrays through high-performance bonding, protection and masking. 3M also has tapes for collecting and routing electrical charges in solar modules.
- • 3M solar coatings: 3M offers coatings, including water-based solutions, that help increase front glass transmission. This gets more light to the solar cells, raising solar module efficiency.
Renewables, supported by innovations like the above, are not only more sustainable, they provide energy security in a world prone to supply disruptions. “In many areas, traditional fuels are becoming very difficult to get,” said Collier. “Being able to generate [electricity] through renewable sources is a real way to deliver affordable power.”
Distribution solutions
70 percent of the U.S. power grid, including lines and transformers, is more than 25 years old. It was built for a time when we had very different power needs and power flowed mainly from the utility to end-user businesses and consumers. “We have an aged electrical grid … it was designed for a one-way flow of electricity,” said Collier.
These systems must be upgraded to handle renewable energy sources that send power back into the grid. This reverse flow can come from commercial wind or solar farms or from individual customers who have installed renewable systems on-premises. Power can also flow back into the grid from renewable energy stored in batteries. “Distributed generation adds a two-way flow of power to the electrical grid, causing it to work in a brand new way,” said Collier.
These Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) need smart grids, supported by sensors, communications and data analytics, to handle bi-directional flows that could otherwise cause short circuits and other failures. “Integrating all of that together can really optimize how we use energy and reduce waste,” said Collier. 3M has developed a number of innovations to help the grid meet today’s challenges, including:
- • 3M™ Sensored Cable Accessories: These enable measurement of critical parameters (voltage, current, phase angle) in underground medium-voltage electrical networks, which serve as a bridge between power plants and end users. These solutions aim to provide improved voltage and current measurement accuracy by incorporating advanced technology into accessories for these networks. “We really want to help our customers not have unplanned outages,” said Collier.
- • 3M™ Aluminum Conductor Composite Reinforced: Another issue impacting the grid is more frequent storms caused by climate change. “What we see is that there have been increased outages,” said Collier. To increase resilience, utilities need to add redundancy. Ordinarily, that involves carbon-generating activities like adding lines, towers and bases. 3M ACCR overhead transmission lines offer 2 times the ampacity of a typical steel line. That means utilities can simply replace existing lines with ACCR to increase resilience and capacity.
The smart grid is “really revolutionizing the way we create power, generate power, distribute it and use it,” said Collier.
Driving progress
An area where electrification can make the biggest impact is transportation, which accounts for about a quarter of global C02 emissions. Of that, 41 percent is from cars and 22 percent is from trucks. EVs offer a way to decrease these emissions. “With an electric vehicle compared to an internal combustion engine, there is no exhaust or emission that occurs at the point of use,” said Collier.
Encouragingly, the market share for EVs is growing exponentially and they are expected to account for 59 percent of global sales by 2035. For this to happen, performance and reliability must continually level up. 3M is leaning in with a range of products that can improve critical EV components. These include:
- • 3M adhesives: 3M produces adhesives, made through a solvent-free manufacturing process, that are designed for the tough task of securely binding EV batteries to surrounding components made from all different kinds of materials. This improves battery performance while reducing the risk of fires, leaks and other hazards.
- • 3M™ Glass Bubbles: Some EV manufacturers are building their vehicles with composites that are partly made from 3M Glass Bubbles. These hollow but incredibly strong microspheres can reduce the weight of battery enclosures by up to 45 percent. The weight reduction helps to increase vehicle range.
- • 3M™ Boron Nitride Cooling Fillers: These can be used to electrically insulate, and dissipate heat from, EV batteries, motors and electronics.
3M is also supplying the EV industry with insulation, tapes and adhesives to optimize electric motors. “There is so much incredible work happening to enable … electric vehicles,” said Collier.
“It’s all about setting policies and really helping to support the integration of renewables into the grid. We’re seeing this happen around the world.”
Powering ahead
3M innovations that support renewable electricity touch dozens of industries, but they all spring from a single place – the company’s mission to use science to improve individual lives. For progress to continue, 3M believes that all sectors of society, including businesses, consumers and governments, must embrace the shift to electrification. “This has to be a comprehensive approach as we transition,” said Collier. The company supports public policies that encourage businesses to adopt alternative energy sources. “From governments, it’s all about setting policies and really helping to support the integration of renewables into the grid,” he said. “We’re seeing this happen around the world.”
Consumers also have a role to play. “It’s about individuals understanding the importance of sustainability, but also understanding, ‘How do I make purchases to make sure I’m as efficient as possible in my home,’ whether that be choosing the right appliance or also making decisions on when or how to use my power,” said Collier.
Powering ahead
3M innovations that support renewable electricity touch dozens of industries, but they all spring from a single place – the company’s mission to use science to improve individual lives. For progress to continue, 3M believes that all sectors of society, including businesses, consumers and governments, must embrace the shift to electrification. “This has to be a comprehensive approach as we transition,” said Collier. The company supports public policies that encourage businesses to adopt alternative energy sources. “From governments, it’s all about setting policies and really helping to support the integration of renewables into the grid,” he said. “We’re seeing this happen around the world.”
“It’s all about setting policies and really helping to support the integration of renewables into the grid. We’re seeing this happen around the world.”
Consumers also have a role to play. “It’s about individuals understanding the importance of sustainability, but also understanding, ‘How do I make purchases to make sure I’m as efficient as possible in my home,’ whether that be choosing the right appliance or also making decisions on when or how to use my power,” said Collier.