Global Energy Transformation Institute
The GET Institute works with the development of methods for the large-scale transformation to electromobility and a sustainable society.
The ideas behind the books Global Energy Transformation, The Business of Global Energy Transformation, and Circular Business Models and Mats’ other books are Mats’ brainchilds and form the basis of the projects that Mats has developed and managed.
To implement electromobility and a circular economy on a large scale, the transformation process needs to be managed so as to make sure that all the necessary activities will be taken care of. The change will be a very complex transformation, requiring large investments in infrastructure, business development, change management and training of professionals.
The EU has decided to ban the sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035, which means that the number of electric cars will increase very rapidly. To drive all European cars using electricity will require 500 TWh of electricity per year. This amounts to the production of 45 new nuclear reactors. But the demand for electricity will increase for other purposes as well. Countries plan to electrify industry and develop a hydrogen economy.
Hydrogen production is very energy intensive. It requires more than twice as much electricity to produce the hydrogen necessary to drive one kilometre compared to the amount needed to drive one kilometre in a battery-electric car. To drive all European cars on hydrogen would require the power from more than 100 nuclear reactors. And in addition to this need for electricity, there is no infrastructure available for the large-scale production and distribution of hydrogen.
To electrify transportation there is also a need for a large expansion of charging infrastructure. The consulting company McKinsey has calculated that European countries need to install 10,000 fast chargers per week until 2030 to meet the most conservative scenario of charging needs. In 2022 1,600 were installed every week.
An even larger number of normal speed chargers needs to be installed every week to cover the charging needs that will be created as an increasing share of car buyers purchase electric cars.
The need for stationary chargers can be reduced through the large-scale construction of electric road systems (ERS). This will be a very large investment, but according to research, electric road systems may be necessary for ERS to become efficient. With stationary chargers only, vehicles and their drivers will need to spend time charging, taking valuable time away during busy working days.
Urgent lack
of architects and electrification strategists
The Need for Electrification Strategists and Architects
After years of developing the principles for organizing and financing the conversion to electromobility, Mats concluded that countries will need large numbers of electrification strategists and architects to develop systems in each local area that can facilitate the charging of more than 200 million cars in Europe. Charging infrastructure and the expansion of power production and distribution will have to be developed individually for each local area.
There are at present no categories of professionals with the ability of developing the spatial solutions for charging, power production, and distribution that will be needed everywhere in the near future.
Electrification strategists will be professionals with a basis in business, economics, or social sciences, but with a strong understanding of electromobility systems and the technologies involved. They will be able to structure the transport and charging systems of the future and develop cost effective and user friendly systems. They will be needed in public organizations, like municipalities and regional and national authorities and in private companies alike.
Electrification architects will be needed to work together with strategists to develop systems that can take transportation and power systems into the future. Architects will need a technical background and be well-versed in all the technologies and solutions needed for electromobility to select the best solutions in each situation and combine them to create systems that supply the necessary amounts of electricity to users at the most competitive cost.