The recent IEEE PES Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Conference held in early May once again served as a pivotal time for power industry players to converge, exchange insights, and propel the energy sector forward. With industry leaders converging on Anaheim for this meeting of the minds, the occasion served as a perfect opportunity for CTC Global to share its message, as its headquarters and main manufacturing facility sit in nearby Irvine, California.
Amidst the invigorating exhibit hall and electrifying discussions taking place, CTC Global actively shared their unique perspective at their booth to discuss the importance of advanced conductors to the grids of today and tomorrow, as well as in shepherding curious attendees to their manufacturing plant for a tour to show firsthand the care, intentionality, and innovation driving the company.
To further tell the CTC Global story, Energy Central was lucky to sit down and chat with several of CTC’s partners on the exhibit floor, hearing directly from Karie Lewicki (Vice President of Business Development at United Grid Solutions), Francis Cann (Senior Vice President and Senior Director of T&D National Business Line at WSP), and Brendan Andrews (Vice President of Energy & Renewables at Bureau Veritas). By connecting one-on-one with these experts, the story of tomorrow’s T&D industry became clear.
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The Imperative of Advanced Conductors Amid Grid Modernization
In the conversation with Lewicki, she emphasized the significance of advanced conductors in the utilities sector. In particular, she highlighted the critical role of total cost of ownership savings, especially from the resilience and longevity of CTC's conductors. As Lewicki succinctly put it, "There's a significant savings there." This sentiment underscores the imperative for utilities to embrace innovative solutions like advanced conductors to navigate the evolving energy landscape.
"The secret sauce I think is being able to express the total cost of ownership savings. You know there's a little bit of cost upfront, but at the end of the day, it comes to looking at total installed cost and then total cost of ownership cost within an operation." – Karie Lewicki, United Grid Solutions
Cann further highlighted the importance of seamless integration and operational efficiency, stressing the role of advanced conductors in addressing technical hurdles. On this topic, Cann emphasized the need for utilities to "move beyond the status quo and embrace new technologies that offer tangible benefits in terms of cost savings and operational efficiency."
Andrews echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the transformative potential of advanced technologies in driving grid modernization efforts forward. Together, their insights underscore the critical importance of embracing innovation to meet the industry’s evolving needs.
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Overcoming Technical and Operational Hurdles
In his time talking with Energy Central, Cann shed light on the technical and operational challenges inherent in power line projects. He stressed the need for proven technologies and seamless integration, echoing the sentiments of many utility stakeholders. His insights underscored the importance of addressing technical hurdles and streamlining operations to facilitate the adoption of advanced conductors. And he noted, as many did across the IEEE PES T&D Conference, that now was the critical moment for these types of strategies.
"The current discussion across the industry centers around how we need our grid capacity to grow by two- or threefold just to meet the needs of the energy transition, so looking at at higher capacity conductors like ACCC Conductors must be a key part of that." – Francis Cann, WSP
Andrews addressed the need for optimism and collaboration in charting a path forward for grid resilience, urging stakeholders to seize the opportunities presented by advanced technologies. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of regulatory alignment and policy support in facilitating the widespread adoption of advanced conductors, calling for coordinated efforts to streamline permitting processes and incentivize investments in grid modernization initiatives.
As Lewicki aptly put it, "The utility sector is at a pivotal moment where embracing innovation isn't just an option, it's a necessity."
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Supply Chain Dynamics and Technological Advancements
Andrews focused on offering his unique perspective on the supply chain dynamics and technological advancements shaping the utility sector. In our conversation, he highlighted the critical role of trust and collaboration in driving innovation forward. His emphasis on the positive tailwinds in the industry resonates with the transformative potential of advanced conductors in enhancing grid efficiency and reliability.
"Our company prides itself on our tagline as being trust makers, and really that's what it's about. Having those relationships, trusting your suppliers." – Brendan Andrews, Bureau Veritas
Moreover, he stressed the significance of flexibility and adaptability in addressing evolving supply chain dynamics, highlighting the need for agile procurement strategies to mitigate risks and capitalize on emerging opportunities.
Cann echoed these sentiments on trust, noting the reluctance of many utilities to embrace new technologies without proven track records. "Many utilities will not do anything first. They'll always want to see who you did it for," he explained, emphasizing the importance of trust and reliability in supplier relationships.
Lewicki also highlighted the need for proactive supply chain engagement, emphasizing the importance of executive leadership in driving adoption. "Executive leadership gets in and they want to do it. It's getting the supply chain fully engaged," she remarked.
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CTC Global’s Key Drivers and Peering Ahead
The tours of the CTC Global manufacturing facility in nearby Irvine served as a overarching topic of conversation across the IEEE PES T&D exhibit floor, with each of the interviewees extolling how impressed they were when they examined the factory. Tour attendees touted how clean the entire facility was, the seemingly endless rounds of testing and QC on the products, and the dedication and innovation displayed by the key CTC Global team members driving each step of the manufacturing, and came away recognizing the value and the unique opportunities of the advanced conductors—the ACCC conductors—that come from CTC’s facilities.
Reflecting on the insights gleaned from conversations with CTC Global customers at the IEEE PES T&D Conference, one thing becomes abundantly clear: the future of the utility industry hinges on innovation, collaboration, and resilience. From embracing new technologies to navigating operational challenges and charting a path forward for grid modernization, the journey ahead is loaded with opportunities and challenges alike. Yet, amidst the complexities of an ever-evolving energy landscape, one thing remains certain: with CTC Global leading the charge and pushing the industry towards the opportunities that advanced conductors bring, the promise of a smarter, more resilient grid is within grasp.