Jomy Joseph, the UL Solutions regions director spoke to Technical Review Middle East at Middle East Energy, which took place from 7-9 April in Dubai. Check out the full conversation here:
Who is UL Solutions and what are the industries it serves?
The UL enterprise was founded in 1894 during the earliest days of electricity in Chicago, Illinois, and is today represented through UL Research Institutes, UL Standards & Engagement and UL Solutions. UL Solutions, a global leader in applied safety science, transforms safety, security and sustainability challenges into opportunities for customers in more than 110 countries.
UL Solutions delivers testing, inspection and certification services, together with software products and advisory offerings, that support our customers’ product innovation and business growth. The UL Mark serves as a recognised symbol of trust in our customers’ products and reflects an unwavering commitment to advancing our safety mission. In the MEA region, we have several sites serving local customers, including those in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
A fundamental pillar of the conference is the energy transition, which is, of course, also integral to your own company. Can you provide insights into how you are supporting customers through the energy transition?
Technology fostering decarbonisation is advancing dramatically, but so are safety and security threats that can jeopardize people and property, data protection, and more. To overcome these issues, producers of green energy and manufacturers of transformative green technology must demonstrate compliance with safety and sustainability standards and anticipate rapid changes in regulatory requirements.
During COP28, the UAE emphasised the importance of fast-tracking an organised global energy transition and achieving greater renewable energy capacity by 2030, largely driven by solar photovoltaic expansion. The UAE has announced plans to invest US$54bn to meet sustainable energy demands in support of reaching its net zero target by 2050. According to its minister of energy, Saudi Arabia aims to add 20 GW of renewable energy annually to reach 130 GW by 2030.
UL Solutions offers customers peerless regulatory understanding and technology-forward services in cutting-edge laboratories around the world. For instance, we have been enhancing our global electric vehicle charging, battery, energy storage and hydrogen testing capabilities, including localising capabilities for switchgear and cable testing in the UAE and renewables in KSA. This massive expansion is also driving demand for our grid advisory services to address integration and cybersecurity for the increasingly smart and connected nature of the grid.
Energy transition is happening at an unprecedented rate, spurred on by technological advances, shareholder/consumer demand, regulatory changes and global government investment. To select, install and integrate electrification technology optimally, what should companies in key industries consider to take advantage of business opportunities?
As the energy transition progresses, some factors for companies to consider are the role of de-risking innovation, compliance with regulations and enhancing sustainable policies that support circular economy practices.
The transition to clean energy technologies is being accomplished through significant innovation. However, promoting methods to secure the benefits while limiting exposure to established and emerging risks is critical for practical success. In the increasingly interconnected energy infrastructure, this demands the expert application of safety science to mitigate risks, demonstrate interoperability and grid compatibility, and limit the threat of cyberattacks. It also requires that cutting-edge sustainability practices be applied to the new energy solutions deploying on a massive scale to accomplish both our short-term energy transition goals and long-term sustainability goals.
Find out more: Energy Transition and Innovations | UL Solutions
