Energy Challenge

The world faces significant energy challenges. Consumers, more devices, modern households, growing companies and economies demand more energy.  Traditional resources are running low or causing significant carbon and climate problems.

Modern energy use is not efficient.

• there is tremendous growth in computing, connected devices and gadgets
• many are low power or DC and use AC/DC converters that waste collectively over a trillion kwh annually
• devices are often left on, particularly as we depend more on live connection
• grid demand is irregular requiring extra production capacity for peak load
• New electric vehicles, air and ground source heat pumps will further increase electricity demand 

Unless something is done, traditional mains AC supply could fail particularly at peak times resulting in blackouts and supply price increases, creating new `Dark Ages` when grid becomes unreliable - as seen in several countries.

A solution is smart meters, which are being rolled out world-wide. These 'help' by showing and ultimately passing on the increase in supply prices at peak to consumers, so that consumers can opt to not use energy at peak (e.g. not cooking or watching TV when you come home from work...), or replacing existing white good appliances that are 'smarter', and switch on when power is cheaper. In practice this is not going to work well in the short-term. Consumers like to use energy when they want to, and dont like replacing expensive goods until they break or need upgrading.

Another solution is solar panels, which are great and help during the day - particuarly if you are at home during the day, or on a tarrif bonus, but they dont help reduce the grid peak problem in the evening, as they are rarely installed with battery storage.

Moixa is taking a different approach by recognizing that DC (Direct Current) is central to cleantech.

• DC devices are increasing
• increasingly used over the day and at peak times, e.g. lighting and electronics
• local renewables are increasing and produce DC; batteries, PV, CHP, Fuel cells
• smart technologies can improve overall performance and control