Extraordinary innovation: presentation to a conference of UK power systems manufacturers

With a speech entitled ‘Extraordinary Innovation’, James Woudhuysen opens the Association of Manufacturers of Power Systems (AMPS) conference 2015

James’s speech on ‘Extraordinary Innovation’ looked at the future for international innovation within manufacturing power systems and energy. Putting forward an ambitious, searching and heretical view of extraordinary innovation, he suggests that to be really successful, this sector needs to challenge the prevailing culture by:

• Focusing on the critical elements of energy production in order to deliver a reliable power supply and overcome current risks of power cuts;
• Being realistic in recognising how important carbon is within energy production – and will continue to be, for the next 10 – 20 years at least;
• Demanding intensive capital investment to automate many of the labour intensive and dangerous jobs that continue to exist.

In addition to this broad cultural challenge, power system suppliers need to be aware of the developing trends that are likely to impact in some way on their industry. For example, their communications need to get smart about the demand for excellence in data visualisation. Changes taking place within the retail sector – being led, for example, by women shoppers in the fashion retail sector are also likely to lead to consideration for the design and development of the overall production and supply chain processes.

The energy industry also needs to be aware of new processes and products coming on stream, as they are likely to have a major impact on the effectiveness of power and energy production and supply. James provides some examples, such as the new uses of carbon, the development of nano tubes, the extensive use of sensors and new possibilities derived from genetic modification. He suggests that an openness to these types of innovations could all contribute towards significant changes and improvements.

New trends, processes and products and a multi-disciplinary approach that combines data, design and IT will each demand new skills and new knowledge. The power industry sector needs to start thinking about what type of staff and training is needed to fully exploit the new challenges ahead.

There are, of course, many areas of uncertainty. Makers of generating sets will face concerns about energy supply and global warming; they will experience price spikes; and encounter a culture where risk aversion dominates and bold, impactful innovation is resisted. But understanding the true nature of these risks will help ensure that these concerns do not become barriers to taking bold steps.

AMPS members have nothing to be defensive about! They need to resist the temptation to join those that can only envisage micro changes from lowering demand and influencing small scale behaviour change by individuals. Instead, they should distinguish themselves as visionaries, carrying on the romance of innovation as evidenced in past breakthroughs in engineering and manufacturing. They should align themselves with those in countries like China and India who are thinking about change on a grand scale to bring about extraordinary innovation.