What is Electrification?

Put simply, electrification is a process which replaces traditional energy sources such as fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) with technologies that use electricity as a power source. Switching from carbon-emitting energy sources to electricity can help with sustainability efforts such as air quality benefits and climate change. Also helping with sustainability efforts is the work we do here at Caterpillar Oil & Gas, pioneering ways to support our customers in meeting reduction targets and lower operational costs as they enhance their operations. Let’s explore the world of opportunity electrical energy sources can provide.

Shift to Electrical Energy Sources

While humans have been harnessing energy from the earth for millennia, Caterpillar Oil & Gas has been providing solutions to aid in this for almost a century. Since our beginnings in the 1930’s as an equipment manufacturer for the oilfields, we have strived to help our partners harness various forms of energy with dedication and innovation. That remains true today as we, and the world, look for new ways to produce electricity.

There are three major categories of energy for electricity generation: fossil fuels, renewable energy, and nuclear energy. In the United States, fossil fuels are the largest source of energy used for electricity generation. Notably (the largest source), natural gas accounted for about 38% of U.S. electricity generation in 2021. Comparatively, about 20% of renewable energy sources were used in 2021 to generate electricity in the U.S., and nuclear energy accounted for 19% of electricity generation.

There are various renewable sources currently used to produce electricity, such as such as: solar power, wind, geothermal, hydropower, and biomass. Let’s dig a little deeper into the different types of renewable energy sources harnessed to generate electricity.

• Solar Power – Conversion of sunlight into electrical energy by utilizing photovoltaic (PV) panels that transform light into an electric current.
• Wind – The use of wind to generate electrical energy – think wind turbines! Turbines will harness the wind blowing past them and transform the kinetic energy into mechanical energy.
• Geothermal – Energy derived from heat within the Earth’s crust. Geothermal power plants utilize reservoirs of hot water found within several miles below the earth’s surface and use the steam to produce electricity.
• Hydropower – Also known as hydroelectric power, hydropower is one of the oldest sources of renewable energy. By using the flow of moving water, electricity is generated.
• Biomass – Energy created from organic material from animals and plants. The energy from these organisms is burned to create heat or produce electricity – this really is the circle of life!

By creating technology to harness these energy sources, Caterpillar is continuously working to help customers address the energy transition and meet their ESG goals.

Learn about Caterpillar’s new Electrification & Advanced Power Solutions Division: https://communicate.cat.com/en/2022-stories/june/new-division-vp-announcement.html

(source: https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/electricity/electricity-in-the-us.php)