According to Gerd Deusser, head, gas and power, Siemens, the power sector has undergone a technology transformation over the past few years, with the increasing use of smart grids and cleaner technologies. In the long term, the sector can look forward to trends such as flexibilisation, digitalisation and energy storage. “We expect an increased use of digitalisation solutions to improve the efficiency and performance of assets of power utilities and industrial operators. These drivers are expected to boost the market for electrification and smart grid solutions to pare AT&C losses,” he says.
Deusser joined equipment and technology major Siemens, in Offenbach, Germany, back in 1991. For several years, he was involved in the engineering of nuclear and conventional power plants and the integration of Siemens Westinghouse located in Orlando, USA. He has also worked on energy solutions project management at Siemens. In 2008, he completed his MBA and started a career in sales, including energy solutions sales in India and later in the Middle East. He headed the lower Gulf Region as VP, sales, Siemens Power and Gas and became country division lead, power and gas in 2017. In April 2019, he took over as country lead-India, gas and power, in addition to being business unit head for power generation in India.
He believes that the Indian government’s visionary “Power for All” programme has a huge opportunity considering the growing demand, focus on renewables and need for grid integration. The government is also promoting R&D to match the best in the world. This can be a key driver for growth in the equipment industry. High voltage technologies such as power transformers are in demand for seamless and economical power transmission. Commenting on the challenges, Deusser says, “India needs to look at supercritical technologies and monitor the fuel to operate the existing thermal plants. Losses in system and service connections and theft are some of the other issues that can be resolved using technology.” Going forward, Deusser believes that investment is needed to make our existing power systems greener. There is also a need to decarbonise these systems in order to contribute to a carbon-neutral society. Therefore, the implementation of flexibilisation and efficiency improvement measures is required. Further, sector coupling, or power-to-the-x, will be critical and interesting areas of innovation.
Deusser is a mechanical engineering graduate. He also holds an MBA.