DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND THE WATER INDUSTRY

摘要

In September, along with our Chief Executive Jonathan McKeown, I had the privilege of representing the Australian Water Association at New Zealand Water, the annual conference of our sister organisation Water New Zealand. We were able to meet both their President and CEO and strengthen the relationship between the organisations.At the conference, we attended the President's Dinner and, during a subsequent discussion with the guest speaker, the subject of 'Disruptive Technologies' came up. This topic is what I'd like to address in this column.The energy industry is currently strongly focused on Disruptive Technologies. The rapid rise in photovoltaic cells at domestic level and the likely evolution of battery technology at affordable prices in the near future is set to have a major impact on the industry. An industry that has been built around large generators and poles and wire distribution is about to have its value chain turned on its head. Both utilities and regulators are trying to come to grips with the prospect of assets being stranded and their value being written down significantly in a short time. This has all occurred in a few short years.