November 05, 2015

Low-Carbon Energy Transition Can Create Up To €380 Billion in New Annual Value for Utilities, Finds Accenture and CDP Report



Five business models can secure growth in a low-carbon world


VIENNA; Nov. 5, 2015 – The shift to an efficient and low-carbon energy system could create between €245 billion and €380 billion in new annual value for the global electricity utilities industry by 2030, finds a new study by Accenture (NYSE: ACN) and CDP, which examines the sector’s opportunities to grow and improve competitiveness while meeting environmental targets.

This revenue and efficiency opportunity is based on six areas that could drive business value for utilities, according to the study. Utilities can cut waste in power generation, develop low-carbon electricity sources and install carbon capture and reuse technology. The Accenture Strategy and CDP report also points to opportunities in new energy efficiency services, distributed generation and the flexible management of electricity supply and demand through advances in storage and other technologies.

Capitalizing on this opportunity would require the sector to transform its business models, according to the report, “Low-Carbon, High Stakes.” In particular, Accenture Strategy calls on utilities to consider decoupling electricity generation revenues from sales volumes, divest non-core assets and businesses, and form more cross-industry partnerships.

The report examines five business model pathways toward a low-carbon energy system and analyzes their environmental and economic value, as well as the capabilities that utilities need to realize them. It assumes a future scenario of limiting the long-term increase in the average global temperature to 2°C.

“The global response to unmitigated greenhouse gas emissions and water scarcity will put the existing electricity generation and supply model at risk and threaten the bottom line of utilities,” said Peter Lacy, managing director, Accenture Strategy. “To sustain growth, improve competitiveness and drive business value, the industry must be ready to transform and take advantage of the business opportunities that arise from a low-carbon energy system.”

Accenture Strategy and CDP identify six emerging value pockets that are potentially worth €135 billion to €225 billion in saved and avoided costs, and €110 billion to €155 billion in new revenue per year worldwide in 2030. In total, this brings the potential value available to between €245 billion to €380 billion per year in 2030:

“The growing relevance of sustainability concerns in our daily life is opening up new opportunities for electricity utilities,” said Jean-Marc Ollagnier, group chief executive of Accenture’s Resources industry group and co-chair of the United Nations’ Sustainable Energy for All committee on energy efficiency. “Clean energy sources present significant potential, especially considering the strong downward trend in costs, while energy-efficiency related services can be a game-changer in reducing emissions and generating new revenue streams. However, while utilities are well-positioned to take advantage of these opportunities, they need to make strategic choices now and shape the business model they will adopt.”

Besides continued efforts by utilities to improve energy efficiency in power generation, Accenture Strategy and CDP see the remaining value pockets being achieved through commitments to five emerging business models:

“While utilities’ strategies and timelines will vary depending on their current asset base, the local market and their regulatory environment, the transformation in the industry will be very significant,” said Paul Dickinson, executive chairman and co-founder of CDP. “The opportunities are great, however. For example, utilities in China, Brazil and India can introduce clean generation capacity at enormous scale to support increasing demand and economic growth, while utilities in Africa could leapfrog, as they did with telephony, and skip the fossil fuel era by implementing a low-carbon energy system directly.”

About Accenture
Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions – underpinned by the world’s largest delivery network – Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With more than 358,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives.

Accenture Strategy operates at the intersection of business and technology. We bring together our capabilities in business, technology, operations and function strategy to help our clients envision and execute industry-specific strategies that support enterprise wide transformation. Our focus on issues related to digital disruption, competitiveness, global operating models, talent and leadership help drive both efficiencies and growth. For more information, follow @AccentureStrat or visit www.accenture.com/strategy

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Contacts:

Matthew McGuinness
Accenture
+ 1 917 282 7187
matthew.mcguinness@accenture.com

Guy Cantwell
Accenture
+ 1 281 900 9089
guy.cantwell@accenture.com