Innovating for efficiency: why improving our current infrastructure is key to building a more sustainable future

Electric vehicles (EVs), solar panels and wind turbines. These are the things typically pictured when we think about the transition to a clean, sustainable future. But we often overlook the systems which keep these technologies, and much of our daily lives, running smoothly.

If we want to reach the EU Energy Directive 2030 target of an 11.7% cut in final energy consumption , produce less waste and protect our precious water resources, we need to think about infrastructure.

The vast networks that supply energy, water and more will play a critical role in this transition. And there is a world of innovation happening to make these vital systems more efficient.

The importance of efficient systems

There are obvious reasons why existing infrastructure is often not thought or talked about. It is all around us but we are so used to seeing it that we ignore it. Much of it is also hidden underground, “out of sight, out of mind.”

This creates issues, because we need to update and innovate these infrastructure systems, some of which are getting very old. Some electricity grids have been delivering power for more than 100 years . 19th Century Victorian water pipe networks still supply some English homes, even the main sewer of ancient Rome is still in use .

Ageing supply grids are often “leaky”. Outdated electricity grids, for example, are responsible for an estimated 4-17% of energy losses in Europe. Older lines also can’t be connected to newer technology, like renewable sources of energy. This is going to become a more pressing problem with the need to update the world’s electricity grids to power more sustainable lifestyles.

Leaky pipes, meanwhile, are responsible for the EU losing around one-quarter of its water every year on average. It is worse in some countries where up to 60% is being lost. With droughts and water scarcity becoming more common , this will put more pressure on the water supply, emphasizing the need for efficient infrastructure.

Updating and modernizing these systems is crucial to enable more sustainable lifestyles that meet our needs without compromising the planet’s resources and health. That’s why we are constantly working on new solutions to improve durability, increase efficiency and reduce wastage.

Replacing the old with new innovation

Innovation in infrastructure comes in many forms, but a crucial component concerns the materials we use and how we produce them. Conventional materials include cast iron and steel for distributing water, gas and oil, and electrical cables were traditionally insulated using oil . As discussed above, these materials become leaky and inefficient as they age, especially at weak joints or connections.

The polyolefin plastics polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) are becoming a common alternative, providing durable, efficient and longer-lasting solutions.

Borealis , part of the OMV Group, is a leader in developing advanced PE and PP infrastructure products. BorSafe? is an innovative family of PE piping for many different applications such as household water connections and mains pipes.

It can also be used for mains gas distribution, where PE is replacing metal almost entirely, as well as in heat pumps and industrial process plants. Compared to iron and steel it provides a cost-effective solution that is not prone to corrosion and protects the insulation and service pipes from ground water, moisture and mechanical damage.

When it comes to the electrical grid, cross-linking is the process of creating tighter mechanical bonds between the plastic polymers for better insulation. It can be done using heat, pressure, and chemical polymers to create cross-link bonds, or using radiation.

Borealis’ Borlink? is a proprietary cross-linking technology that enables the production of extra-long cables with fewer “leaky” joints. The efficiency, sustainability and durability it provides is being used to support the energy transition in Germany with the largest transmission cable project of all time. This will bring offshore wind farm-generated green electricity from north to south Germany at up to 8 GW capacity.

Beyond these projects, polyolefins can be applied across a wide range of other speciality sustainable use cases, such as in the automotive and healthcare industries. For example, electric vehicles are typically much heavier than their combustion engines counterparts. Using plastic components can reduce the weight by 50 to 75% and increase EV range, power and efficiency . This allows EV drivers to travel further every time they charge.

Closing the loop

Fossil resources are traditionally the feedstocks, the starting point, for plastic production. Borealis is changing that with their Bornewables? . These are sustainable polyolefins made from renewable feedstocks such as waste from timber harvesting and used cooking oil from the food industry. They are already being used by NUPI in Italy for domestic plumbing, heating and air conditioning.

ReOil? is OMV’s proprietary chemical recycling technology that converts end-of-life plastics into circular feedstock for the production of chemicals. This is then used to produce high-performing and sustainable plastics. These innovations illustrate our effort to transition towards a circular economy.

Sustainable infrastructure innovation

We cannot ensure a clean, sustainable transition by relying solely on developing and rolling out completely new technologies. We have to reinvent the everyday essentials we often take for granted, making them work more efficiently so our resources go further. That is the definition of innovation - spotting the potential to improve something that already exists alongside new inventions and technologies.

These innovations in infrastructure will only become more important as the impacts of climate change put our systems under greater pressure. Efficiency is critical to help us live more sustainably.

Fixing leaky pipes and insulating wires might not grab as many headlines as new wind farms, biodiverse solar fields or the latest electric vehicle, but they too have a key role to play in the energy transition and building a more sustainable society.