Digital Power Grid: Lessons From History to Imagine the Future [In My View]

Abstract

Much has changed in the power industry since the inception of commercial electrical power systems. What has not changed is the cycle of disruption and adaptation empowered by innovation. The next disruption is on the horizon and is fueled by the push to decarbonize the grid. In this article, I argue that the next disruption will be shaped by three technologies: artificial intelligence (AI), 5G networks, and distributed digital ledger (DDL). Even though historical elements in this article are drawn from the evolution of the power industry in the United States, parallels can be found elsewhere.