Aug 16, 2018 4:45 pm GMT
Similar to Ray Kurtzweil’s computing “singularity” where the computing power of machines matches that of humans, the power and utility industry faces a similar future. Electric power has been delivered in the same way for more than 100 years – bulk power -> transmission -> distribution. With the introduction and rapid adoption of renewable energy and energy storage (a type of Distributed Energy Resource or DER), the traditional paradigm is transforming. In about the same timeline as Kurtzweil’s singularity (~2030), DERs will deliver much of the power needs for society. Although grid-scale DER systems may be viable solutions for bulk power and transmission, these changes will primarily affect the distribution networks as utilities add distributed generation (spinning mass, renewables, and energy storage) and end consumers add rooftop solar, energy storage, and energy management systems. In fact, if you listen to the car companies, many end consumers will soon have mobile energy storage DER systems in their garages, parking lots, and on the road.