We’re in the midst of summer and we know that power outages can happen more frequently during this season due to higher temperatures and an increased demand for electricity. A couple years ago we sat down with Ram Rajagopal, an expert in the future of electrical power. He shared a few ways our existing system of massive power plants is slowly but surely giving way to a much leaner, decentralized system of small-scale power generation. Ram refers to this as a move from an “infrastructure-centric” model to a “human-centric” grid — one that will be much smarter, more inclusive and better able to adapt to the needs of individual users. It’s a topic that impacts all of us and we hope you’ll tune in again for a refresher on how the electric grid works and how it’s evolving.
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Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Russ Altman introduces guest Ram Rajagopal, a professor of engineering at Stanford University.
(00:03:47) What is Powernet?
Outline of Powernet—a decentralized, user-focused power grid vision.
(00:05:34) Behind-the-Meter Intelligence
Aiming to align supply and demand by understanding consumer needs.
(00:07:58) Smart Dimmers & Data Privacy
Balancing energy efficiency with privacy concerns in home automation.
(00:10:05) Aggregators & Local Control
Future energy sharing may rely on local devices and trusted middlemen.
(00:11:50) Human Motivation & Energy Behavior
Why both ethics and cost will drive user participation in energy decisions.
(00:14:02) Teaching Energy Awareness
A program teaching middle-schoolers to analyze home energy use.
(00:16:17) Automating Energy Use
Behavioral and systems changes to help align wellness with grid needs.
(00:18:58) Grid Shift: Renewables & Storage
How evolving the grid demands real-time monitoring and local resilience.
(00:19:57) Sensors & Operational Safety
The sensing technology that ensures transformers and lines stay within limits.
(00:21:27) Smart Dairy: Cooling Cows with AI
How smart fans and storage reduced a dairy farm’s energy output.
(00:23:28) Building Trust with Farmers
The collaborative process behind deploying the grid tech at the farm.
(00:25:01) Smart Ventilation at Scale
Scaling the ventilation tech tested on farms to improve public health spaces.
(00:26:06) Equity in the Human-Centered Grid
How price signals risk overburdening the most vulnerable communities.
(00:28:22) Conclusion
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