Quinn Nakayama

Quinn Nakayama, head of PG&E's innovative GRiD program, shares insights into California's struggling utility's transformation. He discusses bold strategies for faster interconnections to support electric vehicles and data centers. The conversation highlights the crucial role of drone technology for wildfire safety and the necessity for collaboration with external partners to drive utility innovation. Nakayama also touches on the ambitious goals for California's renewable energy future and the challenges of integrating AI in energy management.

Quinn Nakayama, Senior Director of Grid Research and Innovation at PG&E, dives into the complexities of the 'crazy grid'. He explains how California's electricity system is adapting to new demands like variable renewable energy and electric vehicles. The discussion touches on the role of AI in increasing power demand and grid management. Nakayama debates the effectiveness of Virtual Power Plants and highlights the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades to meet rising consumption patterns, especially with the growing influence of data centers.

At the Distributech conference in Orlando, the podcast explores the impact of AI on the energy industry. Discussions include the need for more power for AI applications, AI tools for grid management, and breakthroughs in nuclear power with AI. Industry leaders like Hussein Shel and Zack Kass discuss opportunities and challenges of AI, and the potential for energy abundance with advanced AI systems.