Energy Infrastructure Solutions

I was honored to join Axios energy reporter Ben Geman at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC, for a fireside chat to discuss what it will take to power an economy that’s more electrified, resilient and competitive. The reality is stark: demand for electricity is projected to grow far faster than overall energy use. This is no threat to prosperity; it’s an opportunity - if we act with realism and speed. I have three takeaways from our discussion, and they are based on one simple insight: a successful energy transition needs energy security. We need to put the technologies and infrastructure in place to ensure we have the right energy, at the right time, at the right price. We can achieve this if we: 1. Squeeze more from every kilowatt: Energy efficiency and grid modernization are just as important as energy supply. We can quickly improve energy efficiency in industries and buildings by using high-efficiency motors with variable-speed drives. If widely adopted, this could reduce electricity demand by about 10% - the same as the output from around 100 coal plants or 35 nuclear plants. These savings could meet the growing energy needs of data centers for several years. 2. Modernize and digitalize the grid: We are still trying to run a 21st century economy on 20th century infrastructure. By 2040, the world needs 80 million kilometers (almost 50 million miles) of grid upgrades, plus storage and digital control, to integrate variable renewables, balance peaks, and improve resilience. Permitting is now a critical bottleneck. This is where targeted policy – with smarter approvals, clear standards, and investment in distribution networks – can unlock real capacity quickly. 3. Make AI part of the solution: There are a lot of headlines that Artificial Intelligence is driving up demand for energy. However, AI-enabled energy management – with digital substations and edge control – can also optimize usage, reduce losses and prevent outages. We have to see AI as a crucial tool to manage grids, to forecast, shift and reduce demand. AI can help us align demand growth with grid reliability. None of this scales without people. Resilient energy systems need a skilled workforce, from electricians to data scientists. Upskilling, retraining, and apprenticeships have to be made a priority by both the public and the private sector. The path forward is clear: electrify everything you can; deploy efficiency first; digitalize the grid; and use AI to manage what we add (and have). For regions and countries that do this, energy security will be a competitive advantage creating the foundations for sustainable growth. Listen to the full discussion here: https://lnkd.in/emMu-4zr

Your electricity bill just became the canary in the coal mine for America's biggest infrastructure worry The numbers from this month's energy report aren't just statistics—they're market signals calling for attention. Electricity prices surged 4.5% in May alone. That's nearly double the overall inflation rate. Behind this spike? Data centers have tripled their consumption to 176 terawatt hours in the past decade. Industry projections suggest they could double or triple again within three years. Think about that timeline. We're not talking about gradual shifts over decades. This is explosive demand growth hitting aging infrastructure that was designed for a completely different world. Here's what caught my attention: private companies are now moving into private power generation because the grid simply can't keep up. When Fortune 500s start building their own power plants, that's not innovation—that's admission of system failure. Strategic Reality Check For senior energy leaders: This demand surge represents the biggest grid modernization opportunity since rural electrification. The question isn't whether we'll invest in infrastructure—it's whether clean energy gets the lion's share of that investment or we default back to fossil fuel buildout. For project developers and engineers: Data centers represent concentrated load that's perfect for on-site renewable development. These facilities need 24/7 power, have capital to invest, and increasingly have net-zero commitments. That's your ideal customer profile. For emerging professionals: Understanding the intersection of digital infrastructure and energy systems is becoming table stakes. The companies solving this puzzle will define the next decade of energy markets. What Nobody's Talking About The IEA projects that by 2030, the U.S. will use more electricity processing data than manufacturing aluminum, steel, cement, and chemicals combined. Yet most of our grid planning still assumes demand growth patterns from the 1990s. Smart money is already moving. Utilities that figure out how to partner with hyperscalers on integrated renewable + storage solutions will dominate the next investment cycle. Those that fight distributed generation will lose customers to private power altogether. The grid wasn't designed for this moment. But the infrastructure we build to handle it will define American competitiveness for the next fifty years. Are we treating this AI demand surge as a problem to manage or as the biggest infrastructure investment opportunity of our careers? Because right now, it feels like most of the energy sector is still figuring out that the game has changed. #GridModernization #CleanEnergy #DataCenters #EnergyTransition #Infrastructure

⚡ The Grid Is the New Battleground ⚡ When the world talks about the energy transition, the spotlight usually falls on eye-catching solar farms, offshore wind projects, and the race toward EV adoption. But here’s the hard truth: none of this matters if the grid can’t keep up. At the executive level, this isn’t just a technical concern—it’s a strategic risk and opportunity. The energy transition isn’t defined by how much renewable capacity we can build. It’s defined by whether we can transmit and deliver that power reliably, securely, and at scale. Most existing grids were designed for a different era: Centralized fossil fuel generation with predictable, one-way power flows. Modest peaks in demand, not the surges created by widespread electrification. Networks optimized for stability, not flexibility and resilience. Now, we’re asking those same grids to handle a decentralized, volatile, two-way energy ecosystem. The result? Congestion, delays, stranded renewable assets, and in some regions, outright grid instability. For senior leaders, this has far-reaching implications: Policy & regulation: Transmission approvals and permitting are fast becoming the bottleneck that decides which projects move forward. Investment priorities: Smart grids, storage, and digital management are no longer optional—they’re decisive competitive differentiators. Corporate strategy: Companies that anticipate transmission challenges, and build solutions into their business models, will capture value where others stall. The question isn’t whether we can generate enough renewable energy. The generation is already here. The question is: 👉 Can we deliver it to where it’s needed, when it’s needed—reliably, affordably, and securely? That’s the battleground. And the leaders who recognize it first will set the pace for the energy transition. 💬 I’d love to hear your perspective: do you see transmission as the greatest barrier—or the greatest opportunity—for value creation in the next decade?

Modernising transmission and distribution grids is now a strategic priority for boards tasked with driving both resilience and decarbonisation. Global clean energy investment is projected to reach $2.2 trillion by 2025, yet grid modernisation still lags behind the demands of renewables, EV growth, and digitalisation. For senior leaders, the imperative is to move from legacy assets to future-ready infrastructure. Companies are responding with: * Targeted capital for advanced analytics, storage, and flexible grid tech, extending the life and reliability of existing assets. * Strategic resilience investments: from power line undergrounding to digital substations and real-time demand response. Recent pilots in the Middle East and Europe show a measurable drop in outages and increased grid stability. * Policy-driven innovation in microgrids and distributed resources, now core to national energy strategies. To capitalise, executive teams must: 🔹 Apply scenario-based capital planning tied to regulatory and market signals. 🔹 Prioritise investments by their impact on system reliability, emissions, and commercial value. 🔹 Forge public-private partnerships to manage risk and scale technology. Key takeaways: - Treat grid modernisation as a commercial risk and opportunity, not just a compliance obligation. - Track value through metrics, outage reduction, customer satisfaction, and emissions cuts, not just capital deployed. How is your company quantifying the business case for grid modernisation today? I look forward to your perspectives. #GridModernization #Electrification #EnergyTransition #SmartInfrastructure #BoardLeadership

Wind farms and solar parks are expanding at record pace, but generation alone doesn’t deliver energy security. Without a grid capable of handling higher loads, variable output, and two-way power flows, renewable capacity simply can’t reach its potential. That’s why grid upgrades are now one of the most critical, yet least visible components of the energy transition. Upgrading transformers, switchgear, protection systems, STATCOM, and storage isn’t headline-grabbing work, but it’s the foundation that enables decarbonisation at scale. A modernised grid: • Manages fluctuating renewable output • Supports local generation and storage • Reduces losses and improves efficiency • Strengthens national energy security • Creates capacity for future electrification This is precisely where we operate, delivering the backbone of the system, not the soundbite. Our role is to ensure the grid can keep pace with the ambition, because without resilient infrastructure underneath it, the energy transition stalls. Generation drives the headlines! Infrastructure delivers the future!

Electricity markets work best when they are well connected. In an excellent and insightful paper, Charlotte De Cannière of the Toulouse School of Economics examines how transmission constraints affect electricity market efficiency in #Belgium. Her research demonstrates something many grid operators already understand: when transmission capacity becomes constrained, market efficiency deteriorates and system costs rise. Dr. De Canniere’s analysis shows that when cross-border transmission limits restrict imports, electricity markets become less integrated and must rely more heavily on higher-cost domestic generation. The result is a measurable increase in productive inefficiencies and a significant reduction in the economic gains that normally come from international electricity trade. Her work benefits from collaboration and input from leading scholars including Estelle Cantillon, Steve Cicala, Jan De Loecker, Gautam Gowrisankaran, Steven Puller, Mar Reguant, Jo Van Biesebroeck, Frank Verboven, and Honghao Zheng, with regulatory data support from the Belgian Commission for the Regulation of Electricity and Gas. The paper reinforces an important lesson for the power sector: transmission capacity is fundamental to efficient electricity markets. Fortunately, solutions exist. Transmission system operators like Elia Group have already begun addressing congestion challenges by upgrading existing lines with #AdvancedConductors, including ACCC® Conductor from CTC Global. These upgrades significantly increase the power transfer capability of existing transmission corridors without requiring new rights-of-way. Dr. De Canniere’s research highlights why these types of upgrades matter. When transmission bottlenecks are removed, electricity markets become more competitive, more efficient, and better able to deliver lower-cost power. Her work provides an important economic perspective on an engineering reality: strengthening the grid strengthens the market. You can read my commentary on her important research below. #Transmission #EnergyEconomics #GridModernization #AdvancedConductors #ACCCConductor #ElectricityMarkets #EnergyTransition #PowerSystems #Utilities #GridInfrastructure

If clean electricity is the destination, why are we still stuck at the curb? Smple, because the distribution grid—the “last mile” that connects homes, EV chargers, heat pumps, data centers, and new renewables—is increasingly the hard constraint of the energy transition. We are building record amounts of clean generation, but the system is only as fast as its ability to connect, move, and manage power. And distribution networks are where the pressure is now most visible: ▪️ Electrification is pushing demand outward (EV charging, heating, industry, data centers), stressing local substations, feeders, and transformers. ▪️ Renewables are more distributed and more variable, requiring smarter, more flexible networks—not just more wires. ▪️ Connection queues and congestion are becoming the new “permitting delay,” turning shovel-ready projects into paperwork. ▪️ Cost inflation and supply chains (transformers, switchgear, cables) plus a shortage of skilled labor are slowing delivery. ▪️ Regulation often rewards capex slowly, while the transition requires front-loaded investment and faster approvals. The market has started to react. Grid capital spending is rising rapidly, and energy agencies are clear: we need much higher investment and faster buildout to avoid the grid becoming the binding bottleneck of decarbonization. Global leaders and decission makers might understand as soon as posible that the grid is no longer background infrastructure. It is now strategic infrastructure—and the distribution grid may be the decisive battleground for clean power, affordability, and reliability. If we want a faster transition, the practical agenda is unglamorous but unavoidable: streamlined permitting, faster interconnections, modern grid operations (digital, automation), workforce scaling, and investment frameworks that unlock capital at pace. #EnergyTransition #ElectricityGrids #DistributionGrid #Electrification #Renewables #Infrastructure #EnergySecurity

100‑𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫‑𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐮𝐧 𝐚 21𝐬𝐭‑𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦. • The Global Renewables Alliance (GRA)’s new “Connecting the Sun” Grid & Storage Position Paper is a wake‑up call: 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, not technology or ambition. • 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬? → We spent decades optimizing grids for centralized, fossil‑fuel plants. Now we’re trying to plug in millions of decentralized, variable assets from utility‑scale PV and BESS to prosumers into an operating model never designed for them. → 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭: clean projects are built but not fully used, flexibility from batteries is undervalued, and countries risk missing climate and energy‑security goals even while gigawatts of renewables sit idle. The GSC paper lays this out plainly and offers an action plan: 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐬, 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 “super‑grids” that move clean electrons where they are needed. • 5 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐩 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐞 1️⃣ 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐝 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬: 𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 Design grids for high renewables and storage from the start, not as an add‑on. Let batteries deliver key services (frequency, inertia‑like support, grid‑forming) and reward them properly. 2️⃣ 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬: 3𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 10𝐱 𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 Global pledges aim for about 1.5 TW of storage and 25 million km of upgraded grids by 2030 just to integrate new wind and solar. Roadmaps that count GW of PV but stay vague on storage, grid‑forming inverters, and interconnections are no longer credible 3️⃣ 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 “𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭” 𝐭𝐨 “𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞” Solar + storage plants are now active grid assets, providing stability, congestion relief, and black‑start – not just MWh. 4️⃣ 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 Curtailment and long connection queues are already eroding investor confidence, especially in emerging markets. 5️⃣ 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 Solar + storage can cushion fuel shocks, climate extremes, and cyber risks if grids are modernized in parallel. Cross‑border super‑grids and regional interconnectors are becoming the backbone of a more resilient, affordable, and secure power system. 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤:https://lnkd.in/d9BVa-SD #EnergyTransition #GridStability #BatteryStorage #GridModernization #RenewableEnergy #SystemResilience

🔌 Asia and the Pacific Needs Grid Upgrade to Drive Energy Transition, says ADB Report Summary: The Asian Development Bank (ADB)’s Energy Transition Readiness Assessment for Developing Asia and the Pacific (April 2025) underscores a critical bottleneck in the region’s clean energy ambitions: outdated and underinvested power grids. While clean energy investment in developing Asia has skyrocketed—rising over 900% since 2013 to reach $729.4 billion in 2023, or 45% of global investment—the region still lags in the infrastructure needed to support a net-zero future. To unlock the full potential of this transition, the report urges rapid expansion and modernization of national and cross-border grids, enabling greater integration of intermittent renewables, improving energy security, and expanding access for the 150 million people still without reliable electricity. This is especially urgent given that Asia is forecast to generate two-thirds of global energy demand growth by 2040. Key takeaways: Coal still dominates the energy mix, accounting for 57% of electricity generation in 2022. Countries like China, India, Malaysia, and Thailand are emerging as leaders, either through massive renewable capacity additions or improved regulatory readiness. However, digitalized, flexible, and climate-resilient grids remain the weakest link. Financing needs are immense: $282 billion annually by 2050 just for grid-related infrastructure (T&D and storage). The disparity in regulatory frameworks, investment readiness, and technology ecosystems across countries points to the need for tailored, just transition pathways—not one-size-fits-all models. With rising geopolitical uncertainties and climate risks, this is a clarion call for governments, investors, and development institutions to work in concert. The grid is not just hardware—it is the nervous system of a sustainable Asia. 🔋 Clean energy without grid reform risks becoming a stranded ambition. 🌏 Grid modernization must be the cornerstone of Asia’s energy transition strategy. #EnergyTransition #GridModernization #AsiaPacific #CleanEnergy #JustTransition #Renewables #DigitalGrids #ADB #NetZero #ClimateAction #EnergyInfrastructure #SustainableDevelopment

🔧 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗶𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗨𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗚𝗘𝗧𝘀 As load forecasts shift rapidly—driven by data centers, electrification, and distributed energy—utilities face a growing challenge: how to meet demand when the traditional playbook is too slow. New transmission takes years. But the grid needs relief now. 𝗚𝗿𝗶𝗱-𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 (𝗚𝗘𝗧𝘀) offer a way forward—solutions that help utilities do more with what they already have. From dynamic line ratings and topology optimization to modular power flow controls, GETs are reshaping grid planning. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀: • 🚀 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 – Unlock 10–30% more throughput from existing lines in months, not years. • 🔄 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 – Route power around constraints and respond in real time to fluctuating demand. • 💡 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗘𝘅 – De-risk and defer expensive upgrades by squeezing more value from legacy infrastructure. • 📈 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 – Enable faster renewable integration by easing congestion and bottlenecks.    𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀: 1. 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿. GETs provide near-term tools that enhance grid agility without full rebuilds. 2. 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵. These technologies help maintain grid stability even as load grows unpredictably. 3. 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. Forward-thinking utilities are using GETs to demonstrate proactive planning and grid stewardship. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱. It’s about reimagining how we operate the grid we already have—more dynamically, more intelligently, and more sustainably. ✅ Is your utility actively exploring GETs? ✅ How are you factoring flexible, tech-enabled solutions into your long-term planning? The time to rethink grid strategy is now—and GETs should be part of that conversation. #GridModernization  #EnergyTransition  #UtilityInnovation  #GridEnhancingTechnologies  #SmartGrid  #TransmissionPlanning #PowerGrid  #CleanEnergy  #ElectricUtilities