Researchers are highlighting how advanced transmission technologies can enhance the current electric grid’s performance. However, many technology companies express concerns about persuading utilities to adopt these improvements due to utilities’ revenue models.
The urgency of the climate crisis requires a swift transition from fossil fuels to green energy sources. Despite this, numerous wind and solar projects face multi-year delays for connection to transmission lines. According to the REPEAT Project from Princeton University, achieving the U.S. goals for reducing pollution significantly necessitates expanding the country’s transmission capacity by 43% by 2035. Constructing these new transmission lines demands a substantial investment of time and financial resources.
To address these challenges, some technology companies are seeking solutions to optimize the existing grid. Aaron Scott discusses these potential solutions with NPR’s climate solutions reporter, Julia Simon. These innovations promise to be faster and more cost-effective than many might anticipate.
For more detailed information, you can explore Julia Simon’s full explainer by following this link. If you have a remarkable science story to share, reach out to us at [email protected]. You can also listen to Short Wave on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.
This story was produced by Carly Rubin and edited by managing producer Rebecca Ramirez, Berly McCoy, and Amina Khan. Fact-checking was handled by Julia Simon, with Kwesi Lee as the audio engineer.