# Smart Grid

- Show: [EE Times Current](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current)
- Published: 2018-09-21
- Length: 36m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2018-09-21-smart-grid
- Listen: https://beta.eetimes.com/on-air.asp?doc_id=1333778

## Summary

Dr. Bri-Mathias Hodge, Chief Scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), discusses the technical and political challenges of modernizing the US electrical grid. He explains how advanced metering, storage technologies like lithium-ion batteries, and demand forecasting are enabling a more reliable, cost-effective, and sustainable energy system. The conversation highlights specific implementations such as Excel Energy's use of wind plants for regulation reserves and NREL's work on autonomous energy systems for smart communities like Pena Station Next.

## Chapters

- [0:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2018-09-21-smart-grid#t=5) Introduction and Guest Background
- [6:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2018-09-21-smart-grid#t=387) Grid Structure and Transmission Challenges
- [15:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2018-09-21-smart-grid#t=914) Storage Technologies and Applications
- [18:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2018-09-21-smart-grid#t=1120) Ramping and Regulation Reserves
- [23:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2018-09-21-smart-grid#t=1382) Demand Forecasting and Behind-the-Meter Data
- [26:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2018-09-21-smart-grid#t=1598) Smart Communities and Autonomous Energy Systems

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (company)
- Excel Energy (company)
- Panasonic (company)
- Beacon Energy (company)
- Chattanooga (other)
- Pena Station Next (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Managing Energy At The Edge: Navigating The Modern Grid With Itron](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-09-05-managing-energy-at-the-edge-navigating-the-modern-grid-with-itron) (Over the Air)
- [213: Electricity Doesn't Act Like an Apple](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-08-31-213-electricity-doesnt-act-like-an-apple) (Embedded.fm)
- [Aligning Passion With Purpose: A Journey to Electrification and Sustainability](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2025-06-17-aligning-passion-with-purpose-a-journey-to-electrification-and-sustainability) (Moore's Lobby)
- [The early days of AI on the grid](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-03-08-the-early-days-of-ai-on-the-grid) (Catalyst)
- [Energizing the Future: Real-Time Precision in Renewable Energy Management](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2024-01-30-energizing-the-future-real-time-precision-in-renewable-energy-management) (Moore's Lobby)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2018-09-21-smart-grid. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to EE Times Current.