Hardware Podcasts

Power Transmission with Toby Robb

The Amp Hour · 31 Jul 2023 · 1h 12m · Episode 641

What this episode covers

Toby Robb, a distribution network professional from the Illawarra region of Australia, explains the architecture of the power grid, from coal-fired generation and 500 kV transmission to the 132 kV distribution network managed by providers like Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy. He details the engineering behind zone substations, including transformer configurations, SF6 breakers, and protection schemes like differential protection and impedance-based fault location. Robb also discusses the practical realities of being a linesman, covering safety protocols for isolating high-voltage lines, the transition from ceramic to polymeric insulators, and the challenges of integrating renewable energy and community batteries into the existing infrastructure.

Most relevant to

large enterprises

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy, Essential Energy, Transgrid, ABB
Tools
Fluke T140, Modiwark

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Catalyst · 58m

    Getting more energy on the wires

    Liza Reed, Electricity Transmission Research Manager at the Niskanen Center, discusses technologies and policies needed to expand the U.S. power grid. She explains the limitations of existing alternating current infrastructure and highlights high-voltage direct current (HVDC), composite-core conductors, and undergrounding as key solutions. Reed also addresses the critical role of interregional interconnections, citing the Texas grid isolation during Winter Storm Uri, and advocates for federal permitting reform to streamline the construction of new transmission lines.

    Energy & climate techMaterials & manufacturing processes
    7 chapters

  • Over the Air · 31m

    Managing Energy At The Edge: Navigating The Modern Grid With Itron

    Nick Tumilowicz, Director of Product Management at Itron, discusses the challenges of managing the aging electrical grid amid the energy transition, focusing on transformer capacity limits and the shift to underground infrastructure. He explains how Itron leverages its installed base of smart meters as edge compute devices to enable real-time, autonomous load management for distributed energy resources like EVs and solar. The conversation covers the long sales cycles in the utility sector, the cultural differences in grid adoption between the US and Europe, and the importance of balancing technological innovation with customer incentives.

    Energy & climate techConnected products & IoT
    8 chapters

  • Catalyst · 29m

    Looking for a turnaround in transmission

    Rob Gramlich, founder and president of Grid Strategies, discusses the recent uptick in U.S. transmission planning and the structural barriers to building high-voltage lines. He highlights SPP’s $8.6 billion backbone approval and the cancellation of the Grain Belt Express loan guarantee as key recent developments. Gramlich explains that while DOE and FERC policies like Order 1920 are critical, the 'tragedy of the commons' prevents hyperscalers from individually funding shared grid infrastructure.

    Energy & climate techPolicy, trade & tariffs
    6 chapters

  • Catalyst · 50m

    The rise of grid power electronics with Drew Baglino

    Drew Baglino, founder and CEO of Heron Power and former Tesla energy leader, explains how solid-state transformers (SSTs) use silicon carbide power electronics to replace aging, passive grid infrastructure. He details the severe transformer shortage driven by data center demand and regulatory uncertainty, and outlines how Heron’s SSTs simplify solar/battery interconnections and enable direct DC power distribution in data centers, removing 70% of traditional electrical equipment. Baglino argues that SSTs offer a pathway to grid affordability by increasing the utilization of existing wires through dynamic control.

    Analog & power electronicsMaterials & manufacturing processes
    7 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Amp Hour. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.