In the realm of innovation, the utility industry often finds itself left out of the conversation. Perceptions abound that utilities lack the spirit of innovation, perceived as slow-moving giants not suited to solve the pressing problems of the day.
When did we lose our mojo?
Somewhere along the line, we seem to have lost sight of our repeated ability to challenge the status quo to change the world around us for the better. Our industry’s very origin story is one of inventors questioning their reality and setting out to discover and harness the power of the electron to completely change nearly every aspect of our lives. We proved electricity could be safely harnessed to improve life. We built power plants in places no one thought possible, faster than anyone said we could. We built the world’s most complex machine, electrifying the country from “sea to shining sea” and every rural community in between. We moved from the electron to the atom to prove our ability to control yet another source of energy, safely.
Innovation is our history. At every bend of the road, our industry has been undeterred to solve really complex problems. In fact the bigger the problem, the higher we raise our hand. It is time to remind ourselves of this legacy.
Today we face our own challenges as we look to decarbonize and decentralize our energy systems. Our forebears gave us a clear playbook with three key themes to remember as we look to add our own chapter of innovation to our industry’s story.
Do not be limited by the status quo
Progress is not made by using the resources and technologies of the past. Transformation in our space happens when people embrace new technology and ways of working to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. We cannot decarbonize using the fossil-fuel based approach of the past nor can we achieve our goals using the technologies and legacy systems that got us here. You do not drive a car by looking at the rearview mirror, but rather driving with your eyes looking forward and preparing for what is over the horizon or in the lane beside you.
Move with collective action
The problems we solved historically along with the ones we face today will never be solved by one individual or business. Collective, cooperative action across the system is required. While we often point to this complex group of stakeholders as an impediment to change, let’s challenge that thinking by recognizing it did not hold us back historically. In fact, the collective knowledge and skills of many people are more necessary and relevant today, and more global.
Fail fast and move on
Both Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla faced adversity and setbacks at our industry’s birth, but their ability to learn from failure, iterate on their ideas, and persist in the face of challenges contributed to their lasting impact on the fields of electricity and technology.
In 1931, we set out to harness the power of the Colorado River. It was the Great Depression and the technology to complete the task did not yet exist. The cards were stacked against the project. Instead of being deterred by the reality of the present, the collective will was mobilized to solve the problems of tomorrow. The Hoover Dam was completed two years early and stands a modern marvel electrifying the American southwest — that is some mojo.
Looking forward to 2024
We’re seeing some notable progress in the advancement of solar and wind generation throughout the world. However, big challenges still exist. In the U.S., over 2,000 GW of renewable power is backlogged in the interconnection queue. And while FERC has approved changes to the regulatory hurdles that are intended to help accelerate renewables connecting to the grid, until we update our transmission capacity, we need to work with the infrastructure we have today to ensure reliable flow of electrons. We already have the capability of doing this through tariffs and grid-optimization technologies. Let’s move faster to use the tools we have today while also going big on the necessary infrastructure for tomorrow.
It is the start of a new year — a great time to think about how we want 2024 to unfold. Let’s resolve as an industry to channel the desire for momentum already inside us to solve the challenges ahead. It is time to end the narrative that we are stuck in the past when in fact we enable the future.
