Episodios

  • 55. Powering Through: How Power Companies Can Weather the 2025 Hurricane Season

    55. Powering Through: How Power Companies Can Weather the 2025 Hurricane Season
    Jul 9 2025
    As of June 1, the North Atlantic Basin officially entered the 2025 hurricane season. NOAA’s 2025 forecasts project a 60% chance of an above-normal season, anticipating 13–19 named storms, 6–10 hurricanes, and up to 5 major hurricanes. As peak season approaches, utilities face increasing pressure to prepare. On the latest episode of the EPRI Current, EPRI experts Andrea Staid and Erik Smith join host Samantha Gilman to explore how power companies can build resilience and maintain reliability amid intensifying storms. They tackle key questions: How accurate are hurricane forecasts? How should power companies plan around the unknown? How do regional differences shape preparedness strategies? The conversation highlights EPRI’s Climate READi initiative, which provides science-based guidance to help utilities assess hazard risks, support operational decisions, and plan for long-term climate adaptation. For more information visit EPRI.com.

    If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe and share! And please consider leaving a review and rating on Apple Podcasts/iTunes.

    Follow EPRI:

    LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/epri/

    Twitter https://twitter.com/EPRINews

    EPRI Current examines key issues and new R&D impacting the energy transition. Each episode features insights from EPRI, the world's preeminent independent, non-profit energy research and development organization, and from other energy industry leaders. We also discuss how innovative technologies are shaping the global energy future. Learn more at www.epri.com

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    21 m
  • 54. Balancing AI Growth with Grid Flexibility: Inside EPRI’s DCFlex Initiative

    54. Balancing AI Growth with Grid Flexibility: Inside EPRI’s DCFlex Initiative
    Jun 18 2025
    The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) is propelling us into a new era of innovation that has the potential to transform daily life and drive economic growth. In this episode of the EPRI Current, host Samantha Gilman is joined by David Porter, EPRI’s VP of Electrification and Sustainable Energy Strategy, and Briana Kobor, Head of Energy Market Innovation at Google. They discuss strategies to realize the benefits of AI while minimizing costs and ensuring grid reliability, featuring insights from DCFlex – a new EPRI initiative to make data centers more flexible and responsive to grid needs. From demand flexibility to utility collaboration and scalable solutions, the conversation highlights the role of cross-sector teamwork in ensuring grid reliability while advancing AI and energy goals.

    Guests: David Porter and Briana Kobor

    If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe and share! And please consider leaving a review and rating on Apple Podcasts/iTunes.

    Follow EPRI:

    LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/epri/

    Twitter https://twitter.com/EPRINews

    EPRI Current examines key issues and new R&D impacting the energy transition. Each episode features insights from EPRI, the world's preeminent independent, non-profit energy research and development organization, and from other energy industry leaders. We also discuss how innovative technologies are shaping the global energy future. Learn more at www.epri.com

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    29 m
  • 53. Why the Wait? Unpacking Gas Turbine Delays

    53. Why the Wait? Unpacking Gas Turbine Delays
    Jun 5 2025
    Around the world, the energy sector faces a shared challenge: significant delays in acquiring gas turbines, a critical technology for grid expansion. In this episode of the EPRI Current, host Samantha Gilman sits down with EPRI Sr. Program Manager Bobby Noble to explore a topical question for industry stakeholders and EPRI members: Why are the wait times for gas turbines so long? Bobby sheds light on the implications of a 5-year wait time, addressing the leading causes behind these delays, EPRI’s efforts to support and inform the industry, and practical measures the industry can implement to expand near-term capabilities using existing assets.

    Guests: Bobby Noble, Sr. Program Manager, EPRI

    If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe and share! And please consider leaving a review and rating on Apple Podcasts/iTunes.

    Follow EPRI:

    LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/epri/

    Twitter https://twitter.com/EPRINews

    EPRI Current examines key issues and new R&D impacting the energy transition. Each episode features insights from EPRI, the world's preeminent independent, non-profit energy research and development organization, and from other energy industry leaders. We also discuss how innovative technologies are shaping the global energy future. Learn more at www.epri.com

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    21 m
  • 52. What is the AI EFFECT on Europe’s Power Industry?

    52. What is the AI EFFECT on Europe’s Power Industry?
    May 22 2025

    The AI EFFECT project aims to establish a European Testing and Experimentation Facility (TEF) for the energy sector to develop, test, and validate AI applications. Funded by Horizon Europe, the project addresses the integration of AI into critical energy infrastructures to optimize operations, reduce costs, enhance resilience, and support decarbonization efforts.

    This episode of the EPRI Current examines AI's role in improving efficiency, smart grids, generation, distribution, and customer tools as well as some challenges emerging from use cases such as the need for mathematical guarantees to trust AI.

    For more information about AI EFFECT and AI in the power industry:

    • AI EFFECT: AI-EFFECT | acquiacmsminimaltemplate
    • OPEN POWER AI: Open Power AI Consortium | EPRI Micro Sites

    Host: Samantha Gilman

    Guests:

    • Gianluca Lipari, Technical Leader - European Projects Coordinator, EPRI
    • Massimo Bolognessi, Senior Electrical Design Engineer, ENEL Grids
    • Johanna Vorwerk, Assistant Professor, Wind and Energy Systems, Technical University of Denmark

    If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe and share! And please consider leaving a review and rating on Apple Podcasts/iTunes.

    Follow EPRI:

    LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/epri/

    Twitter https://twitter.com/EPRINews

    EPRI Current examines key issues and new R&D impacting the energy transition. Each episode features insights from EPRI, the world's preeminent independent, non-profit energy research and development organization, and from other energy industry leaders. We also discuss how innovative technologies are shaping the global energy future. Learn more at www.epri.com

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    25 m
  • 51. Lights out! Understanding the Iberian Peninsula Blackout

    51. Lights out! Understanding the Iberian Peninsula Blackout
    May 12 2025

    More than 52 years after EPRI was born as a result of a massive North American blackout, EPRI Current host Samantha Gilman speaks with Eamonn Lannoye, Director, EPRI Europe and Sean McGuiness Senior Technical Executive, EPRI Europe, to discuss the recent power blackout in Spain, Portugal and parts of France. The whole system went down in five seconds. What do we know about why it happened? What do we not yet know, and why can it take time to fully understand the root causes? Are observers jumping to conclusions before all the data is in? Lannoye has been a frequent contributor to international media stories about the event. He and McGuiness share their expertise on the series of events and caution about drawing conclusions too quickly.

    For more information about the blackout, see this recorded webinar:

    EPRI Webcast of Initial Findings from April 28, 2025 Iberia Blackout

    If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe and share! And please consider leaving a review and rating on Apple Podcasts/iTunes.

    Follow EPRI:

    LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/epri/

    Twitter https://twitter.com/EPRINews

    EPRI Current examines key issues and new R&D impacting the energy transition. Each episode features insights from EPRI, the world's preeminent independent, non-profit energy research and development organization, and from other energy industry leaders. We also discuss how innovative technologies are shaping the global energy future. Learn more at www.epri.com

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    23 m
  • 50. We’re at DistribuTECH Talking Microgrids!

    50. We’re at DistribuTECH Talking Microgrids!
    Apr 24 2025

    Recorded live from the show floor at DistribuTECH 2025 in Dallas, this episode of the EPRI Current examines microgrids and how utilities are using them to explore back-up power availability to improve system reliability. Jackie Baum from EPRI and Ryan Boudreau from Hydro One networks discuss the challenges and opportunities for microgrids in local communities with host Samantha Gilman in the DistribuTECH studio.

    Guests:

    Jackie Baum, Sr. Manager DERMS & Microgrids, EPRI

    Ryan Boudreau, Sr. Manager Distribution and P&C, Hydro One Networks

    Watch Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3ewkmpIrjY

    If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe and share! And please consider leaving a review and rating on Apple Podcasts/iTunes.

    Follow EPRI:

    LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/epri/

    Twitter https://twitter.com/EPRINews

    EPRI Current examines key issues and new R&D impacting the energy transition. Each episode features insights from EPRI, the world's preeminent independent, non-profit energy research and development organization, and from other energy industry leaders. We also discuss how innovative technologies are shaping the global energy future. Learn more at www.epri.com

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    15 m
  • 49. Powering Europe’s Future: Innovation Through Collaboration

    49. Powering Europe’s Future: Innovation Through Collaboration
    Apr 2 2025

    Host Samantha Gilman explores the energy innovation landscape in Europe with her guests Consuelo Fierro from National Grid, and Mark McGranaghan from EPRI. They discuss the prevalent innovation culture driven by EU and UK-funded projects, European innovation working groups and initiatives, the challenges and successes of National Grid's innovation efforts, and the transformative impact of AI on the energy sector.

    Guests:

    • Consuelo Fierro, Project Manager at Innovation Management Office, National Grid
    • Mark McGranaghan EPRI Fellow, EPRI Europe

    If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe and share! And please consider leaving a review and rating on Apple Podcasts/iTunes.

    Follow EPRI:

    LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/epri/

    Twitter https://twitter.com/EPRINews

    EPRI Current examines key issues and new R&D impacting the energy transition. Each episode features insights from EPRI, the world's preeminent independent, non-profit energy research and development organization, and from other energy industry leaders. We also discuss how innovative technologies are shaping the global energy future. Learn more at www.epri.com

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    21 m
  • 48. Battery Energy Storage Safety: From Cells to Systems

    48. Battery Energy Storage Safety: From Cells to Systems
    Mar 19 2025

    Join EPRI experts Stephanie Shaw and Lakshmi Srinivasan of EPRI’s Energy Storage research area, and Southern Company’s Kieran Claffey to learn how research, risk assessment and analysis continues to improve the safety of battery storage technology and operations. As battery storage energy grows across the globe, with the vast majority of deployments being lithium ion, what have we learned about the safety of battery storage as both a source and as part of a larger electric system?

    Find out more about EPRI’s Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Failure Incident Database, initiated in 2021. It tracks incidents involving BESS systems, providing valuable data on system age, manufacturer, chemistry, and application.

    For more information:

    • EPRI Failure Incident Database: BESS Failure Incident Database - EPRI Storage Wiki
    • EPRI Whitepaper: Analysis of Failure Root Cause: Insights from EPRI’s Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Failure Incident Database: Analysis of Failure Root Cause

    Guests:

    • Stephanie Shaw, Technical Executive, Energy Storage, EPRI
    • Lakshmi Srinivasan, Principal Team Lead, Energy Storage, EPRI
    • Kieran Claffey, Senior rResearch Engineer in the Research Environment and Sustainability Group of Southern Co., Industry Lead, Safety and Grid Security Tiger Team for the Long Duration Energy Storage National Consortium

    If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe and share! And please consider leaving a review and rating on Apple Podcasts/iTunes.

    Follow EPRI:

    LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/epri/

    Twitter https://twitter.com/EPRINews

    EPRI Current examines key issues and new R&D impacting the energy transition. Each episode features insights from EPRI, the world's preeminent independent, non-profit energy research and development organization, and from other energy industry leaders. We also discuss how innovative technologies are shaping the global energy future. Learn more at www.epri.com

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    22 m