Ed’s note: Energy innovation and the value of connections

Integrating renewables, upgrading ageing grid infrastructure, meeting the increasing demand of electric vehicles (EVs) and preparing for natural and/or man-made disasters are the top concerns exercising utilities when it comes to grid resiliency and reliability, according to Itron’s latest ‘Resourcefulness’ study.

And consumers largely agree, although they are more concerned about disaster response than EVs and also they are less confident in the utility preparedness to manage these challenges.

But the good news, the survey highlights, is that the technologies to address some or all of these challenges are available now. For example, advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and distribution automation can support disaster preparedness, distributed resource integration and EV accommodation, while storage is considered a priority investment for renewables integration.