With global power demand set to more than double by 2050, the power industry must navigate stricter environmental mandates, climate change impacts, supply-chain disruptions, cybersecurity threats, and more complex grids. The rapid growth of electrification, data centers, and AI is affecting grid load and demand. To meet net-zero goals, utilities need new and green resources, fast grid changes, added storage capacity, and advanced grid control technologies like AI. This session will explore the role of hybrid cloud infrastructure like CONNECT and why it is critical for the future of the interconnected grid and beyond. 

How do you manage an expanding supply chain, critical to sustainability, where consumers are suppliers, product quality is weather dependent, storage space is minimal, and delivery happens at the speed of light? This is the challenge facing today’s power grid which has evolved into a highly integrated and connected energy supply chain business, requiring secure coordination between multiple entities to allow it to manage the grid reliably and efficiently.  One-way delivery of electrons has shifted to a bi-directional power flow with complex distributed network of independent power suppliers, renewables, distributed energy resources including roof-top solar and battery energy storage of various sizes, with transient availability and intermittency challenges.  Maintaining grid reliability and financial accountability is dynamic and becoming increasingly complex. 

To sustain this modern grid, a secure, contextualized data infrastructure, at scale, is essential for informed, timely decision making. This panel will explore the necessity of a secure hybrid cloud approach across engineering, operations and optimization to realize sustainable, resilient power now and into the future.