S4 E6: How will data centers, microgrids, and renewable energy impact the power grid?

Ali Mehrizi-Sani joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the complexities of the power grid, its vulnerabilities, and how renewable energy and microgrids fit into the future of energy reliability. 00:00 — What’s the biggest threat to our power grid?01:22 — What does the power grid include?02:42 — How is North America’s power grid connected?05:04 — What causes blackouts, and how is the grid kept reliable?06:51 — Why is the power grid under more pressure today?09:33 — How do data centers affect the power grid?14:44 — What actually causes power outages?16:21 — What role do solar and wind play in the grid?18:38 — What are microgrids, and when are they useful?21:18 — How can the power grid be protected from cyberattacks?23:26 — What can everyday people do to support the grid?Mehrizi-Sani is a professor and Bradley Senior Fellow in the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He is also the director of the Power and Energy Center at Virginia Tech. His latest research focuses on the intersection of power engineering and advanced wireless communications to help shape a resilient, reliable grid of the future.