The world is in the midst of an energy transition, as we move away from fossil fuels and towards cleaner, renewable sources of energy. This transition is putting a strain on our electrical grid, which is not designed to handle the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources. As a result, we need to build more electrical transmission and distribution (T&D) infrastructure.

However, building new T&D infrastructure is expensive and time-consuming. It can also be disruptive to communities and the environment. So, how can we reduce the amount of new lines we need to build?

There are a number of ways that technology and smarter design can help us to reduce the amount of new lines we need to build. For example, we can use smart grid technologies to improve the efficiency of our existing infrastructure. We can also use new technologies, such as distributed energy resources (DERs), to generate and store energy closer to where it is needed.

DERs, such as solar panels and batteries, can help to reduce the need for new transmission lines by providing local generation and storage. This can help to improve reliability and reduce costs. DERs can also help to make our grid more resilient to outages and cyberattacks.

In addition to DERs, we can also use new technologies, such as microgrids, to reduce the need for new transmission lines. Microgrids are small, self-contained grids that can operate independently of the main grid. This can be useful in areas that are prone to outages or that are located far from the main grid.

By using technology and smarter design, we can reduce the amount of new lines we need to build while still supporting the energy transition. This will help to save money, reduce environmental impacts, and make our grid more reliable and resilient.

Here are some additional benefits of using technology and smarter design to reduce the amount of new T&D infrastructure we need to build:

• Improved reliability: improving the reliability of our electrical grid by making it more resilient to outages and cyberattacks.

• Reduced costs: reducing the costs of building and operating our electrical grid.

• Increased efficiency: increasing the efficiency of our electrical grid by reducing energy losses.

• Improved environmental performance: improving the environmental performance of our electrical grid by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants.

By using technology and smarter design, we can make our electrical grid more reliable, efficient, and environmentally friendly. This will help us to support the energy transition and meet our climate goals.