In 2021, a severe snowstorm hit Texas. When it did, the state’s isolated grid could not access surplus power from neighbouring regions, leaving 4.5 million homes and businesses without electricity. To understand why, one has to know that the U.S. electrical grid comprises three major interconnections: the Eastern Interconnection, the Western Interconnection, and the independent Texas Interconnection. Local grids within these zones are connected, but links between the three major zones are minimal. Reducing efficient use of energy and leaving grids vulnerable to outages. However, the growing number of extreme weather events is just one of many reasons highlighting the need for a Supergrid. Using novel grid technologies for long-distance bulk power transmission, a Supergrid can connect the most optimal large-scale renewable energy sources to major demand centres and enable more efficient energy trading. Overcoming the limitations of existing infrastructure and potentially linking continents, the idea is based on two key facts. First, the ongoing shift to decentralized, renewable energy sources has moved production away from demand centers to regions where geography and weather allow efficient generation. Second, renewables often work symbiotically.

Full opinion : Why United States should invest in energy technology and build a supergrid of its own.