Welcome to EPRI Current – your go-to source for the latest in energy innovation, research, and insights.
Your host, Samantha Gilman, meets with EPRI experts and industry leaders to unpack the energy sector’s most pressing challenges and promising opportunities. Through timely and thought-provoking conversations, the podcast explores critical themes including advanced energy technologies, grid reliability and flexibility, climate adaptation and resilience, the transformative role of artificial intelligence, the evolving economics and policies shaping energy systems, and more.
Whether you're an energy professional, policymaker, or curious listener, the EPRI Current brings you expert perspectives that highlight how innovation and collaboration are powering a more resilient and reliable energy future.
Tune in and be part of the journey as we shape the future of energy—together.
Latest Episodes
From Home Appliance to Grid Asset: The Evolution of Heat Pumps
Host: Samantha Gilman
Guests: Ron Domitrovic, EPRI; Timothy Watts, Carrier Energy
Heat pumps have become one of the most widely discussed technologies for home efficiency and electrification, but their next evolution may be even more transformative. In this week’s episode of EPRI Current, host Samantha Gilman is joined by EPRI’s Ron Domitrovic and Carrier Energy’s Timothy Watts to discuss the next generation of heat pumps and their potential to support both homeowners and the grid.
The discussion explores how technologies such as inverter-driven systems, integrated battery storage, and virtual power plant participation are expanding the role of heat pumps beyond heating and cooling. Drawing on insights from EPRI's ongoing field demonstration, the guests share what they're learning about turning residential HVAC systems into flexible energy resources while keeping customer comfort front and center, and how those learnings can help inform the broader industry's approach to integrating heat pumps as grid resources.
Building a Climate-Ready Grid: Strategies, Technologies, and Investments for a More Resilient Future
Host: Samantha Gilman
Guests: Morgan Scott, EPRI; Faith Davis, Exelon
This week on the EPRI Current, host Samantha Gilman sits down with Morgan Scott, EPRI Vice President of Electrification and Sustainable Energy Strategy, and Faith Davis, who leads Exelon's Climate Change Investment Initiative (2c2i), to discuss how the utility industry is adapting to a rapidly changing landscape.
Together, they explore lessons learned from climate resilience efforts, emerging technologies attracting investment, and the growing role of data, AI, and innovation in planning for future risks. They also examine the intersection of resilience, infrastructure investment, and affordability, and share their vision for how climate-informed planning can help build a more reliable and adaptable energy system in the years ahead.
The episode also explores the impact of EPRI's Climate READi Initiative (https://www.epri.com/research/sectors/readi) which helps establish a consistent, industry-wide approach to assessing climate risk and informing climate-ready planning.
Learn more about Exelon's Climate Change Investment Initiative (2c2i): https://www.exeloncorp.com/community/foundation
Beyond the Drone: How Robotics Are Transforming the Grid
Host: Samantha Gilman
Guests: Dexter Lewis, EPRI; James Pierce, Ameren
How are robotics, drones, and AI reshaping utility operations? In this episode of EPRI Current, host Samantha Gilman speaks with EPRI's Dexter Lewis and Ameren's James Pierce about the growing role of robotics in electric utility inspections, the evolution of drone programs, and the opportunities and challenges ahead as utilities embrace more autonomous operations.
From robotic dogs and underwater inspection vehicles to drones that collect millions of images of grid assets, utilities are expanding the use of robotics to improve safety, reduce costs, and gain deeper insights into infrastructure health. Experts discuss how drone programs have matured from early pilot projects into enterprise-wide operations, including Ameren's extensive asset inspection efforts and pioneering beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flights. They also dive into emerging FAA regulations, the growing need for industry best practices, and the role of AI in transforming massive volumes of inspection data into actionable intelligence. Tune in to hear how utilities are preparing for the next generation of autonomous inspections and digital grid management.
Interested in the topics discussed in this episode? Check out these EPRI resources:
- EPRI Discussing the Notice of Proposed Rule Making for Part 108: Normalizing BVLOS UAS Operations
https://www.epri.com/research/programs/070605/events/ae161182-5208-4d67-82dc-bf529f97263a
- EPRI's Preparing for Part 108 Collaborative Research Project
https://www.epri.com/research/products/000000003002034053
- EPRI's Public Labeled Imagery Dataset Supporting AI Development
https://www.epri.com/thought-leadership/artificial-intelligence/data-sets/3qma0kn43rnn56ualbkmhg
