0:00

Hello. My name is Laura Beyer. I'm

0:02

the head of brand partnerships at TED. I'm

0:05

also a graduate of Georgetown University's

0:07

McDonough School of Business, where

0:09

I joined a diverse and globally

0:11

connected network of business leaders

0:13

dedicated to building a meaningful legacy.

0:16

My transformative time inside and

0:18

outside the classroom provided me with

0:20

the knowledge and skills to

0:22

address complex issues and identify new

0:24

opportunities in the workplace. I

0:26

engaged with the Georgetown community in

0:28

ways that sharpened my strategic,

0:30

analytical, and communication skills while grounded

0:32

in a values -based approach to

0:34

business. I'm now connected with

0:37

accomplished alumni who support one

0:39

another's personal and professional journeys. When

0:41

I finished my master's program,

0:43

I was ready to excel in

0:45

business and make an impact

0:47

on society, which I've been able

0:49

to accomplish here at TED.

0:51

You can earn a master's degree

0:53

that fits your future. Build

0:55

your legacy with Georgetown McDonough. Visit

0:57

MSB .Georgetown .edu. As

1:00

a Don't

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a vibrant blend of old

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I was eager to be

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recent homeowners like myself poured

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was clearly struggling to keep

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3:50

in a rapidly developing city, that

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failure can have a significant impact,

3:55

not just on the community, but

3:57

on your daily life. This

4:00

is Ted Tech, a podcast from

4:02

the TED Audio Collective. I'm

4:04

your host, Cheryl Dorsey. Today,

4:06

we're tackling something fundamental, something

4:08

we often take for granted.

4:10

The very wires that power

4:12

our lives. But here's a

4:14

question that's been nagging at

4:16

me, and likely many of

4:19

you. In a world of

4:21

rapid technological advancement, why are we

4:23

still relying on power grid technology

4:25

that's over a century old? In

4:28

the age of 5G, something is

4:30

a miss. Our speaker today is

4:32

material scientist Jason

4:35

Huang. Jason is the

4:37

co-founder of TS Conductor,

4:39

and his company is

4:41

working to create more

4:44

efficient power transmission technology.

4:46

He illuminates our existing

4:48

energy paradox and offers

4:50

a compelling solution. He's

4:53

not just talking about

4:55

incremental improvements. He's proposing

4:57

a radical upgrade to

4:59

our global power grid.

5:02

Imagine tripling the capacity

5:04

of existing transmission lines,

5:06

slashing energy loss

5:09

in half, and doing it

5:11

all while saving money.

5:13

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a quick break to

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is sponsored by Vanta. Whether

6:20

you're a startup founder navigating

6:22

your first audit, or a

6:25

seasoned security professional scaling your

6:27

GRC program, proving your commitment

6:29

to security has never been

6:31

more critical, or more complex.

6:33

That's where Vanta comes in.

6:35

Businesses use Vanta to establish

6:37

trust by automating compliance needs

6:39

across over 35 frameworks like

6:41

SOC II and ISO 27001,

6:43

centralized security workflows. complete questionnaires

6:45

up to five times faster

6:47

and proactively manage vendor risk.

6:50

Vanta can help you start or scale

6:52

your security program by connecting you with

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auditors and experts to conduct your audit

6:57

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7:10

That's vanta.com/TED Tech for

7:12

$1,000 off. Hello, my

7:15

name is Laura Beyer. I'm

7:17

the head of brand partnerships

7:19

at TED. I'm also a

7:22

graduate of Georgetown University's

7:24

McDonough School of Business,

7:26

where I joined a diverse

7:28

and globally connected network of

7:30

business dedicated to building a

7:33

meaningful legacy. My transformative time

7:35

inside and outside the classroom

7:37

provided me with the knowledge

7:39

and skills to address complex

7:41

issues and identify new opportunities

7:43

in the workplace. I engaged

7:45

with the Georgetown community in

7:47

ways that sharpened my strategic

7:49

analytical and communication skills. Full

7:52

grounded in a values-based approach

7:54

to business. I'm now connected

7:56

with accomplished alumni who support

7:58

one another's personal and personal.

8:00

professional journeys. When I finished my

8:02

master's program, I was ready to

8:04

excel in business and make an

8:07

impact on society, which I've been

8:09

able to accomplish here at TED.

8:11

You can earn a master's degree

8:13

that fits your future. Build your

8:15

legacy with Georgetown McDonough. Visit MSB.

8:17

Georgetown. edu slash TED. And

8:29

now, Jason Huang takes

8:32

the TED stage. One

8:34

of the greatest inventions

8:36

of all times is

8:39

our transmission and distribution

8:41

grid. It connects electricity

8:43

generation to electricity consumption

8:46

safely, reliably, resilient against

8:48

extreme weather conditions and

8:50

keep our lights on.

8:53

But if we were

8:55

to facilitate electrification of

8:57

everything... This most

9:00

sophisticated and largest machine or

9:02

earth is not quite large

9:04

enough to take on all

9:06

the renewable generations from where

9:09

the sun shines and the

9:11

wind blows to where people

9:13

actually live. It does not

9:16

have the capacity to handle

9:18

the two-third energy that we

9:20

consume, not yet in the

9:23

form of electricity. Without transmission,

9:25

we have no transition. The

9:27

real bottleneck in our power

9:30

grid is actually the conductors.

9:32

Those wires that are carrying

9:34

electron are based on outdated

9:37

technology invented in 1908. It

9:39

has limited capacity and also

9:41

poor efficiency. The next generation

9:43

of advanced conductor exists. It

9:46

has been invented, leveraging the

9:48

best material science today has

9:50

offered to build the best

9:53

material science today has offered

9:55

to build the best conductors.

9:58

This is what the

10:00

company I co-founded, TS

10:03

Conductor, is working on.

10:05

It can triple line

10:07

capacity at the same

10:09

time reduce line loss

10:11

by 50%. The best

10:13

part is it comes

10:15

with a green discount,

10:17

saving utility and their

10:19

customers' money from day

10:22

one. There are many

10:24

things in our lives

10:26

that are over 100

10:28

years old. So why

10:30

are we still using

10:32

and relying on those

10:34

old-fashioned? power lines. This

10:36

is because our utility

10:38

companies are regulated monopolies

10:41

with a very conservative

10:43

culture. To understand today's

10:45

advanced conductor, let's take

10:47

a look at yesterday's

10:49

wires. The original century-old

10:51

technology, ACSR conductor, which

10:53

is still dominant today

10:55

in our power grid,

10:57

it has still as

11:00

a core for structural

11:02

support in layers of

11:04

aluminum for electrical connectivity.

11:06

The steel wire at

11:08

the time, 100 years

11:10

ago that is, wasn't

11:12

strong enough. So we

11:14

had to use hard

11:16

aluminum for strength contribution.

11:19

The problem is hard

11:21

aluminum cannot handle high

11:23

temperature. This limits capacity.

11:25

In the 1970s, our

11:27

steel industry was able

11:29

to deliver stronger steel,

11:31

which then can be

11:33

combined with a nealed

11:35

aluminum that forms the

11:38

ACSS conductor, which is

11:40

capable of high temperature

11:42

operation for high impacity.

11:44

The problem is, still

11:46

expands when hot. This

11:48

causes excessive sagging. You

11:50

probably have noticed that

11:52

our power lines drooping

11:54

in a hot summer

11:57

day, and that's why.

11:59

causes the own set

12:01

of challenges. In the

12:03

1990s, advanced conductor emerged.

12:05

Instead of the steel

12:07

core in the traditional

12:09

conductors, composite material with

12:11

lower summer expansion, such

12:13

as ceramic fiber composite

12:16

or glass carbon fiber

12:18

composite, are used to

12:20

replace steel and reduce

12:22

sag. Unfortunately, our utility

12:24

industry experience with this

12:26

group of first-generation advanced

12:28

advanced They are known

12:30

to be delicate, difficult

12:32

to work with, easy

12:35

to break, with longevity

12:37

concerns, and they are

12:39

also very expensive used

12:41

for niche applications at

12:43

best. By 2016, TS

12:45

technology was developed and

12:47

commercially deployed. We solved

12:49

all the problems associated

12:51

with the first-generation advanced

12:54

conductor at its source.

12:56

We designed in safety.

12:58

reliability, longevity, easy installation

13:00

and maintenance from the

13:02

start, by leveraging effective

13:04

protection for the pretension

13:06

carbon core with a

13:08

continuous simulus, a thick

13:10

aluminum sleeve that is

13:13

also fully conductive. This

13:15

technology shifted three conductor

13:17

paradigms. We can run

13:19

these conductor. at high

13:21

temperature for a very

13:23

high impacity, without conductor

13:25

sagging problem. Because the

13:27

carbon core has virtually

13:29

no solar expansion. We

13:32

also maximize the aluminum

13:34

content in the conductor

13:36

for optimal impacity, without

13:38

the weight penalty in

13:40

the conductor. This is

13:42

because the carbon composite

13:44

core was able to

13:46

eliminate 80% of the

13:48

weight of steel. we

13:51

can also incorporate the

13:53

annealed aluminum for best

13:55

conductivity in the conductor

13:57

without... compromising on conductor's

13:59

strengths, because the carbon

14:01

core is twice the

14:03

strength of steel. And

14:05

furthermore, this solution is

14:07

also corrosion-proof. The heat-tolerant,

14:10

sag-proof feature in this

14:12

solution makes it much

14:14

better in terms of

14:16

surviving wildfires compared to

14:18

traditional conductor. The strong

14:20

and compact design also

14:22

makes it more resilient.

14:24

against the extreme wind

14:26

or ice storms due

14:29

to climate change. Doing

14:31

this, we can triple

14:33

line capacity with the

14:35

same structure in the

14:37

power-line corridors. At the

14:39

same time, we can

14:41

reduce line loss by

14:43

50% while essentially eliminating

14:45

somers act. And the

14:48

best part is this

14:50

technology comes with a

14:52

green discount in addition

14:54

to green dividend that's

14:56

associated with line loss

14:58

reduction. This saves the

15:00

grid operators and their

15:02

customers money from day

15:04

one, even though this

15:07

advanced conductor has a

15:09

modest premium compared to

15:11

traditional conductors. Here's how.

15:13

When you build new

15:15

transmission lines, the cost

15:17

of conductor in the

15:19

overall project is very

15:21

minor, about a few

15:23

percentage points. but the

15:26

cost associated with structure

15:28

can be as much

15:30

as 30 percent. With

15:32

the strong, less-sag T.S.

15:34

conductor, you can build

15:36

these new lines with

15:38

fewer and shorter structure,

15:40

creating substantial capital X-7s

15:42

that more than offset

15:45

the modest premium associated

15:47

with conductors. There are

15:49

numerous new transmission lines

15:51

deploying TES technology. that

15:53

can prove this point.

15:55

In reconductoring, we replace

15:57

the wire, but the

16:00

towers. There's even better

16:02

economics in that situation.

16:04

We can triple the

16:07

line capacity without retrofitting

16:09

any structures for the

16:11

lowest project cost. If

16:13

you were to use

16:15

traditional conductor for reconductoring,

16:17

the required upgrade to

16:19

the structure can be

16:22

substantial. Let me give

16:24

you a real-world example.

16:26

In March 2021. we

16:28

reconducted a 11-mile 230KV

16:30

transmission line in North

16:32

Dakota. The utility needed

16:35

to increase line capacity

16:37

to accommodate wind farms

16:39

in the area. So

16:41

the traditional conductor ACSS

16:43

was initially used, which

16:45

required expensive and time-consuming

16:48

structural retrofit to 90%

16:50

of the structures because

16:52

of excessive sagging. When

16:54

the later switched to

16:56

TS solution, they were

16:58

able to save 40%

17:01

in total project cap-ex,

17:03

because we avoided all

17:05

the structural retrofit. The

17:07

project was completed 12

17:09

months ahead of schedule

17:11

with 1.8 million dollars

17:14

cap-ex savings. Let's imagine

17:16

what is possible if

17:18

we thus upgraded our

17:20

power grid and its

17:22

capacity around the world.

17:24

We could connect. the

17:26

renewable generation instantly versus

17:29

the years-long wait that

17:31

we're experiencing today. No

17:33

more bottlenecks that's holding

17:35

back, ring or solar

17:37

projects. We can electrify

17:39

everything and meet the

17:42

growing power demand for

17:44

electric vehicles, heat pumps,

17:46

industrial process and data

17:48

centers, without great reliability.

17:50

or transmission constraints. Here's

17:52

a big one. We

17:55

can dramatically. reduce greenhouse

17:57

gas emissions, just with

17:59

the reduced line loss

18:01

saving alone, we can

18:03

avoid as much as

18:05

500 million ton of

18:08

greenhouse gas each year,

18:10

because we do not

18:12

have to do as

18:14

much compensatory generation. Add

18:16

to that the multi-

18:18

gigaton opportunity if we

18:21

are able to connect

18:23

so much more solar

18:25

and a wind to

18:27

the world's power grid.

18:30

you can make it happen.

18:32

For example, you can

18:34

support legislation, policy-making, and regulations

18:37

that require our utility companies

18:39

to consider advanced conductor in

18:42

transmission, reliability, decarbonization, or

18:44

grid modernization planning, while at

18:47

the same time providing performance

18:49

or other incentives that

18:51

are enabled by new technology

18:54

like TS. so that they

18:56

can improve grid performance by

18:59

investing in this technology. Conductors

19:01

has a design life of

19:04

50 to 70 years. Let's

19:06

upgrade our power grid,

19:08

build it better for a

19:11

clean energy future today. We

19:13

cannot afford to have

19:15

another 50 to 70 years

19:18

locked up with century-old technology

19:20

in our power grid. I

19:23

believe firmly that Our power

19:25

grid can and should be

19:28

the enabler for energy transition.

19:30

We have an opportunity

19:32

to write that legacy. We

19:35

went from dire up internet

19:37

to 5G in a

19:39

couple of decades. We can

19:42

do the same for our

19:44

power grid. We just need

19:47

to start now with the

19:49

right conductor technology available today.

19:52

Together, we can make a

19:54

difference for humanity and

19:56

for climate change. Thank you.

20:02

That was Jason Huang at

20:04

TED Countdown's 2024 dilemma event

20:06

in Brussels. In 2024, the

20:08

White House announced efforts to

20:10

improve grid modernization, citing the

20:13

need for cleaner and stored

20:15

solar energy as critical factors

20:17

for increasing efficiency. Later that

20:19

year, $13 million were earmarked

20:21

for additional projects with funding

20:24

out of the Inflation Reduction

20:26

Act. These recent efforts and

20:28

related projects are under review

20:30

amid changes in the Trump

20:32

administration, but the issue still

20:35

stands. Updating our grid isn't

20:37

just about technical specs. It's

20:39

about overcoming the inertia of

20:41

regulated monopolies and the inherent

20:43

conservatism of the utility industry.

20:45

It's about how innovation... Even

20:48

when it's clearly beneficial, faces

20:50

hurdles when applied in the

20:52

real world. And it's about

20:54

the urgent need to modernize

20:56

our grid to meet the

20:59

rising energy demands of a

21:01

rapidly electrifying planet. Jason Huang's

21:03

talk is a powerful reminder

21:05

that progress isn't just about

21:07

flashy new gadgets. It's about

21:10

upgrading the fundamental systems that

21:12

underpin our lives, and the

21:14

exciting part is we have

21:16

the tools to do it.

21:18

These advanced conductors aren't just

21:21

a technological marvel. They're a

21:23

tangible opportunity to build a

21:25

more resilient, sustainable future. By

21:27

supporting policies that prioritize grid

21:29

modernization and embracing innovative solutions,

21:32

we can all play a

21:34

part in powering a brighter

21:36

tomorrow. It's not just about

21:38

keeping the lights on. It's

21:40

about illuminating a path towards

21:42

a cleaner, more equitable world.

21:45

And that's it for today.

21:47

TED Tech is part of

21:49

the TED Audio Collective. This

21:51

episode was produced by Nina

21:53

Bird Lawrence, edited by Alejandro

21:56

Salazar, and fact-check by Julia

21:58

Dickerson. Special thanks to Maria

22:00

Latias. Dr. Catherine Saunders is

22:02

a leading obesity specialist at

22:04

Wailash. I'm Cheryl Dorsey. Thanks

22:07

for listening. Dr. Catherine Saunders

22:09

is a leading obesity specialist

22:11

at Wail Cornell Medicine and

22:13

co-founder of Flight Health. a

22:15

software and clinical services company

22:18

democratizing access to medical obesity

22:20

care. One of her goals

22:22

as a physician is to

22:24

create a long-term relationship with

22:26

her patients and breakdown stigma

22:28

surrounding obesity. She recently sat

22:31

down with one of her

22:33

patients, Barbara, to talk about

22:35

what an empathy and science-based

22:37

approach to health care actually

22:39

looks like. I really battled

22:42

obesity and I have been

22:44

battling it my entire life.

22:46

In 2010, I weighed about

22:48

340 pounds. I had a

22:50

Ruhan Y bypass. I probably

22:53

lost about 150 pounds, and

22:55

I felt pretty good. But

22:57

my weight gradually began to

22:59

creep up. I went back

23:01

to my bariatric surgeon. I

23:04

was looking for help. He

23:06

looked me straight in the

23:08

eye. He was very blunt,

23:10

and he said, go see

23:12

Dr. Catherine Saunders. We talk

23:15

a lot about how it's

23:17

so important in this field

23:19

of medicine to have a

23:21

good partnership between the patient

23:23

and the care team against

23:25

the disease. Especially in the

23:28

field of obesity medicine, it's

23:30

so critical that we as

23:32

health care providers listen to

23:34

our patients. They've heard from

23:36

so many other health care

23:39

providers, oh, just eat less

23:41

and exercise more, just go

23:43

off and lose weight. It's

23:45

a long-term relationship where there

23:47

has to be trust. And

23:50

when that happens, I want

23:52

you to contact me immediately.

23:54

The fact that you gave

23:56

me that permission, it was

23:58

almost like that. me against

24:01

failure. Yeah, it's so much

24:03

better for us to understand

24:05

early what's going on. We

24:07

have to be detectives and

24:09

we can very often pinpoint

24:12

what it is. Yeah, Dr.

24:14

Saunders, you probably remember the

24:16

time I came to you

24:18

and I said, I've started

24:20

eating in the middle of

24:22

the night and I have

24:25

no idea why I was

24:27

flabbergasted. We talked and came

24:29

up with a plan. Yeah,

24:31

and it's my job to

24:33

figure out why is this

24:36

happening, what's not working. I

24:38

think we adjusted the timing

24:40

of one of your medications

24:42

to cover nighttime better. When

24:44

you reached your health goals,

24:47

we decided to transition from

24:49

the phase of weight loss

24:51

to the phase of weight

24:53

maintenance. We recognized at that

24:55

point that your prediabetes was

24:58

gone. your blood pressure was

25:00

in the normal range and

25:02

all of the health complications

25:04

that were associated with your

25:06

higher weight were improved or

25:09

gone. That was really exciting.

25:11

You allow yourself as a

25:13

patient to start to think

25:15

about what that means for

25:17

your life. I realized that

25:19

I didn't fear being around

25:22

food anymore. It's really important

25:24

for people to understand that

25:26

what they are struggling with

25:28

is not their faults, and

25:30

there are effective treatment plans.

25:33

Hearing stories like Barbara can

25:35

change so many lives. If

25:37

obesity was just about willpower,

25:39

losing weight and keeping it

25:41

off would be simple. Novonordis

25:44

is committed to driving change

25:46

to defeat serious chronic diseases.

25:48

Learn more about our mission

25:50

to defeat obesity at novonortes.com.

25:52

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