TUNE IN! Exploring the Future of Utility Innovation and Evolution with Aron Patrick, Head of PPL's R&D, on the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast

Aron Patrick, Head of R&D at the PPL Corporation, joins the Energy Central Power Perspective Podcast to dive deep into the dynamic world of utility innovation. The grid of the future is being talked about more than ever, but the challenges of the present day are becoming increasingly prevalent. The grid of the future is being talked about more than ever, but the challenges of the present day are becoming increasingly prevalent. Balancing looking forward with managing today is no small feat for utilities who must, at all costs, keep the light on, but increasingly the world of utility R&D is getting dedicated departments and leaders.

That's where forward-thinkers like Aron come in, and in this episode of the podcast Aron guides the listener through the intricacies of managing nearly 150 active R&D projects at once while discovering pivotal strategies to fuel PPL's drive for clean, reliable, and affordable energy. Listen in as Aron unravels the PPL approach to the energy transition through partnerships, technology development, and merging tradition with modern solutions. As he notes during this episode:

"The vast majority of the research we do here at PPL is actually funded by federal research grants. But you're right, we're not working on those grants alone. It's all about partnership. We believe that to be truly successful in R&D requires strong partnerships. So we've built a strong network of public private research partnerships that have so far been very, very successful at securing federal funding and meeting our research objectives. So it's really with the universities that we're building a research triangle of sorts with the colleges of engineering at three of our key partner schools in three of the states we serve. We're working with the University of Rhode Island, the University of Kentucky, and Penn State University. These public private partnerships are really the key to our R&D strategy. These public universities, they bring the top talent, they bring cutting edge technology, research laboratory, and a mission to serve the public. We also have a mission to serve the public, but we're bringing real world problems and real world data to the universities."

This entry into the podcasts, like all of the series episodes, can be found on all major podcast outlets, including iTunes and Spotify, or it can be listened to directly on the Energy Central platform (where we also feature a written transcription if you'd prefer to read). Give it a listen and share your reaction in the comments.

Episode #137: 'Turning Innovative Ideas into Practical Utility Solutions' with Aron Patrick, Head of R&D at PPL Corporation [an Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast]

About Energy Central Podcast Series:

The 'Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast' Series features conversations with thought leaders in the utility sector. At least twice monthly, we'll connect with a Power Industry Leader to discuss compelling topics that impact utility professionals. Some podcasts may be a continuation of thought-provoking posts or discussions started in the community by an Energy Central Community Member. Others may be with an industry leader interested in sharing their expertise and doing a deeper dive into hot topics or issues relevant to the industry.

If you want to be a guest on a future episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast, let us know! We'll be pulling guests from our community members who submit engaging content that gets our community talking, and perhaps that next guest will be you! Likewise, if you see an article submitted by a fellow Energy Central community member that you'd like to hear about in more detail, feel free to send us a note to nominate them. To contact us, email community@energycentral.com. Podcast interviews are free for Expert Members and professionals who work for a utility. We have package offers available for solution providers and vendors.

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