Future of the Smart Grid

Technologies exhibit trends that allow us to anticipate innovation far beyond the limited smart-grid horizon. A few core themes are smaller scale power and energy generation and management (including nanogrids), development of power system information theory, greater ease and flexibility in power transmission (including wireless power transmission), the ability to harness power from geomagnetic storms, and the integration of quantum phenomena with the power grid (including quantum communication, computation and energy teleportation). Power system information theory enables Maxwell's demon within the power grid, opening new possibilities for power and energy. Nanoscale communication networks are discussed for future nanogrids. On the opposite extreme, space-based power generation is also explored.