Rewiring the Grid: The Case for Combined AC/DC Power

Welcome to "Ask The Expert", Silverstone Technology Cluster’s podcast. In each episode, we invite seasoned professionals and industry leaders to share their insights, experiences, and strategies for navigating the complexities of modern business and the advanced engineering landscape.  In this episode, Jeannie is joined by Chris Moller from The Open University to explore an innovative approach to powering modern properties: combining AC and DC electricity in a single supply. Together, we unpack the limitations of today’s systems, why our growing reliance on DC-powered devices is changing the energy landscape, and how this new model could improve efficiency and reduce infrastructure demands.  Chris takes us through how the system works, the role of bi-directional energy flow, and why this idea hasn’t been widely adopted. We also look at how it compares to existing solutions, what it would take to implement at scale, and the real-world implications for cost, materials, and energy transition.    Meet our expert:   Chris Moller is a Cambridge-educated Chartered Engineer, a visiting Fellow at the Open University with 50 years’ experience of electricity systems and digital electronics.  He is active in International Electrical Standards Committees, and is currently managing electricity supply projects running in East and West Africa.    This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠TC Group⁠⁠. TC Group’s an Accountancy Age ‘Top 20’ firm of business advisors and accountants, providing quality financial advice and strategy, enabling you to achieve your business growth goals, safeguard your wealth, and maximise your tax efficiency. Our teams’ experience and expertise mean we understand the challenges and opportunities you face at a local, national, and even international level. We’ll invest time in getting to know you so we can provide proactive and tailored advice, supporting you in making the right decisions both now and in the future. We pride ourselves on offering more than the standard compliance services and straight-forward number crunching. Through our UK-wide network, we offer a multitude of functional accountancy and specialist business growth services along with personal financial solutions and legal advice, providing our clients with a unified “one-stop-shop” approach, saving you both time and money. With TC Group by your side, no matter how complex your financial situation may be, we have the resources and expertise to help you navigate it successfully. Recorded and produced by The Pod Collective.