Chapter 3: Distributed, networked infrastructures

Solar panels and battery technology have changed the way we generate, store and view energy. As a result, people are rather easily able to take themselves “off grid”. As we move forward, it appears that a similar model may be applied to water and waste.

If we take this a step further, we may be able to link this “micro” energy, water and agricultural infrastructure with systems software, creating distributed, networked infrastructure that consist of large and small-scale hubs. This balanced approach surpasses a one-size-fits-all style, which is increasingly less appropriate in the face of uncertainty.

This large-scale innovation is a challenge, but disruptive changes such as the rise of Uber have shown that market fundamentals can change quickly.

The question is simple: will new thinking, business models and technologies, such as high efficiency micro-solar panels, battery storage and novel generation systems drive a revolution in energy production and localised distribution for cities, local communities, households and businesses?