Strengthening Power Systems: Resilience, Sustainability, Security, and Investment Priorities

Power systems face escalating risks from aging infrastructure, extreme weather, cyber and physical threats, increased electrification, and shifting energy demands. Recent failures expose these vulnerabilities. In 2021, severe winter storms in Texas froze pipelines and shut down plants: Over 4.5 million people lost power, 246 died, and damages reached $195 billion. Between 2019 and 2023, wildfires and heatwaves in California triggered rolling blackouts. In 2023, winter storms in Quebec knocked out power for over a million. Europe’s 2022-2023 energy shortages, driven by geopolitical tensions, led to blackouts and supply restrictions. These are just a few examples.
Cyber and physical attacks continue to threaten power systems. In 2015 and 2016, cyberattacks in Ukraine cut power to over 230,000. Since 2022, multi-pronged attacks have destroyed generation plants, reduced capacity, and forced the grid into emergency protocols. Blackouts are common, exposing the vulnerability of centralized systems during conflict.
Failures happen fast. Recovery is slow. Resilience requires decisive action. Modernizing grids with smart technologies can reduce outage durations by 20% (EPRI, 2024). Decentralizing through microgrids adds redundancy—by 2025, 15% of urban areas will rely on them (IEA, 2025). Predictive maintenance using AI has cut transformer downtime from months to less than a week (DOE, 2024). AI-driven cybersecurity has reduced threat response times by up to 70% (DHS, 2025). Energy storage systems help balance supply and demand, particularly during peak loads, while advanced demand response systems increase grid flexibility and reduce stress during surges.
However, resilience is not only about technology. It requires robust supply chains for critical components like transformers, semiconductors, and storage technologies. It depends on understanding the interdependencies between power, water, transportation, and telecommunications systems, where a failure in one sector can cascade into others. Investment strategies must prioritize scalable, climate-adaptive infrastructure while ensuring equitable access for underserved communities. Public-private partnerships will be essential to fund and drive these transformations, while policy frameworks must incentivize innovation, sustainability, and resilience.
Data integration and AI will be central to optimizing grid efficiency, identifying vulnerabilities, and guiding proactive interventions. Global benchmarking can also provide insights from regions advancing resilience—lessons that can be applied to diverse infrastructure contexts.
For IEEE Young Professionals, the challenge is to design, implement, and advocate for these solutions. It means advancing technical expertise, engaging with policymakers, and promoting investments that ensure sector resilience. This session will present real-world examples, data-driven strategies, and practical frameworks for strengthening power infrastructure resilience. It will outline steps to build robust, adaptive systems across interdependent sectors, regions, nations, and global networks.
Speaker(s): Dr. Massoud Amin
Agenda:
– Introduction (5 minutes)
– Key Note by Dr. Masood Amin – (45 minutes)
– Q&A (10 minutes)
Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/478409