The United States has worked for many years to centralize its infrastructure, from sprawling power grids to extensive pipeline networks. However, as technological innovation has accelerated, the ability and effectiveness of centralizing our infrastructure has seen diminishing marginal returns. Rebuilding entire new systems for emerging technologies can be impractical and costly, yet there are ways to scale up new innovations without such massive-scale projects as the Hoover Dam, the railroad network, or the Interstate System. We must re-frame our thinking away from solely massive billion-dollar infrastructure projects, and instead examine an alternative: distributed infrastructure.
Distributed infrastructure solutions are most closely associated with computing and data management, where a distributed network of computers work together for calculations and storage instead of a single, centralized computer. However, the concepts of distributed computing can be applied to other infrastructure solutions.
Modular Hydrogen
A good example of how distributed infrastructure can advance innovation is with hydrogen. Hydrogen is a highly sought-after, clean alternative to natural gas. Billions of dollars were set aside by the federal government to develop regional “Hydrogen Hubs” across the country. To develop these hubs, thousands of miles of pipelines and dozens of production facilities, along with new high-voltage transmission infrastructure, would need to be built, taking decades to fully construct.
A centralized approach may take advantage of economies of scale, but it also lacks adaptability and can work itself into a corner. If it takes a decade to construct a hydrogen hub, it may be unable to take advantage of newer hydrogen technology, which is currently developing at a rapid pace. Many low-carbon forms of hydrogen production utilize natural gas, which already flows to facilities that utilize it for process heating and energy. In other words, the needed gas is already being distributed through existing infrastructure.
Instead of building new, expensive hydrogen pipelines, utilize the already-existing natural gas pipelines, innovators can produce hydrogen on-site. Multiple methods of low-carbon hydrogen production have already been developed into small, modular designs. By pursuing a distributed hydrogen strategy, new construction is minimized and hydrogen decarbonization solutions can be deployed much more quickly.
Rooftop Solar
Hydrogen is not the only part of the energy sector that sees benefit from distributed production. Distributed solar is a method of energy generation that can improve grid resiliency and decrease costs. Most often known as Rooftop solar, this distributed solar solution generates power at its point of use and spread across tens of thousands of sources, ultimately decreasing strain on the central power generation in the form of lower demand on the grid. While rooftop solar has undergone various booms and busts because of oversupply and decreasing demand, the fact is that it has still improved grid resiliency. Spreading out generation across various homes and businesses has increased overall energy capacity without increasing land-use and large-scale facility build-outs.
While solar energy still suffers from intermittency, this is a feature of all solar. Rooftop solar reduces the risk of this by not usurping land or other highest-value resources uses and simply allows existing infrastructure to diminish its power demand by generating some locally. Distributed solar may not the generational catalyst for power generation, but it is an effective supplement to large-scale electricity generation platforms, and may be the best way to utilize solar power in the overall electricity mix.
Fiber Optic Sensing
Safety is of paramount importance for infrastructure. Pipeline leaks, blackouts, water main breaks, and other accidents can cause major economic and personal harm to Americans. One of the ways we can prevent these incidents is with smart technology and advanced sensor systems, and there is no solution more efficient than distributed fiber optic sensing. Fiber optics are a big part of the telecommunications network, and are the backbone of the internet. With fiber optic sensing the fiber already in the ground can be leveraged for multiple benefits beyond sending internet information down the cable. In fact, fiber optic sensing allows asset owners and operators to gain real-time insight into pressure, temperature, strain, acoustics, and more taking place in the environment. Put simply, any external event occurring in the vicinity of a fiber optic cable can be detected, interpreted, and the owner informed – including vehicle movements, construction activity, pipeline leaks, weather events, and more.
Unlike traditional sensors, which collect data at discrete points, fiber optic sensors can continuously monitor an entire fiber’s length. Distributed fiber optic sensing is the idea of using existing fiber optic networks, which are already widespread, to monitor roads, pipelines, power grids, railways, and more. The existing network can be used as an efficient way to ensure safety and detect disturbances, and uses minimal energy.
Not all types of infrastructure or new development is suited for this deployment, and centralized systems have significant advantages in many cases. However, the strategic approach of distributed infrastructure systems should be applied when possible to maximize adaptability and resilience. Instead of being boxed in by centralized thinking, we can leverage existing networks and develop modular innovations that accelerate deployment and reduce costs. From energy production to public safety, a decentralized approach offers practical solutions that allow for greater flexibility in a constantly evolving world.
Written by Owen Rogers, Policy Fellow
The Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure (Aii) is an independent, national research and educational organization working to advance innovation across industry and public policy. The only nationwide public policy think tank dedicated to infrastructure, Aii explores the intersection of economics, law, and public policy in the areas of climate, damage prevention, eminent domain, energy, infrastructure, innovation, technology, and transportation.