Ep 8 How Nature Distributes Energy Reliably

How the US Department of Energy reduced power outage restoration time by about 50% by applying lessons from leaves. Function: Distribute energy reliably during disturbances Biological model: Leaf vein networks Engineering translation: Self-healing electrical networks / FLISR Sources / further reading • Brodribb TJ, Bienaime D, Marmottant P. Revealing catastrophic failure of leaf networks under stress. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2016;113(17):4865–4869. https://share.google/mxCrrVx0PgH7WakAS• Pratt A, Engel D, Jain R, et al. Defining a Use Case for the ADMS Test Bed: Fault Location, Isolation, and Service Restoration. National Renewable Energy Laboratory; 2021. https://share.google/ITI5PCyETYRe897s4• Sack L, Dietrich EM, Streeter CM, Sanchez-Gomez D, Holbrook NM. Leaf palmate venation and vascular redundancy confer tolerance of hydraulic disruption. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2008;105(5):1567–1572. https://share.google/QcJGtjSVPsGM3T8yQ• U.S. Department of Energy. Fault Location, Isolation, and Service Restoration Technologies Reduce Outage Impact and Duration. 2014. https://share.google/9NwdowaQxNDAWrKDg• U.S. Department of Energy. Final Smart Grid Investment Grant Program Report. 2016. https://share.google/1vdJ1eMX6gFfTZ134Image credits • Leaves via Canva• Power station via Canva Written and produced by Melanie Farmer. Podcast: Wild engineers. For learning and inspiration. Music and production completed in Movavi 2026. Please validate any design application for technical use.