Stress Testing the Grid With a Digital Twin (Xcel Energy)

Power grids are shifting from reactive crisis management to proactive simulation and planning. Utilities can now rehearse extreme weather events, wildfire scenarios, and load surges before they happen, fundamentally changing how the grid stays reliable.Alejandro De Diego speaks with Marcus Johansson, Senior Executive - Wildfire Mitigation, Digital Transformation, Grid Modernization at Xcel Energy. The conversation explores how digital twins, virtual replicas of the physical grid, are enabling utilities to run simulations of weather events, wildfire scenarios, and increasing electricity demand. You can watch or listen to new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.Transmission is a Modo Energy production. Your host is Alejandro De Deigo - VP of Insights.Modo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage understand the market — and make the most out of their assets. Want all the latest power market news? Sign up for our free Weekly Dispatch newsletter: https://bit.ly/TheWeeklyDispatchChapters- 00:03 - Introduction- 01:45 - Xcel Energy Overview- 03:05 - Grid Modernization Role- 04:26 - Digital Twin Technology- 05:27 - Analytics vs Simulations- 06:15 - Wildfire Mitigation Strategies- 07:28 - Advanced Metering Infrastructure- 08:13 - Predictive Maintenance Applications- 08:42 - Data Integration Challenges- 10:29 - Distribution Management Systems- 13:17 - AI Load Forecasting- 14:20 - Peak Demand Management- 16:01 - Sustainability Journey- 16:28 - Energy Transition Motivation- 17:10 - Infrastructure Investment Plans- 18:22 - Transmission Focus Areas- 18:58 - Join Xcel Energy- 19:18 - Contrarian Industry Views- 20:11 - Service Orchestration Mindset- 20:44 - Build vs Buy- 21:25 - Future Generation Optimism