The other day I introduced the word exaptation–or the idea that an innovative in one area can lead to an unexpected discovery in another field. Because I speak frequently to executives and leaders in the energy sector, I would now like to provide a concrete example of exaptation for the utility industry: Advances in battery technology will lead to radical new capacities in the ability to storage energy.
This advance will then facilitate the growth of intermittent renewable energy sources such as wind power and solar power because businesses and individuals will now be able to store the power generated on windy days and use it on non-windy days as well as store the solar energy generated during the day and use it at night. These advances, in turn, will mean that energy customers will soon become energy producers and the entire business model of the utility industry will be disrupted.
Remember exaptation requires adaptation! In this case, advances in battery technology will lead to new business models for the utility industry.
