As society becomes increasingly reliant on uninterrupted connectivity, digital infrastructure, and real-time systems, the stakes for energy resilience continue to rise. From hospitals and server farms to cold storage warehouses and telehealth platforms, modern life depends on systems that cannot afford even a moment of downtime. At New York Energy Week 2025, Jason Rhude, Vice President of AI and Automation at The Sun Company, delivers a clear message: the energy paradigm is shifting—from systems that recover after failure to ones designed never to fail in the first place.
Aging Infrastructure, Modern Expectations
Much of the U.S. power system was built for a different era—one defined by predictable loads, limited digitalization, and centralized distribution. Rhude points out that 70% of transmission lines are over 25 years old, and the grid recently received a D+ rating from the American Society of Civil Engineers. Despite investments, the country still faces a $578 billion shortfall in needed upgrades.
Meanwhile, demand is rising across sectors. Data centers already consume about 3% of global electricity, with U.S. data center demand expected to quadruple by 2030. Cold chain logistics, biotech, precision agriculture, and 24/7 healthcare all contribute to load profiles that today’s infrastructure was never designed to support.
The Costs of Downtime
Rhude emphasizes that the implications of failure are no longer abstract. Power interruptions are not merely inconvenient—they are economically and operationally catastrophic. He cites one Sun Company client, a regional logistics provider, who lost $100,000 in perishable goods during a single blackout. Today, that same partner operates on an intelligent, integrated system combining solar, batteries, and energy management software. Grid outages now go unnoticed by the client—revealed only in post-event system reports.
This is not a backup strategy. It is a business continuity strategy.
IREP: A New Energy Model
At the center of The Sun Company’s approach is the Independent Renewable Energy Power plant (IREP)—a modular, behind-the-meter solution that delivers intelligent, uninterrupted, zero-emission power. Each IREP system is tailored to the specific operational profile of the site, integrating long-duration storage, solar generation, and AI-enabled optimization.
The system’s core platform, Insight Digital Twin, continuously monitors performance, predicts potential issues, and dynamically adjusts operations in real time. It enables precise load shifting and risk prevention, even during high-stress conditions or grid instability.
AI at the Core
Artificial intelligence is not an overlay—it is integral to The Sun Company’s infrastructure. As Rhude explains, the company’s AI models are modeled after large language systems: trained, retrained, and fine-tuned to improve performance and adaptability over time. This learning capability allows each site to become smarter with every deployment, converting near-misses into future forecasts and refining performance across an evolving network.
Whether it’s managing refrigeration zones during peak demand or preemptively shifting power to avoid overloads, the AI system delivers intelligence at the speed of need.
Decentralization as Strategy
Rhude contrasts the centralized energy scaling of countries like China with a different trajectory in the United States—one based on market-driven innovation, decentralization, and operational agility. He describes this as a bottom-up transformation in which companies are no longer waiting for regulatory mandates but are instead building infrastructure that reflects the reality of a 24/7 economy.
By locating generation and storage at the point of use, organizations can reduce exposure to transmission bottlenecks, rate volatility, and systemic vulnerabilities.
Cross-Sector Applications
Although hyperscale data centers are high-profile adopters, the IREP model is being deployed across a wide array of sectors. From grocery chains and restaurants to hospitals and correctional facilities, organizations are looking for resilient systems that ensure uptime—regardless of grid conditions.
The platform is adaptable. It keeps insulin cold in a clinic, oxygen flowing in a critical care unit, or food safe in a logistics hub. In every case, uninterrupted power is no longer a preference—it is a baseline requirement.
Long-Duration Storage and Operational Continuity
Traditional diesel generators and lithium-ion batteries are no longer sufficient for long-duration, mission-critical energy needs. The Sun Company is deploying long-duration flow batteries that provide up to 100 hours of power, with no thermal runaway risk and a modular design suitable for scale.
These systems don’t simply respond to outages—they anticipate them. They are engineered for performance under stress and are manufactured in the United States with resilient supply chains. “This isn’t just backup anymore,” Rhude explains. “It’s backbone.”
Designing for the Future
Rhude outlines three foundational principles that define The Sun Company’s energy architecture:
1. Resilience by Design – Systems must be built to remain operational, not just recover after failure.
2. Decentralization as Infrastructure – Proximity to energy supply enhances security, speed, and affordability.
3. AI as Strategic Capability – Intelligent systems must learn, adapt, and protect operations in real time.
These are not aspirational concepts—they are active design criteria being implemented today.
Readiness at Scale
The shift to intelligent, distributed energy infrastructure is no longer a question of if, but how fast. Rhude makes clear that meeting future demand will require alignment across capital markets, policy frameworks, and public-private partnerships. It’s not about chasing transactions. It’s about building an ecosystem that can scale with resilience, intelligence, and foresight.
He closes with a personal reflection—growing up in a desert city where blackouts were routine. The lesson wasn’t about the loss of power. It was about the quiet reassurance of being prepared. That sentiment now drives his team’s mission.
The work isn’t only about renewables or reliability. It’s about making sure that every critical system—every hospital, data center, farm, or home—is never caught unprepared again.
