In both computing and electrical power there's a tension between localization and centralization. As the technology evolves, the relative trade-offs shift. Righ

In both computing and electrical power there's a tension between localization and centralization. As the technology evolves, the relative trade-offs shift. Right now, the rapid development of ever-higher-bandwidth connections tends to favor centralization of computing power (though there's still good reason for a lot of it to be localized in the laptop and cellphone). With electrical power, the economics have long been mostly in favor of centralization. This started shifting a little with the development of ever-cheaper solar panels, and would shift a lot more were any sort of effective localized power storage possible. And unlike bits, there is a transmission loss for watts. Though I'm dubious that this technology will ever see the market. When it's for sale to the consumer, then I'll know it's real.