Why USB Ports Could Be the Power Outlets of the (Very Near) Future

USB Power Outlets

There's a lot to love about USB. The plugs are small and convenient. The cable can carry both power and data. Plus, USB is, well, universal. This is why USB is considered by some to be the future of electricity. Smart grids, more convenient storage, solar power—according to a new Economist report it's all easier with USB.

The latest issue The Economist takes a close look at the future of USB and suggests that the little plug you now use to charge your phone or plug in your keyboard could replace conventional power outlets altogether. We're already seeing a whole host of smaller USB-powered devices—from heaters to blenders—but USB will be able to power much bigger devices starting next year when a new standard is introduced. Imagine the convenience of a USB-powered TV that uses the same plug for power as it does for data.

The real excitement comes in when you imagine the possibilities of an entire network of USB devices, including those that produce and store electricity. For one thing, a USB-based DC network could be more environmentally friendly than AC. From The Economist:

Zoom out even further, and imagine connecting these DC networks to each other. It could produce a whole new kind of power grid, one that's not always on like our current AC network. The Economist again:

The next big step for the USB standard is the introduction of USB Power Delivery or USB PD systems. While USB PD devices will start to hit the market next year, it'll hit primetime in 2015, and the specs speak for themselves. USB PD increases power the standard's power level to 100-watts and enables electricity to flow in both directions. It's also tailored to optimizing power usage, giving each device exactly the amount of electricity it needs.
As for the question of replacing the sockets on your walls, we're well on our way. You can already easily install USB ports in your house, and it could become standard on new houses. To convert our whole power grid from AC to DC is obviously a much bigger challenge, but it's already starting to happen with most data centers using DC power. Meanwhile, Nikola Tesla's turning over in his grave.