Erick Aguilera

Global Challenge: The Electrical Infrastructure Gap

Abstract:

The power grids delivering electricity to homes, hospitals, and businesses were built for a world that no longer exists. Designed around stable demand and centralized fossil fuel generation, these systems are now being pushed beyond their limits by data centers, electric vehicles, and rapidly growing cities.

The result is a straightforward but serious problem: infrastructure that cannot keep up with the world it is supposed to power. My paper examines that gap and explores how smart grid technology, renewable energy integration, and long-term infrastructure planning can build more resilient power networks. Drawing on my electrical engineering education, two summers as a Field Service Engineer at Eaton Corporation, and firsthand observations across several countries, I argue that this is not just a technical problem. When grids fail, the consequences land hardest on the people with the least protection: hospitals lose power, students lose access to learning, and families lose safety during the moments they need it most. These failures sit at the heart of what SDG 9(Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 7(Affordable and Clean Energy), and SDG 11(Sustainable Cities and Communities) call on the global community to solve.

Developed nations are struggling to replace aging systems while managing massive costs and institutional resistance to change. Developing nations face a different but equally real set of barriers, including limited financing, insufficient technical training, and decades of informal construction layered on top of itself. Both situations are different, but as NYU Tandon's impact areas of Industrial, Urban and Environmental Sustainability and Systems Engineering and Complex Decision Making recognize, the solution requires the same thing: planning that treats reliable energy as a foundation for human wellbeing, not an afterthought.

Bio:

Erick Aguilera is a graduate of NYU Tandon School of Engineering, where he earned a degree in Electrical Engineering. Growing up on Long Island, his Dominican and Honduran roots shaped his values of hard work, resilience, and a strong sense of community.

During his time at NYU, these values guided his involvement across several leadership and academic programs. Erick was a member of the Global Leaders and Scholars in STEM (GLASS) program and a Tandon STEM Scholar recognized by the Horatio Alger Association. He also served as a Resident Assistant at Brittany Residence Hall and mentored incoming students through the Academic Achievement Program. In addition, he was an active member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, where he connected with peers who shared similar academic and professional interests.

Beyond campus involvement, Erick gained hands on engineering experience through internships and field work. As a Field Service Engineering Intern with Eaton, he worked with electrical equipment at facilities including hospitals, warehouses, and transportation systems. These experiences shaped his strong interest in power distribution and electrical infrastructure. Looking ahead, Erick hopes to use his engineering background to contribute to building more resilient and sustainable electrical systems that support communities around the world.