Connected Strategy for Hydrogen Value Chain ^ Top ^ 27 Part 2 | Hydrogen as a zero-carbon power sector i.e., Energy & Utility (E&U) Today’s power-generation sector is facing disruption on an unprecedented scale. Renewables are becoming more competitive and a bigger part of the grid. The cost of energy storage is falling, electric vehicles are proliferating, distributed power generation is gaining traction, smart grids are spreading, regulators are pushing for decarbonization, and customer preferences are evolving. In this new world the digital assets of the utility sector connect and interact with the customer (business)’s digital assets shifting the utility’s relationship with the customer. While traditional customer focus was on performance-based satisfaction, the future focus will be on enhanced engagement and personalized solutions. Additionally, the future management and sustainability of the grid will require a partnership between customers and the E&U providers requiring a strong interface, either directly or through intermediaries. Decarbonization and storage needs position hydrogen as an attractive solution. Hydrogen pairs well with renewable energy as a peak-shaving resource, providing significant value to energy systems by avoiding the need for large amounts of backup. In this section we explore critical needs of the E&U power segment and customers (business consumers) and how synergistic application of digital connected technologies and hydrogen can help meet those needs while creating a superior customer experience. Power sector challenges and role of connected technologies and hydrogen in alleviating these challenges It is expected that by 2050, 62% of generated energy will be covered by renewables. In contrast the amount of green energy generated in 2019 represented 27 % of the worldwide production and only 13 % of the entire production capacity in Slovakia. However, connecting renewable energy sources (RES) with the grid is not simple as it may seem, and its effectiveness is entirely dependent on weather conditions. From this point of view, RES are considered an unstable energy source and their operation, without an advanced management system, can cause a serious grid imbalance. Hydrogen as an energy storage system that can store unused energy and save it for later need. Artificial intelligence and smart grids can improve prediction systems and thus allow for more accurate weather or energy consumption forecasts. With this approach, utility companies can improve the planning of their