How Grid Upgrades can Support Increased Demand

𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 Electricity demand is rising as transport, heating, and industry electrify, with data centers and new industrial loads piling on. Building new transmission lines often takes 10 to 15 years once permitting, environmental review, and litigation get involved. So the practical engineering question is obvious. How much more electricity can we move through the grid we already have? Full article linked in comments. That came back into focus as I prepared to speak with GE Vernova engineers during Engineering Week at the request of Cornelis A. Plet, CTO of Grid Systems Integration. One of the best answers is advanced conductors. Most existing transmission lines use ACSR, aluminum conductor steel reinforced wire. It has served grids well for decades, but it comes with limits. As current rises, the wire heats up. Hot wire expands, sags, and approaches clearance limits. That thermal constraint often caps how much electricity a corridor can carry, even when the towers and foundations could handle more. That is the opening for reconductoring. Keep the towers, keep the right of way, and replace the wire with something that carries more current and sags less when hot. In many cases that lifts capacity by 50% to 100% or more without waiting a decade for a new corridor. High temperature low sag conductors do this through composite cores, gap conductors, Invar cores, and related designs. Different engineering choices, same outcome. Higher operating temperatures, lower thermal expansion, or more aluminum in the same diameter. More current, less sag, more power through the same corridor. The case studies are solid. Northern Ireland upgraded a 110 kV line from about 109 MVA to 186 MVA, roughly a 70% increase. A Nevada project reportedly moved from about 300 A to around 1000 A. India has deployed tens of thousands of circuit kilometers of HTLS to relieve congestion and unlock transfer capacity without building entirely new lines. Of course, advanced conductors are not magic. Towers may need reinforcement. Insulators, connectors, and breakers can become the next bottleneck. And reconductoring solves thermal limits, not voltage stability or poor flow distribution. That is why it belongs beside dynamic line rating, STATCOMs, and power flow control in the grid enhancing toolkit. But the core point is simple. The grid already contains trillions of dollars of rights of way, towers, and substations. Before assuming we need to rebuild everything, it is worth asking whether the wire itself is the weak link. Often it is. Replacing that wire can turn hidden capacity into real capacity far faster than almost any alternative.

⚡Strengthening the U.S. Grid: SPP’s $8.6B Transmission Build-Out Signals What’s Coming Next The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) has approved an $8.6 billion portfolio of 50 transmission projects across its 14-state region - a decisive step towards preparing the grid for rapid, long-term load growth. A major centerpiece is the introduction of 765-kV regional backbone lines, which can carry four times more power than today’s 345-kV network and move electricity more efficiently across long distances. With SPP expecting peak demand to double to 109 GW over the next decade, incremental upgrades won’t keep pace. 📊 Key facts shaping the build-out: Annual energy consumption across the footprint could rise by up to 136% as new large loads connect. Even conservative planning assumptions show ~35% demand growth in the next 10 years. The approved plan includes 949 miles of new 765-kV lines plus 62 miles of 345-kV lines, selected from an $18B candidate portfolio. 🏗️ Companies leading the charge: Xcel Energy is set to deliver the first 765-kV projects identified in SPP’s 2024 plan. American Electric Power Texas will build one of the first 765-kV lines in the region following Texas regulators’ approval of the voltage class earlier this year. Contractors such as Quanta Services, Inc. Pike Corporation MYR Group MasTec will all have a massive part to play. HV transmission isn't just about capacity it’s about cost. Studies show 765-kV lines can deliver power at up to 75% lower cost per MW than 230-kV alternatives. Without these higher-voltage corridors, SPP estimates it would need six times more infrastructure and nearly five times more land to meet future demand. Bottom line: 765-kV backbone transmission is becoming a cornerstone of how the U.S. grid prepares for its next era of growth - efficiently, reliably, and at scale. #HighVoltage #SmartGrid #GridModernization #Utilities #Transmission

Everyone talks about how slow it is to build new transmission lines. Less noticed is how much capacity is being freed — right now — on the wires we already have. Three families of “grid-enhancing technologies” (GETs) are scaling fast: (1) advanced reconductoring with modern high-performance conductors that can double capacity within existing rights-of-way; (2) dynamic and ambient-adjusted line ratings (DLR/AAR) that raise safe operating limits based on real weather, not worst-case assumptions; and (3) power-flow control, topology optimization, and other software tools that route power away from bottlenecks to under-used lines. Together, these are connecting more renewables, cutting curtailment and congestion, and buying precious time while big new lines are planned and built. GETs complement — not replace — new transmission. They reduce congestion and keep projects moving while long-lead lines, HVDC backbones, and interregional upgrades work through siting and permitting. Bottom line: We don’t need to wait a decade for every gigawatt of grid capacity. Sensors, software, and smarter wires are quietly turning today’s network into tomorrow’s — doubling capacity on key spans, adding double-digit ratings on windy days, and routing power around bottlenecks. It’s pragmatic, portfolio-based progress that’s already cutting congestion and connecting clean energy at scale. #gridenhancingtechnologies #get #reconductoring #dlr #aar #sensors #topologyoptimization #congestion #bottlenecks #hvdc #energytransition https://lnkd.in/eawe5mkm

"One of the key ways to make energy systems more reliable is by maximizing flexibility — improving how well the system can adapt in real time to changes in supply and demand. The more flexible the system, the better it can handle sudden demand spikes in the event of extreme weather, such as cold snaps or heat waves, or respond to supply disruptions such as plant outages. Improving flexibility includes upgrading aging infrastructure. Much of the U.S. grid was built decades ago under different demand patterns. Modernizing the grid — by updating substations and transmission equipment, deploying advanced sensors and incorporating advanced transmission technologies (ATTs), for example — can reduce failure rates during extreme heat and cold. These technologies help operators detect problems quicker, reroute power if equipment is damaged and restore service fast. Modernization not only improves reliability but also reduces expensive emergency interventions and lowers long-term maintenance costs. Increasing grid capacity, both through deployment of ATTs and building regional and interregional transmission lines, can reduce the risk of a local weather event turning into a widespread outage. Creating a more interconnected grid allows regions to share power during shortages. Having this greater transmission capacity also help keep prices down by allowing lower-cost electricity to reach areas facing higher demand. Demand-side management options can help ease pressure on the system during extreme weather events. These include encouraging customers and large users to reduce or shift electricity use during peak periods in exchange for lower bills or leveraging distributed energy resources to help prevent shortages. Systems that rely too much on a single fuel are more vulnerable to disruption. Diversification across energy sources and technologies helps reduce the risk of issues related to fuel shortages, infrastructure failures and localized weather impacts. Finally, policy is also critical. It’s vital that incentives are properly aligned with modern needs for flexibility and preparedness. This can help utilities make system investments that really work in extreme weather and minimize costs to consumers in both the short and the long run." Kelly Lefler World Resources Institute https://lnkd.in/e5syqXQp

Some of us keep talking about DERs and better grid utilization to help solve the power demand problem. Excited to see things are starting to move in that direction. For years, when utilities needed to meet peak demand, the answer was almost automatic: build a gas peaker plant. That assumption is starting to crack. Not because of ideology—but because the math is changing. Take Consolidated Edison’s Brooklyn-Queens Demand Management program. Instead of building a new gas peaker and substation upgrade, they deployed a portfolio of distributed energy resources—efficiency, rooftop solar, and behind-the-meter batteries. It delivered the same reliability outcome at a fraction of the cost. Or look at what’s happening more broadly with virtual power plants—aggregations of home batteries, smart thermostats, EVs, and flexible loads. In places like California and Texas, these systems are now being treated as real capacity resources—able to shave peaks and reduce the need for fossil peakers. What’s emerging is not a one-off workaround. It’s a pattern. Distributed energy resources are increasingly taking over the role that gas peakers used to play: meeting short-duration spikes in demand, cheaply and quickly. And now there’s a new twist: Large loads—especially data centers—are beginning to join that stack. Through demand flexibility and workload shifting, they can act less like passive demand and more like dispatchable capacity. If this continues, the implications are significant: • Less need to build new gas peakers • Lower system costs (because DERs are modular and faster to deploy) • A grid that’s more flexible—and more participatory To be clear: DERs aren’t replacing all firm capacity. We still need solutions for multi-day reliability and extreme events. But they don’t have to. If DERs can cover even 10–20% of peak demand by 2030—as several analyses suggest—that’s enough to avoid a large share of new peaker builds. The “default” is shifting from one big plant solving the problem to a portfolio of smaller, smarter resources working together. That’s not just a technology story. It’s a different way of thinking about the grid. Keep watching this trend ….

I was honored to join Axios energy reporter Ben Geman at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC, for a fireside chat to discuss what it will take to power an economy that’s more electrified, resilient and competitive. The reality is stark: demand for electricity is projected to grow far faster than overall energy use. This is no threat to prosperity; it’s an opportunity - if we act with realism and speed. I have three takeaways from our discussion, and they are based on one simple insight: a successful energy transition needs energy security. We need to put the technologies and infrastructure in place to ensure we have the right energy, at the right time, at the right price. We can achieve this if we: 1. Squeeze more from every kilowatt: Energy efficiency and grid modernization are just as important as energy supply. We can quickly improve energy efficiency in industries and buildings by using high-efficiency motors with variable-speed drives. If widely adopted, this could reduce electricity demand by about 10% - the same as the output from around 100 coal plants or 35 nuclear plants. These savings could meet the growing energy needs of data centers for several years. 2. Modernize and digitalize the grid: We are still trying to run a 21st century economy on 20th century infrastructure. By 2040, the world needs 80 million kilometers (almost 50 million miles) of grid upgrades, plus storage and digital control, to integrate variable renewables, balance peaks, and improve resilience. Permitting is now a critical bottleneck. This is where targeted policy – with smarter approvals, clear standards, and investment in distribution networks – can unlock real capacity quickly. 3. Make AI part of the solution: There are a lot of headlines that Artificial Intelligence is driving up demand for energy. However, AI-enabled energy management – with digital substations and edge control – can also optimize usage, reduce losses and prevent outages. We have to see AI as a crucial tool to manage grids, to forecast, shift and reduce demand. AI can help us align demand growth with grid reliability. None of this scales without people. Resilient energy systems need a skilled workforce, from electricians to data scientists. Upskilling, retraining, and apprenticeships have to be made a priority by both the public and the private sector. The path forward is clear: electrify everything you can; deploy efficiency first; digitalize the grid; and use AI to manage what we add (and have). For regions and countries that do this, energy security will be a competitive advantage creating the foundations for sustainable growth. Listen to the full discussion here: https://lnkd.in/emMu-4zr

PJM Interconnection just approved another major transmission project. And it points to the same problem we highlighted two weeks ago. Electricity demand across the Mid-Atlantic is rising faster than the grid was designed to handle. The PJM Board of Directors approved a proposed 220-mile, 765-kV transmission line developed by NextEra Energy Transmission and Exelon. The line would run through parts of West Virginia and Pennsylvania, strengthening the regional grid and adding capacity for new generation. This decision fits into the same trend we discussed in our March 17 post about PJM’s expanding transmission buildout. The grid operator is moving toward large backbone projects, instead of smaller local upgrades. PJM concluded that addressing these challenges will require major transmission expansion, especially high-voltage lines that move large amounts of electricity across long distances. Here is what this project is designed to do. First, improve reliability. A 765-kV line is one of the highest voltage levels used in the U.S. transmission system, which can carry several gigawatts of electricity over long distances. Projects at this scale can move roughly 7 GW of power, helping stabilize supply during peak demand. Second, add capacity for new generation. Many power plants and renewable projects are waiting in interconnection queues. Expanding transmission allows more of those projects to actually connect to the grid. Third, support regional economic growth. According to the developers, the project is expected to support reliable electricity for households and small businesses while helping attract industrial development. Construction would also create jobs during the buildout phase. What we are seeing across PJM is a structural shift. Rising demand from data centers, manufacturing, and electrification is forcing the grid to expand faster than before. Projects like this 765-kV line can unlock real capacity. But approval is only the first step. The timeline now depends on routing, right-of-way, permitting, and coordination with communities along the line.

America’s electricity grid faces unprecedented challenges. As power demand surges due to manufacturing growth, data center usage, and electrification of vehicles and buildings, our grid starts to struggle to keep up. Meanwhile, the hottest years on record and extreme weather events, driven by fossil fuels, underscore the urgent need for change. And even though thousands of MW of new clean energy projects are proposed, they're frequently stuck due to costly and time-consuming transmission system upgrades. Despite needing a 4-7% expansion in transmission capacity annually, the US is expanding at less than 1%, with new lines taking up to a decade to build. In this scenario, reconductoring existing transmission lines with advanced conductors could be a game-changer. Research from Energy Innovation, GridLab, and UC Berkeley shows that this approach can double capacity on existing rights-of-way within 18 to 36 months, helping the U.S. achieve its 90% clean energy goal by 2035. Reconductoring offers substantial short-term benefits: - it expands grid capacity - saves billions of dollars - help reducing emissions - improves resilience to extreme weather But, wait. What is reconductoring after all? Reconductoring is the process of replacing existing transmission lines with new, advanced conductors. This involves installing stronger, lighter composite cores and denser annealed aluminum conductors instead of traditional steel cores and aluminum strands. The result is a significant increase in the capacity of the existing transmission line (often doubling it!) without the need for building new infrastructure And this solution has already been successfully demonstrated: - NV Energy installed 125 miles of advanced conductors, planning more projects to handle rapid load growth. - Southern California Edison used reconductoring to reduce wildfire risks and double capacity. - Excel Energy enhanced electricity supplies to Minneapolis-St. Paul, doubling capacity and avoiding major permitting delays. However, reconductoring still faces several barriers to adoption. Firstly, there are investment incentives; utilities tend to prefer building new lines as they offer higher returns compared to reconductoring. Additionally, regulatory challenges exist since some regulators perceive advanced conductors as unnecessary expenditures. The lack of familiarity with advanced conductors also leads to misconceptions about their safety, contributing to experience gaps. By promoting and incentivizing the adoption of reconductoring we can protect consumers and the climate, contributing to a sustainable energy future. Let's seize this opportunity to modernize our grid and meet the demands of a cleaner, greener tomorrow. What is your opinion/experiences on reconductoring? Share your thoughts in the comments! #GridModernization #CleanEnergy #Sustainability

This week, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $1.9 billion in funding to upgrade existing transmission infrastructure, focusing on reconductoring and other advanced grid technologies. Rather than building entirely new lines, the program, called SPARK, targets upgrades to existing transmission corridors to increase capacity more quickly and cost-effectively. Why it matters: ⚡ Demand is surging driven by electrification, AI, and data center growth. ⚡ Reconductoring can expand grid capacity faster than traditional greenfield transmission development. ⚡ Advanced technologies could help relieve congestion and improve reliability while avoiding lengthy siting and permitting processes. Applications are due in May, with project selections expected in August. As power demand accelerates, programs like this highlight an increasingly important reality: maximizing the capacity of existing infrastructure may be one of the fastest ways to bring new power onto the grid. #Energy #Transmission #GridModernization #DataCenters #Infrastructure https://lnkd.in/eNJC6gZg

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴. And it is getting louder. Large energy users have crossed a line. They are no longer just consuming power. They are now part of how the system survives stress. When prices spike. When reserves thin. When operators issue emergency orders. The same facilities that push demand higher are suddenly asked to stabilize the grid with their own assets. That is not a contradiction. It is a transition. 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲��𝗻: → Load and generation. → Markets and physics. → Private infrastructure and public reliability. The old model was simple. Buy power. Consume power. That model no longer scales. Backup generation is not enough. Demand response is not enough. Buying more energy is not enough. The facilities that scale fastest will become net assets to the grid, not just loads on it. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀: → Controlling ramp rates. → Supporting voltage and frequency. → Self-supplying during stress. → Reducing upgrade pressure. → Aligning operations with grid conditions in real-time. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆.  𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲. The grid is the bottleneck. And it is telling us what it needs. #EnergyInfrastructure #GridReliability #DataCenters #IndustrialEnergy #LegendEnergyAdvisors