The U.S. is in the midst of a surge in demand for power. With AI consuming countless megawatts each year and prompting the need for new data centers, America is feeling the power pinch. To address the issue, it will be necessary to build new transmission lines — a process that moves at a snail’s pace.

The problem will only continue to get worse, as grid planners expect to see 4.7% electricity growth in the next five years. That number might even be underestimating the impact data centers will have in the years to come.

Most people assume that wind and solar energy can make up a good amount of the new demand, but that’s not usually the case, especially with old transmission lines in place. Wind and solar power aren’t continuous, and the areas that generate it are often too remote to transmit that power to where it is needed the most.  

Fortunately, there are other ways of tackling these challenges. 

Introducing Grid-Enhancing Tech

Grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) use hardware and software to ensure that transmission lines are able to function at their best. They track power lines in real-time, allowing for necessary adjustments to prevent overheating.

By having a clear idea of how much electricity a particular line can carry at any given time, electricity companies aren’t forced to guess. They don’t have to stick to conservative estimates of how much electricity to transmit, meaning more power reaches the areas that need it most. 

Flexible Grid Operations

It’s important to note that the grid system is never fully used except during peak demand hours — the rest of the time, it’s functioning at half-capacity or even less. Getting more out of the grid requires harnessing those hours of unused transmission capacity. 

One way to do this is to save the energy generated by solar and wind and transmit it using lines that aren’t in use. Ian Blakely, chief technology officer of microgrid manufacturer and backup energy provider Enchanted Rock, states that energy demands max out transmission lines only 1%–6% of the entire year. 

This lack of efficiency has made it more difficult for data centers and other high-energy infrastructures to come online. Although it’s always taken time to accommodate large demands, it’s become even tougher now. “In some places, they’re basically being told, ‘No, we can’t serve that load,’” says Blakely. 

The answer is for high-electricity-need consumers to be more flexible by using their own microgrids. By allowing the main grid to modulate power during demand peaks, they can come online faster. That’s a concession more companies are considering to accelerate the process of getting up and running.

Updating Transmission Lines

There’s no getting around the fact that transmission lines must be updated to be more efficient. Replacing conventional lines with more advanced options can seriously increase transmission capacity.

This requires only the replacement of the actual lines, not the surrounding infrastructure. Such a project could be an expedient way to upgrade a system and make it more reliable. 

By combining these options, it’s possible to have a grid system that works more efficiently and can handle the higher demands the country is already beginning to see. 

Learn more by reading the original post at Cipher.