Hitachi, SPP use AI to speed up US grid connection process
Hitachi and Southwest Power Pool (SPP) have announced a partnership to develop an artificial intelligence-powered energy infrastructure solution aimed at reducing grid interconnection study times in the United States.
The partnership focuses on using AI and advanced computing to accelerate the process for integrating new power generation sources into the central U.S. grid. This follows trends such as the British government's recent Connect Project, which uses AI to optimise grid capacity and reduce connection delays, as demand from data centres and electrification continues to rise globally.
Electricity demand in the U.S. is increasing by 2 to 3% each year, driven primarily by an expanding manufacturing sector and the rapid growth of data centres. According to SPP, data centres could account for as much as 12% of U.S. electricity consumption by 2028, up from 4.4% in 2023. SPP also noted that unless addressed, current capacity margins could fall from 24% in 2020 to just 5% in 2029.
The solution being implemented by Hitachi and SPP leverages Hitachi's suite of capabilities, including AI-based power simulation algorithms, high-performance computing infrastructure using Hitachi iQ, augmented modelling, predictive analytics, and engineering services. The AI solution is built on NVIDIA's accelerated computing platform and is expected to reduce generator interconnection studies from a current range of 18 to 27 months down to less than 12 months.
SPP will guide the integration of technical solutions, using its experience with grid optimisation to ensure the project meets industry requirements and regulations. The initiative seeks to accelerate the addition of generating capacity to the 14-state region overseen by SPP and to resolve energy capacity shortages, increase reliability, and support emergency response.
"Our nation's demand for electricity has risen sharply in recent years following a long period of slow growth. Our industry has struggled to keep up with this sudden and significant shift," said SPP President and CEO Lanny Nickell. "There are a lot of would-be power producers out there waiting to connect to the grid, but yesterday's systems and technology haven't been sufficient to enable us to bring incremental capacity online fast enough. It's time to fix that, and SPP is proud to work with Hitachi and NVIDIA, two AI industry leaders who have the means to help realize a vision of a better energy future for our nation."
Technical approach
The combined solution incorporates automation of processes, predictive analysis, and communication systems integration. In addition to the AI-powered system, improvements to SPP's planning processes are underway to support both current and future grid needs, aiming to improve forecast accuracy and facilitate the deployment of additional grid-enhancing technologies.
"This initiative is about reimagining the electricity production and distribution process through the lens of modern AI technology," said Frank Antonysamy, Chief Growth Officer, Hitachi Digital. "Real-time data access is needed to create truly realistic scenarios caused by new generator introductions. The AI solution we're all developing will provide that data, among other advantages. SPP can then make significantly quicker, better-informed decisions that will increase overall ROI while better serving the nation's population with accessible power. We're proud to be a part of this important three-way collaboration addressing such a crucial problem."
The partnership expects the initial phase of the project to be completed by winter 2025/26, including migration to accelerated systems, optimisation of data management, and the deployment of AI-supported simulation modelling.
"Interconnection process acceleration is critical to meet the unprecedented demand on our grid," said Marc Spieler, Senior Managing Director of the Global Energy Industry at NVIDIA. "Using advanced NVIDIA accelerated computing and AI, Hitachi and SPP are helping speed interconnection studies to bring essential infrastructure online faster."
