GOOGLE has announced a new partnership with PJM Interconnection, the largest electricity grid operator in North America, to deploy artificial intelligence in an effort to reduce delays in connecting new power sources to the grid.

The collaboration comes amid growing energy demand, fueled by the rapid expansion of data centres, particularly those supporting AI development. Delays in grid connections for both renewable and traditional energy sources —  including solar, wind, and gas — have reached unprecedented levels, posing risks to energy reliability and cost stability across the United States.

Developed in collaboration with Tapestry, an Alphabet-backed company, Google's AI will be used to automate manual grid planning tasks. These include evaluating the viability of proposed energy projects, a step that currently contributes to long wait times.

Over time, the project aims to build a digital twin of PJM’s grid, offering planners a visual, interactive model akin to Google Maps. This tool would allow faster and more data-driven decision-making by visualizing real-time infrastructure capacity and constraints.

While the precise impact of the AI rollout is still being measured, the initiative marks a significant step in modernizing critical energy infrastructure. PJM’s network serves 67 million people and includes northern Virginia, home to the world’s largest data centre hub.

Source: dig.watch