Challenge
The electric grid faces reliability challenges and infrastructure limitations to accommodate dramatic increases in electricity demand from data centers, manufacturing, and electrification while maintaining affordable power for Americans.
AI Solution
AI, using deep and reinforcement learning techniques on newly integrated big data sources, will reduce uncertainty, improve insights, and speed processes in grid planning, interconnection, operations, and security. This effort aims to enable 20-100x faster decision-making and at least 10% improvement in electricity cost and reliability.
Justification
The utility sector has critical grid data but a low risk tolerance, limited ability to develop new technology, and regional focus. DOE can bring integrated energy system expertise, computational facilities, and testbed infrastructure like the Critical Infrastructure Test Range Complex (CITRC) at INL and the Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES) platform at NLR. The Department’s strong partnerships with grid operators can bring utility data together with these DOE capabilities to develop validated, deployable AI solutions.
National Impact
This modernization will deliver lower-cost, more reliable power to American homes and businesses while strengthening energy security through faster deployment of grid capabilities and improved resilience against threats.