New software could unlock about 300 gigawatts (GW) of hidden capacity in the U.S. power grid, removing one of the biggest barriers to clean energy without having to build new power plants.
The technology was highlighted in the latest “Energy Empire” podcast hosted by Jigar Shah, a US entrepreneur and former director of the US Department of Energy (DOE) Loan Program Office. The show examines how abundant, affordable energy is transforming the global economy.
The platform uses advanced network modeling to track unused transmission capacity that is not accessible using traditional planning methods. Amit Narayan, founder and CEO of GridCARE, emphasized that around 300 gigawatts of capacity could be unlocked in the existing US transmission network within the next three to five years.
Instead of using expensive new transmission lines or even substations, the software analyzes how the network actually works. This allows utilities to make better use of the infrastructure they already have.
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Unlock hidden capacity
The U.S. power grid has historically been planned based on conservative assumptions, preparing for multiple equipment failures occurring at the same time. This has resulted in large parts of the network being underused most of the year.
While demand for electricity is rising again at the same time, network expansions may not be able to keep up before 2030. Bank of America data showed the country could face a 100 GW power deficit by 2030. Analysts estimate that at least 230 GW of new electricity demand will be created between 2026 and 2030, while utilities are only increasing their supply by 93 GW.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, electricity demand has increased 2.1 percent annually over the past five years and will continue to rise through 2050, driven primarily by data centers.
To address this challenge, GridCARE, a California-based startup founded in 2024, has deployed its advanced physics-based AI platform called Energize to identify hidden or latent capacity in existing power grids. This could help AI data centers secure and activate power within months rather than years.
The software evaluates millions of potential operating conditions to identify the limited time periods when transmission limitations actually occur. Utilities can then connect new resources via flexible operating agreements or battery storage to handle these rare overload events.
Elimination of network bottlenecks
GridCARE said its software can speed up connections for solar, battery and large-scale electricity consumers without years of new infrastructure work. It is already being tested by several energy suppliers.
According to the company, National Grid has used the technology to find more than 650 megawatts (MW) of previously unavailable capacity. Portland General Electric has reportedly unlocked over 400 MW of additional capacity in Hillsboro, Oregon. This enabled six planned data centers to be connected years earlier than expected.
Meanwhile, according to PV Magazine, an AI system at the country’s largest grid operator, PJM Interconnection, reviewed 811 power generation applications totaling 220 GW in less than an hour rather than weeks.
However, the system is not intended to replace new transmission infrastructure. This is a way to maximize the value of the existing network while advancing long-term expansion projects.
In addition, the approach could also reduce electricity costs by allowing more electricity to flow over existing transmission facilities. This means that the infrastructure costs are spread over a larger amount of electricity.
https://interestingengineering.com/energy/software-detects-300-gw-of-hidden-power
