Google partners with PJM to enhance interconnection through AI
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Google has partnered up with PJM Interconnection and Alphabet-owned Tapestry to deploy AI-enhanced tools to streamline the TSO’s planning process for connecting new generation resources to the electrical grid.
This joint effort aims to significantly cut processing times for reviewing new interconnection applications, allowing large volumes of requests to be processed quickly and accurately to meet the fast-growing demand for electricity in PJM’s service area of 13 states and Washington, D.C.
Tapestry, which describes itself as a “moonshot for the electrical grid” project, will work with PJM on developing and deploying a new set of AI tools and models to intelligently manage and optimise PJM’s generation interconnection process, powered by Google Cloud and Google DeepMind, Alphabet’s AI research lab.
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Commenting in a release was Aftab Khan, PJM’s executive vice president – operations, planning & security: “Innovation will be critical to meeting the demands on the future grid, and we’re leveraging some of the world’s best capabilities with these cutting-edge tools to further reduce completion times for New Service Requests.”
“PJM is committed to bringing new generation onto the system as quickly and reliably as possible.”
PJM is looking at AI, and specifically its work with Tapestry, to help improve planning tools to further expedite PJM’s processing of generation resources that will be needed to meet continued increased demand in future years.
Said Page Crahan, general manager of Tapestry: “AI can play a pivotal role in improving and expanding the electricity system while maintaining reliability and security.”
“We will deliver a set of collaborative AI tools that enable PJM to make faster decisions with greater confidence, making more energy capacity available to interconnect in shorter time frames and helping to integrate the many dynamic resources looking to join the grid.”
Amanda Peterson Corio, head of data center energy for Google, commented: “This initiative brings together our most advanced technologies to help solve one of the greatest challenges of the AI era – evolving our electricity systems to meet this moment.
“We see the opportunity to help secure America’s electricity needs with the many resources seeking to provide energy to the grid, and believe this work with PJM is a great catalyst for innovation across the United States.
This collaboration with Google and Tapestry complements PJM’s ongoing efforts to automate its planning processes as it implements the reformed interconnection process that began in July 2023.
PJM will process the remaining 67GW of projects (out of approximately 200 GW) in the transition phase this year and next, and initiate its new Cycle process in early 2026.
PJM Interconnection, founded in 1927, serves 67 million people across the US, coordinating and directing the operation of the regional transmission grid, which includes 88,333 miles of transmission lines.
