A new software could unlock about 300-gigawatts (GW) of hidden capacity on the US power grid and ease one of clean energy’s biggest obstacles, without building any new power plants.
The technology was highlighted in the latest Energy Empire podcast, hosted by Jigar Shah, a US entrepreneur, and former US Department of Energy (DOE) Loan Programs Office director. The show explores how abundant, affordable energy is transforming the global economy.
The platform uses advanced grid modelling to track unused transmission capacity that has remained inaccessible with traditional planning methods. Amit Narayan, GridCARE founder and CEO, stressed that it could unlock roughly 300 gigawatts of capacity across the existing US transmission network within the next three to five years.
Instead of using costly new transmission lines or even substations, the software analyses how the grid actually operates. This allows utilities to make better use of infrastructure already in place.
Unlocking hidden capacity
The US power grid has historically been planned using conservative assumptions that prepare for multiple equipment failures occurring at the same time. This has left large portions of the network underused for most of the year.
At the same time, while electricity demand is growing again, grid upgrades may not keep pace before 2030. Bank of America data showed that the nation could face a 100GW power shortfall by 2030. Analysts estimate at least 230GW of new power demand between 2026 and 2030, while utilities add just 93GW of supply.
According to the US Energy Information Administration, electricity demand has grown 2.1% annually over the past five years and will keep rising through 2050, driven largely by data centres.
To address the 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 on existing power grids. This could help AI data centers to secure and activate power in months rather than years.
The software evaluates millions of potential operating conditions in order to find the limited periods when transmission constraints actually occur. Utilities can then connect new resources using flexible operating agreements or battery storage to manage those rare congestion events.
Solving grid bottlenecks
GridCARE said its software could speed up connections for solar, batteries, and large power users without years of new infrastructure work. It is already being tested by several utilities.
According to the company, National Grid found more than 650 megawatts (MW) of previously unavailable capacity using the technology. Portland General Electric reportedly unlocked more than 400MW of additional capacity in Hillsboro, Oregon. It allowed six planned data centres to connect years earlier than expected.
Meanwhile, according to PV Magazine, an AI system at the nation’s largest grid operator, PJM Interconnection, reviewed 811 generation applications totalling 220GW in less than an hour, instead of weeks.
The system, however, is not intended to replace new transmission infrastructure. It is a way to maximise the value of the grid that already exists, while long-term expansion projects move forward.
Moreover, the approach could also lower electricity costs by allowing more power to flow across existing transmission assets. It will spread infrastructure costs over a larger volume of electricity.