DOE Asks Industry For Ideas About Feeding Power Hungry Data Centers

The U.S. Department of Energy aims to fast-track how to feed AI with energy by asking companies that develop electric power to share information about their projects for potential near-term federal investments.

A new program called Speed to Power was recently launched by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright to harness knowledge about generation, transmission and grid infrastructure projects that already are the works. These projects could provide energy to help meet the massive electricity demands for AI and data centers.

“With the Speed to Power initiative, we’re leveraging the expertise of the private sector to harness all forms of energy that are affordable, reliable and secure to ensure the United States is able to win the AI race,” Wright announced recently.

He noted the DOE “is ensuring we can meet this growing demand while fueling AI and data center development with affordable, reliable and secure sources.”

DOE’s Grid Deployment Office issued a Request for Information on Sept. 18 about large-scale generation, transmission and grid infrastructure projects. It is asking for public input by Nov. 21 from private industry, large energy users, electric utilities and grid operators, state energy offices and public utility commissions, transmission and generation developers, and other stakeholders.

In return, the DOE may offer federal coordination, technical expertise and funding to support future project ideas.

The U.S. is facing serious limitation in its ability to meet future electricity demand due to “limited transmission capacity, grid congestion, aging grid infrastructure, and delays in interconnection processes for both load and new generation. Long-lead times for transmission and generation development, along with regulatory, permitting, planning, and operational challenges, are threatening the ability of critical projects to meet demand,” according to the RFI.

Types of Infrastructure Projects Sought

Of particular interest to the federal agency is learning about projects that can inject incremental 3 gigawatt loads into the grid and those able to add 20 GW of incremental electrical loads.

DOE also wants to gather information about new electricity generation projects.

Other items of interest are:

• New inter-regional transmission or reconductoring existing lines to boost incremental power loads, and
• Reviving retired thermal generation facilities to operate again or use an existing interconnection capacity to provide reliable electricity supplies.

“DOE is interested in identifying geographic areas or zones where targeted federal investment in transmission, generation, or grid infrastructure could unlock or accelerate large-scale economic activity tied to electric load growth. These may include regions experiencing substantial near-term demand from data centers, manufacturing, or other large load users, as well as areas with untapped development potential constrained by inadequate grid infrastructure,” explained a factsheet on the program.

DOE noted that the RFI isn’t a funding opportunity, grant program, or regulatory proposal.

“Any information obtained as a result of this RFI is intended to be used by the government on a non-attribution basis for planning and strategy development; this RFI does not constitute a formal solicitation for proposals or abstracts. Your response to this notice will be treated as information only,” the agency stated.

Speed to Power Data Map

To facilitate site selection for data centers, the DOE’s Grid Deployment Office has made available an interactive Speed to Power Data map. It provides multiple views, including showing electricity capacity and transmission line infrastructure.

The map was developed by National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a national laboratory under the DOE. The map was created based on NREL’s extensive background in integrating power grid modeling with spatial analysis for energy infrastructure planning.