Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 4 hrs ago
Data center growth is driving efforts to modernize the US power grid
AI data centers are adding to US electricity demand alongside electric vehicles, heat pumps and renewable energy.
The surge is putting new pressure on an aging power grid, with concerns about higher bills and possible outages.
Industry leaders say the growing demand is also creating more urgency to modernize the grid and try new technologies.
WeaveGrid develops software to help utilities manage electricity use and make better use of existing grid connections.
Veir is building superconductive power lines that it says can carry power five times farther while using 20 times less space; the company raised $110 million in a funding round earlier this month.
Rewiring America policy leader Kristin Eberhard said the response should include more transmission and power plants, as well as making better use of energy resources that have been underused.
The surge in data center energy demand is putting pressure on the US power grid and spurring efforts to modernize it.
Industry leaders said new demand from data centers and other sources is creating opportunities to improve how utilities manage the grid.
WeaveGrid uses software to help manage energy use and optimize connections, while Veir is developing more efficient superconductive power lines.
Apoorv Bhargava, Tim Heidel and Kristin Eberhard said the scale of investment in AI infrastructure is driving innovation.
- Who
- Industry leaders Apoorv Bhargava, Tim Heidel and Kristin Eberhard discussed the grid’s challenges and opportunities.
- What
- Rising energy demand, including from data centers, is driving grid modernization efforts.
- When
- The discussion took place earlier this month at TechCrunch Disrupt.
- Where
- The United States.
- Why
- Growth in energy demand is putting pressure on the grid and creating urgency to improve how it is managed and expanded.
Critics of rising grid demand
Industry leaders at TechCrunch Disrupt
Grid strain
Critics of rising grid demand
Critics say the increase in new connections is stressing aging infrastructure and could contribute to higher bills or outages.
Industry leaders at TechCrunch Disrupt
The leaders acknowledged new challenges but said the demand is also driving opportunities to modernize the grid.
Response to demand
Critics of rising grid demand
Not stated.
Industry leaders at TechCrunch Disrupt
They pointed to grid-management software, new power lines and other technologies as ways to meet the challenge.
Industry leaders discussed grid challenges and modernization opportunities at TechCrunch Disrupt.
Veir raised $110 million in a Series C funding round.
TechCrunch published its article on data center demand and grid innovation.
- Veir funding
- $110 million in a Series C round
- Veir power lines
- Can carry power five times farther and require 20 times less space than traditional cables, the company said
- WeaveGrid
- Provides software for energy deployment and connection optimization
- TechCrunch Disrupt
- Industry discussion took place earlier this month
What people are saying
The scale of the investment in AI infrastructure is driving a tremendous amount of innovation
I think that we really need to look at ways that we can really adopt all of that as fast as possible to ease this next stage of growth.
We’re dealing with a ton of new variables, including renewable energy.
There’s a lot of yes-and-ing going on.