Grid Interconnection Throughput
We can build generation, but we cannot connect it fast enough. Interconnection queues have become the choke point for scaling electricity supply.
The Stakes
Interconnection delays are an abundance tax. They delay electrification, industry growth, data centers, and resilience. They also waste capital: developers hold projects in limbo, and the grid misses low-cost supply additions.
Headline evidence
- •A Berkeley Lab analysis finds queues grew dramatically: ~10,300 active projects with >2,000 GW of generation and storage capacity seeking interconnection as of end-2023. [1]
- •Median time from interconnection request to commercial operation has increased sharply, reaching multi-year timelines for many projects. [2]
- •FERC Order 2023 reforms the interconnection process, signaling the bottleneck is acknowledged but still operationally difficult to fix. [3]
Neglectedness
Why it stays neglected
Utilities and grid operators face misaligned incentives: they bear near-term workload and risk, while benefits are system-wide. Study processes are bespoke and conservative. Data is opaque. Cost allocation disputes are politically toxic. Queue management is software-poor for a system this complex.
Tractability
Moderate. Policy tailwinds exist, but implementation is uneven. The technical surface is huge for founder-led execution: automation of studies, standardized connection designs, and better forecasting. AI can help with power flow simulations, risk triage, and portfolio optimization.
Startup surfaces
- •Interconnection study automation and standardized modeling toolchains
- Queue optimization platforms:cluster design, withdrawal prediction, and capacity planning
- “Grid-ready” project certification:fast-track packages for compliant designs
- •Data transparency layers for developers, regulators, and investors
- •Utility workflow tooling for reviews, stakeholder coordination, and audit trails
Source Stack (4)
- [1] Berkeley Lab. Interconnection queue statistics and trends (Queued Up 2024 and related). (emp.lbl.gov )
- [2] Berkeley Lab. Queued Up: characteristics and trends in generator interconnection queues (2024 report PDF). (eta-publications.lbl.gov )
- [3] FERC. Order 2023 interconnection reforms (explainer). (ferc.gov )
- [4] FERC. Order 2023 final rule documentation (landing page). (federalregister.gov )
Builder Proof-of-Work
Community submitted artifacts, notes, and implementations for this idea.