SPP and Hitachi have announced a strategic partnership to produce an integrated AI-based solution they say will reduce study-analysis times by 80% in the generator interconnection process, potentially resolving one of the key issues that has slowed the grid’s ability to meet escalating demand. 

The companies said in a June 5 press release that end-to-end use of industrial AI and advanced computing infrastructure will help significantly speed up safe integration and use of additional resources supporting the central U.S. grid. 

The U.S. Energy Information Administration said in January that the nation’s electricity consumption grew by 2% in 2024 and will continue to grow at that rate in 2025 and 2026. It will be the first three years of consecutive growth since 2005 to 2007, with much of the demand coming from battery manufacturing operations and data center consumption. 

“Our nation’s demand for electricity has risen sharply in recent years following a long period of slow growth. Our industry has struggled to keep up with this sudden and significant shift,” SPP CEO Lanny Nickell said. 

“There are a lot of would-be power producers out there waiting to connect to the grid, but yesterday’s systems and technology haven’t been sufficient to enable us to bring incremental capacity online fast enough. It’s time to fix that,” he added. 

The grid operator’s GI queue currently includes 679 projects, 380 of which are active, and more than 161 GW of capacity. It still is working on study clusters that date back to 2018. 

The integrated solution comprises multiple Hitachi capabilities that include an AI-based power simulation algorithm, accelerated calculations, augmented simulation modeling, predictive analytics, and design and engineering services. 

Hitachi said the partnership intends to “reimagine” the electric sectors production and distribution process through “the lens of modern AI technology.” SPP then can make “significantly quicker, better-informed decisions,” said Frank Antonysamy, Hitachi Digital’s chief growth officer. 

“Real-time data access is needed to create truly realistic scenarios caused by new generator introductions. The AI solution we’re all developing will provide that data, among other advantages,” Antonysamy said. 

Along with NVIDIA, another AI provider, Hitachi and SPP will draw on Hitachi’s various competencies, including an integrated storage and computing platform built on NVIDIA accelerated computing, networking and AI software. The AI-driven technologies will be applied to process automation, predictive analysis, communication systems integration and other study areas. 

The project’s first phase is expected to be completed by December 2025. The phase includes initial systems acceleration, data-management processes optimization and introducing AI-augmented simulation modeling. 

SPP says as an RTO, it will guide the integration of technical solutions and services and ensure the project outcomes align with industry requirements and regulations. Later objectives will address alternative energy integration challenges and transmission constraints.