Beyond the Bottleneck: New Report Identifies Solutions for Accelerating Large Load Connections
Rapid growth in demand from data centers and other large loads is creating a range of new challenges for electricity planners, investors, system operators, and regulators, leading to bottlenecks that have slowed connection of large loads to the electric grid. In response, innovative solutions for accelerating large load connections are beginning to emerge across the U.S.
A new Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBNL) report, Speed to Power: Solutions for Accelerating Large Load Connections, identifies and explores more than 40 potential solutions for accelerating large load connections, organized into five functional areas: load forecasting, interconnection, resource planning and procurement, markets and operations, and cost allocation and ratemaking. The five functional areas provide a framework for organizing challenges and solutions to large load connection bottlenecks.
The authors will discuss the potential solutions in a public webinar on July 9, 2026 at 3pm Eastern. Register for the webinar here: https://lbnl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PACsC2_gSnWHuqDdw18lsw
Solution Areas Examined in Speed to Power Report
The report begins by discussing the framework for organizing solutions and challenges and then describes the planning, market and regulatory processes that are involved in connecting large loads.
Planning, Market, and Regulatory Processes Relevant to Large Loads
The solutions in the report range in difficulty and timing, from nearer-term options that can build on a growing body of experience (e.g., large load tariffs) to longer-term options that still require significant methodological and procedural innovation (e.g., non-firm transmission service for large loads). The report documents examples of load forecasting, tariffs, and other solutions that have been implemented thus far, and in cases where no solutions yet exist explores possible options. It aims to provide a reference for considering the kinds of solutions and implementation strategies that can be brought to bear to accelerate large load connections.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity provided funding for LBNL’s work on the study. Report authors are Fritz Kahrl and Natalie Mims Frick.