Google is working with CTC Global to accelerate the deployment of transmission technology for the US power grid.

The collaboration aims to scale the use of California-based CTC’s high-capacity, US-manufactured conductors, a technology demonstrated to boost grid capacity and reliability at speed.

Google and CTC will identify high-impact transmission lines through a request for information (RFI) to states, utilities and transmission developers interested in collaborating to unlock grid capacity across the country. Deployment of the conductors has the potential to double transmission capacity in months, as opposed to the years typically needed for new transmission builds, and in some cases as much as ten years.

Rapid access to reliable, safe, and efficient transmission infrastructure is fundamental to enabling America’s energy future. This initiative is designed to accelerate regional economic growth and development, add capacity, improve grid reliability and performance, and lower energy costs for all.

As a part of this collaboration, transmission lines across the USA will be selected based on their potential to accelerate grid capacity with CTC Global’s ACCC Conductor (ctcglobal.com/accc-conductor). The initiative will prioritise projects that can deliver the greatest immediate impact and that support load growth where Google operates.

To identify transmission line projects for this initiative, states, utilities and transmission developers can respond to the RFI. Selected partners and projects will gain access to a combination of Google and CTC Global resources designed to accelerate deployment, including:

• Cost assistance: Funding will be available to accelerate deployment of CTC Global’s high-capacity ACCC Conductors and accelerate capacity growth.
• Future-ready workforce development: Utilities will be eligible for training to equip their workforce in the deployment of ACCC Conductors.
• Technical analysis: Support for technical project studies will be available to validate the technology’s integration and impact.

“Expanding transmission capacity presents a significant opportunity for the power system today, and Google is committed to being a catalyst for a stronger and more reliable US power grid,” said Amanda Peterson Corio, Google (www.google.com) global head of data centre energy. “Expanded grid capacity will enable responsible data centre growth underpinning the modern digital world, while also increasing affordability for consumers, boosting energy reliability and accelerating key industries like manufacturing. Working with CTC Global, this partnership aims to dramatically cut the time and cost of adding and moving electricity to reliably power American homes and businesses.”

CTC Global CEO JD Sitton added: “This ground-breaking partnership with Google marks a positive turning point to lower electricity costs, generate economic growth and advance US energy dominance.”

CTC Global (www.ctcglobal.com) manufactures and assembles its conductor technologies in the USA, supplying the ACCC Conductor to projects in more than 30 states. It is also a manufacturing exporter, with ACCC Conductor projects installed in more than 65 countries. The company is headquartered in Irvine, California.