Simple Thread

The U.S. energy landscape is rapidly evolving with the rise of renewables and the need to modernize the grid. At the center is FERC Order 2023, a key ruling to streamline interconnection. This blog explores what it means, its link to hosting capacity tools, and how those tools must evolve to meet new requirements. #EnergyTransition #RenewableEnergy #FERC2023 #GridModernization #Interconnection #CleanEnergyFuture #SustainableSolutions #EnergyInnovation #HostingCapacity #SmartGrid #EnergyPolicy #Decarbonization #ClimateAction #FutureOfEnergy #EnergyEfficiency #TechForGood #PoweringTheFuture #RenewableRevolution #EnergyResilience #GridIntegration

For the first time ever, a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) is operating across both the Eastern and Western Interconnections under a single FERC-approved tariff. That RTO? Southwest Power Pool (SPP).
It’s a major milestone in the evolution of U.S. grid coordination—one that could accelerate renewable integration, boost reliability, and improve market efficiency across a huge swath of the country.
We put together a map to show how SPP’s footprint now spans the interconnection divide. Southwest Power Pool #GridEvolution #RenewableIntegration #PoweringTheFuture #EnergyEfficiency #RTORevolution #InterconnectionSuccess #SustainableEnergy #ElectricityMarket #FERCApproved

Our probabilistic upgrade cost framework addresses a key gap in GI studies by explicitly modeling the uncertainty surrounding cluster-based queues. Through Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS), stakeholders receive a fuller picture of possible upgrade requirements, ensuring that project evaluations are grounded in realistic probability distributions rather than fixed assumptions. This approach is poised to evolve with richer data and predictive accuracy, aiding the industry’s shift toward more flexible, resilient, and cost-efficient interconnection processes. Hadi Athari, Ph.D., PE Al Tenhundfeld Read more: https://lnkd.in/efG8Qqsq #ProbabilisticModeling #GapsInGI #MachineLearning #UncertaintyModeling #ClusterQueues #DataDrivenDecisions #PredictiveAccuracy #FlexibleInterconnections #ResilientProjects #CostEfficiency #AI

DISTRIBUTECH 2025—the future of the grid is clear: it's faster, smarter, and more interconnected than ever. From award-winning work with Dominion Energy on transmission hosting capacity to conversations around FERC 2023, data center growth, and DERs—Simple Thread is building the tools utilities need to plan and adapt at scale. If you’re tackling interconnection, grid modeling, or system planning challenges—let’s talk. We’re helping utilities lead the energy transition with real, working solutions. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eeSpFrrC #DISTRIBUTECH #EnergyTech #GridModernization #HostingCapacity #Interconnection #FERC2023 #SimpleThread

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) is fading into history as costs far exceed those of photovoltaics. As the energy transition advances, what role—if any—will CSP play in a modern grid?

From regulatory shifts to real-world deployments, the power grid is evolving fast—and we’re right in the middle of it. This month, we’re diving into the latest on FERC Order 2023, how our tools are helping utilities meet the moment, and what global electricity trends might mean for the future.

Join us on May 8, for an insightful session on the evolving relationship between utilities and data centers. Alison Kaufmann, VP of Member Services and Strategic Electrification at ODEC, will discuss innovative solutions to meet growing energy demands while ensuring consumer protection. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with industry experts and explore the future of energy collaboration. Alison Kaufmann https://lnkd.in/er5t-iXG

We love when a long-standing challenge gets turned on its head by new technology. Faced with the task of extracting specific content from a large volume of documents—something that would traditionally require full-text search and still leave a lot to be desired—we turned to local LLMs. By building a custom document processing pipeline, we were able to harness the semantic power of LLMs to identify and extract unstructured content, validate it, and still keep a human in the loop for reliability. It’s a smarter, more scalable approach to a classic problem—and we hope it inspires new ideas for your own work! https://lnkd.in/e8tNvZys

Solar remains one of the most cost-competitive energy sources, with an average LCOE of ~$45/MWh since 2021. But cost isn’t the only factor—how do we ensure solar can be deployed efficiently and integrated smoothly into the grid?

In just a year and a half since launching our Energy Technology practice, Simple Thread has built a powerhouse team of power system engineers with deep expertise in transmission planning, distribution, and grid innovation. Our team includes: • PhDs in Electrical Engineering • Former utility and federal agency engineers • Experts in PSS/E, VBA, Python, and Cascade • Veterans of EPRI, Bonneville Power, Dominion, and more From grid modeling and generator interconnection to automated study tools and field communications, we’re combining technical depth with software craftsmanship to help shape the future of energy. We are looking for more folks to join the team, so if you have experience in power systems and a love of software, we want to talk to you!