Short supplies of crucial equipment stymie changes to US electricity grid

America’s grid upgrade hinges on a 400-ton machine designed in the 1800s — and just one U.S. mill makes the special steel inside it

Americans have a lot of plans for the country’s power grid. Some people want to expand renewable energy by building solar and wind farms. Others want to add new coal- or natural gas-fired power plants. There are those who want to provide power to some unknown number of data centers processing artificial intelligence algorithms. To accomplish any of these goals, the country will need a significant number of pieces of equipment whose design was in…

Short Supplies of Large Power Transformers Stymie Changes to US Electricity Grid

An explanation of why large electrical transformers have become a chokepoint in grid upgrades and expansion, crimping data center plans.

Short supplies of crucial equipment stymie changes to US electricity grid

Large power transformers like this are crucial to the power grid but in short supply. Frank Molter/picture alliance via Getty ImagesAmericans have a lot of plans for the country’s power grid. Some people want to expand renewable energy by building solar and wind farms. Others want to add new coal- or natural gas-fired power plants. There are those who want to provide power to some unknown number of data centers processing artificial intelligence…

America’s grid upgrade hinges on a 400-ton machine designed in the 1800s

Americans have a lot of plans for the country’s power grid. Some people want to expand renewable energy by building solar and wind farms. Others want to add new coal- or natural gas-fired power plants. There are those who want to provide power to some unknown number of data centers processing…