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Announced during the AWS Summit in Washington, DC, the collaboration combines Brookhaven Lab’ s GridSearch technology with AWS cloud computing infrastructure and AI expertise to help modernise grid interconnection processes. The initiative supports the US Department of Energy’ s Genesis Mission, which aims to create a scientific platform that accelerates research, strengthens national security and advances energy innovation.

GridSearch is designed to transform how new electricity generation facilities, AI data centres and advanced manufacturing plants connect to the national grid. The software uses a Grid Foundation Model( GridFM), an open-source AI model developed through Linux Foundation Energy with contributions from IBM Research, Hydro Quebec, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Stony Brook University, Argonne National Laboratory and other organisations. showed how AI capabilities could support practical applications that strengthened US leadership in artificial intelligence and energy infrastructure.

Hendrik Hamann, Chief AI Scientist for Innovation, Science and Security at Brookhaven National Laboratory and joint appointee at Stony Brook University, described the project as an example of‘ AI4AI’, with artificial intelligence helping accelerate AI infrastructure deployment. He said the platform would provide decision support to stakeholders by identifying optimal grid connection locations with affordability and minimal network impact.

AWS said the partnership reflected its commitment to supporting national energy and security priorities through advanced cloud computing and AI technologies. Christian Hoff, Director of Global Civilian Government, AWS, said the collaboration would help accelerate scientific discovery while ensuring the United States remained a global AI leader.

Under the agreement, AWS will provide computing infrastructure and technical expertise to expand GridSearch across major transmission networks nationwide.

The organisations expect the platform to reduce grid interconnection studies from years to months while improving longterm infrastructure planning for AI data centres, energy projects and advanced manufacturing facilities.

Joseph Santamaria, General Manager for Energy and Utilities, AWS, said grid interconnection represented one of the biggest opportunities to unlock new energy capacity. He added that cloud computing and AI could help utilities modernise operations, improve productivity and reduce costs across the energy sector.

The announcement follows a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Energy and AWS covering artificial intelligence and advanced computing initiatives across the department’ s 17 national laboratories. The agreement is expected to encourage further collaboration between government researchers and industry partners, creating scalable digital tools that support faster infrastructure deployment, improved energy resilience and more efficient planning for the growing demand driven by artificial intelligence applications nationwide. •

The AI model enables significantly faster grid simulations while maintaining accuracy, allowing planners to assess thousands of possible interconnection points before detailed engineering studies begin. This approach is intended to reduce delays, lower costs and minimise disruption to existing electricity networks.

Brookhaven Lab Director John Hill said the partnership demonstrated the value of public-private collaboration in advancing the Genesis Mission. He said GridSearch

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