Energizing the Future of the Power Grid

Why do we ?? the energy industry? Because it’s at the forefront of innovation—driving grid modernization, automation, and the transition to a more sustainable future. At Simple Thread, we’re not just observers; we’re actively building solutions, collaborating with industry leaders, and tackling complex challenges like interconnection and grid resilience

Event Recap: Energy Tech 2025 – A Resounding Success

Just over a week ago, we concluded our second Energy Tech conference, Energy Tech 2025, with remarkable success. The event attracted over 450 attendees and more than 100 companies, underscoring its significance as a premier gathering for industry leaders and innovators in energy technology.

Highlights from the Conference:

• Keynote Address: Andy Lubershane , Head of Research at Energy Impact Partners , delivered an insightful keynote exploring the essentials of building transformative companies in the energy sector.
• Expert Sessions: Our CEO, Justin Etheredge , presented "A Busy Engineer’s Guide to HAL 9000 AI," demystifying AI tools like ChatGPT and their practical applications for energy professionals.
• Innovation Challenge: The SPARK VIRGINIA Innovation Challenge showcased Virginia’s top energy innovators in a dynamic pitch competition, offering a glimpse into the future of energy solutions.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors, partners, speakers, and attendees for making Energy Tech 2025 an unforgettable event. For a detailed recap, visit our event summary.

Spotlight on Minerva Interconnect?: Revolutionizing Grid Studies

Minerva Interconnect? continues to transform power grid interconnection studies with its cloud-based SaaS platform, offering automation and efficiency to utilities, developers, and consultants.

Key Features:

• Generation Interconnection Model-on-Demand: Select projects based on electrical proximity to the point of interconnection, enhancing precision in model creation.
• Automated Contingency Analysis: Integrated with industry-standard tools like TARA, Minerva facilitates thorough stress-testing of grid capacity under various scenarios.
• Cloud-Based Scalability: Accessible from anywhere, Minerva supports multiple concurrent users and scales computational resources on demand.

We invite you to explore how Minerva Interconnect? can optimize your interconnection studies. Learn more here.

Recognition & Industry Impact: DOE Digitizing Utilities Prize

We are honored to announce that our work on the Hosting Capacity Analysis (HCA) tool has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) ’s Office of Electricity. Our innovative approach earned us a prize in the second round of the American-Made Digitizing Utilities Prize, which acknowledges tools that accelerate electrification and renewable energy integration across the grid.

This recognition underscores our commitment to advancing grid reliability and resiliency through digital innovation. Read the full release here!

Industry News: Data Centers and Grid Stability

The rapid development of AI data centers is intensifying concerns about the U.S. electrical grid's capacity to meet escalating demand. These centers, comparable in consumption to mid-sized cities, are projected to triple their energy usage within the next three years, potentially consuming 12% of the nation's power supply. This surge, coupled with the retirement of fossil fuel generators and delays in new infrastructure, heightens the risk of blackouts.

The PJM Interconnection, the largest U.S. electrical grid, is particularly affected, especially in Virginia, which hosts a significant concentration of data centers. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission warns that without swift addition of new power supplies, other regions may soon face similar challenges. Read the full article here.

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Thank you for joining us in this edition of “The Current.” Together, we are powering a smarter, more efficient energy future.