Power grid resiliency faces pressure from rising demand and infrastructure limits

The electricity grid faces increasing pressure due to rising demand from data centers, electric vehicles, and heat pumps. In the United States, this surge in demand combined with inadequate grid capacity threatens to increase electricity rates and hinder climate change mitigation efforts. While adding new transmission lines could alleviate congestion, the permitting and construction process in the U.S. can take between a decade and over thirty years.

To enhance grid resiliency and sustainability, experts suggest integrating biomass into existing infrastructure. Biomass projects can provide viable alternatives to traditional power sources; for instance, a rural Alaskan village uses wood chips to offset approximately 100,000 gallons of diesel annually. Additionally, biomass energy can reduce municipal solid waste, which totals nearly 300 million tons yearly in the U.S. In Western Canada, oil producers have also explored eco-friendly methods for managing natural gas extracted during production to support sustainability goals.