Google has partnered with PJM Interconnection, the US’ largest grid operator, to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) technology to facilitate faster grid connection timelines for power projects and large load users, like data centers.

According to a report from Reuters, the collaboration would be the first example of AI being used to comprehensively manage an interconnection queue. Grid connection queues are a presiding issue the world over, with projects often waiting half a decade to secure a connection. In the PJM service area, the average time is around five years.

“The industry has been talking about building smarter grids for well over a decade, and now with AI, we have a real opportunity to turn discussion into action,” Amanda Peterson Corio, Google’s data center energy lead, said.

To achieve this, Google will partner with Alphabet-backed Tapestry.

Tapestry is a Google X ‘moonshot project’ that, through the use of AI, is building what they say is the first unified model of the grid. In doing so, the company hopes to help everyone who plans, builds, operates, and manages the grid to optimize energy flow and bring more diverse sources of energy online.

Initial rollout of the technology is expected to happen this year, with full deployment occurring over the course of several years through a phased approach.

Initially, it will automate processes currently completed by grid planners, which includes reviewing applications to determine the viability of projects seeking a connection. Over time, the partnership aims to develop a model of the grid similar to Google Maps but for grid information.

According to Page Crahan, general manager of Tapestry, the model will bring in “different layers that planners might need to see in a single toggle on and off view to guide faster decisions, introduce new insights, [and] hopefully find efficiencies in those ways.”

Google claims that through the use of AI to synthesize information and automate sections of the review and planning processes, the connection process for projects could be substantially expedited.

PJM is a Regional Transmission Organization that manages the grid for parts of 13 eastern US states, including Illinois, Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

Earlier this year, the RTO gained approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to fast-track the review process of up to 50 new power generation projects.

The 50 schemes are likely to include several large gas generation projects. In the spring, they will join the batch review of 55GW of legacy projects, which include renewable and battery energy storage.