As America’s demand for electricity grows—driven by everything from electric vehicles to data centers—utilities are facing a critical challenge.
How can we deliver more power without waiting years for new transmission lines to be built? Research from a series of case studies by Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and POWER Engineers (POWER), member of WSP, highlights how grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) can help meet this challenge by upgrading the infrastructure we already have.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the country is investing in cost-effective technologies to modernize the grid. GETs are a key part of that strategy. These tools help reduce congestion on existing power lines and improve the efficiency of energy delivery—getting electricity to where it’s needed, faster.
“GETs allow utilities to more fully maximize the load on transmission lines and distribute more power along our existing transmission infrastructure,” said Chris Postma, POWER’s senior advisor on system planning and resiliency. “Our case studies can help utilities study and adopt these new technologies to address expanding energy demand and maintain reliable service.”
One of the most promising solutions explored in the studies is voltage optimization. Traditionally used in local distribution systems to reduce energy use and improve voltage control, this technique is now being adapted for the transmission grid—especially as more inverter-based resources (IBRs) like wind and solar come online.
Unlike traditional power plants, IBRs don’t generate electricity on demand and rely on the grid for voltage and frequency signals. This makes them more vulnerable to instability, particularly in areas with weak grid conditions. Without proper voltage regulation, these systems may experience flickering, equipment damage or even widespread outages.
To address this, utilities are exploring adaptive zonal control—a strategy that groups renewable resources into zones and coordinates their voltage control around a central point. This reduces interference between sites and helps maintain grid stability, even as the system operates closer to its capacity limits.
In areas where advanced control systems aren’t yet in place, utilities are turning to proven technologies like synchronous condensers (SYNCONs) and static synchronous compensators (STATCOMs) to stabilize voltage. These devices are especially valuable in regions with high levels of renewable energy, where traditional sources of grid stability—like coal or nuclear plants—are being retired.
Another powerful tool in the modern grid toolkit is the Wide Area Monitoring System (WAMS). These systems use high-speed sensors called phasor measurement units to track real-time changes in voltage, current and frequency across the grid. This data helps operators detect and respond to issues before they become major problems.
As utilities also begin placing more power lines underground to protect against climate risks like wildfires and extreme weather, they’re encountering new challenges—such as increased reactive power that can raise system voltages. This shift makes coordinated control of reactive power devices even more important to maintain balance and reliability.
At the local level, voltage optimization continues to play a key role in improving energy efficiency and reducing costs. Managed through smart systems like Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS) or Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS), these tools help utilities fine-tune voltage delivery to match equipment needs and reduce energy waste.
As the grid evolves, technologies like GETs, WAMS and voltage optimization are helping utilities build a smarter, more resilient energy system that is ready to meet the demands of a cleaner, electrified future.
POWER partnered with INL to explore how electric utilities can modernize their infrastructure in response to the growing demand for energy and the need for expanded transmission capacity. Through a series of case studies, this collaboration examines how grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) can serve as effective interim solutions while new transmission lines are being planned and built.
This article is the fourth in a four-part series highlighting the role of GETs in strengthening the grid and supporting utilities in meeting future energy needs.
Explore all four case studies here: