MIT built a new modeling tool to help utilities plan future grids. (MIT)
Macro can map how electricity, fuels, industrial processes, and even data center loads interact, giving planners a more realistic view of what their grids will need as AI and electrification surge.
The tool splits massive problems across high-performance computing clusters, which means utilities can model complex transmission pathways and policy scenarios.
The team is also working on a real-time “emulator” that would sit on top of the full model to let policymakers test ideas—emissions caps, tech incentives, market rules—in seconds, then validate the results with the full Macro engine before bills are drafted.