IRVINE — CTC Global in Irvine and tech giant Google are teaming up to improve the U.S. electric grid as data centers increase the power demand.
The two companies said June 17 that CTC’s high-capacity, U.S.-manufactured, composite-core conductors can “boost grid capacity and reliability” at high speed.
Google said the collaboration is designed “to accelerate the deployment of next-generation transmission technology.”
Power transmission lines across the U.S. will be selected based on their potential to accelerate grid capacity with CTC Global’s ACCC carbon-composite electricity conductors.
The initiative will give priority to projects that can deliver the greatest immediate impact and that support load growth where Google operates.
Electricity demand has come into focus especially due to the requirements of data centers being set up by companies such as Microsoft and Apple as well as Google, whose parent company is Alphabet.
System Needs Upgrade
The U.S. Department of Energy has said the aging high-capacity power lines in the U.S. need a widespread upgrading.
“Deployment of advanced conductors like CTC Global’s has the potential to double transmission capacity in months, as opposed to the years typically needed for new transmission builds and in some cases as much as 10 years,” the companies said in a news release.
No financial details or arrangements were made public.
Founded in 2003, CTC Global makes ACCC carbon-composite electricity conductors to improve the electricity grid.
Fast, Environmentally Friendly
“We aim to expand access to electricity by providing products and services that enable a fast, cost-effective and environmentally friendly expansion of the grid, paving the way for a sustainable future,” CTC Global said.
Utilizing U.S. suppliers of carbon fiber from Alabama, fiberglass from Texas and other key U.S. components, CTC has been powering U.S. job creation at its U.S. factory in Irvine for over 20 years.
“Expanding transmission capacity presents a significant opportunity for the power system today, and Google is committed to being a catalyst for a stronger and more reliable U.S. power grid,” said Amanda Peterson Corio, Google global head of data center energy.
She added: “Expanded grid capacity will enable responsible data center growth underpinning the modern digital world, while also increasing affordability for consumers, boosting energy reliability and accelerating key industries like manufacturing.”
Long-Term Investments
CTC Global CEO J.D. Sitton said the partnership work will help lower electricity costs and generate economic growth.
“This coordinated partnership with the innovators at Google will help ensure that the U.S. invests in cost-effective solutions for the long-term that help the U.S. continue to lead the AI revolution,” Sitton added.
CTC says that over 124,000 of its ACCC advanced conductors have been installed over the last two decades.
