Interconnection queue

An interconnection queue is the ordered backlog of grid-connection applications that a utility or transmission operator must study and approve before a new large power consumer, such as a data center, or a new generator can connect to the electricity grid. Queues exist to verify that a new connection won't destabilize the grid, but the process has become the primary bottleneck for data center growth: in parts of the US (PJM, ERCOT) and Europe, queues now run 2-7 years, with tens of gigawatts of announced data center demand waiting on impact studies and transmission upgrades. This bottleneck is the main driver behind behind-the-meter power deals, on-site generation, and stranded-power development strategies, as operators look for ways to secure electricity without waiting in line for a conventional grid connection. Some utilities have introduced fast-track or flexible-load queue processes specifically for data centers willing to curtail consumption during grid stress.