Key Takeaways
- Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) will lead a $14.2 million DOE‑funded Genesis Mission Phase II project to create a Grid Foundation Model (GridFM) that can simulate one‑billion electric‑grid scenarios in 24 hours.
- The project unites BNL, Stony Brook University, NYPA, LIPA, National Grid, NYSERDA, and over 150 other industry, academic and government partners.
- Principal Investigator Hendrik Hamann envisions turning AI’s perceived burden on the grid into an advantage for faster, cheaper, and more reliable planning.
- The initiative is part of DOE’s broader Genesis Mission, which couples AI, supercomputing, quantum systems and advanced instruments to accelerate energy, scientific‑discovery and national‑security breakthroughs.
Project Overview and Funding Details
Brookhaven National Laboratory has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to lead a $14.2 million effort to develop a next‑generation grid foundation model (GridFM), an artificial‑intelligence system designed to rapidly simulate scenarios for adding new loads to the electric grid. The award comes from the Genesis Mission Phase II Request for Application (RFA) and will support three years of research aimed at building a model capable of simulating one billion scenarios in 24 hours. Of the total funding, $3.9 million is allocated directly to Brookhaven, with the remainder shared among collaborating institutions. DOE’s Assistant Secretary for the Office of Electricity, Catherine Jereza, announced the award on September 1 at Brookhaven Lab, stating:
“By providing utilities enhanced AI tools, they can plan and operate the grid faster, more reliably, and more cost‑effectively to help meet the demands of a growing economy while delivering affordable, reliable power for homes and businesses while unleashing American energy dominance.”
Collaborative Network and Community Scope
The GridFM initiative is explicitly framed as a community project that spans industry, academia and government. Collaborators include Stony Brook University, the New York Power Authority (NYPA), the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), National Grid, and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). In total, more than 150 organizations contribute operational data, system expertise, AI know‑how, and computing resources. This blend allows utilities to supply real‑world grid data while researchers and technology providers bring the algorithmic and high‑performance‑computing capabilities needed to train and validate the foundation model.
Leadership Vision: Turning AI from Burden to Advantage
Hendrik Hamann, chief AI scientist for Innovation, Science, and Security at Brookhaven Lab and a joint appointee at Stony Brook University, serves as the principal investigator. He articulates the project’s philosophical shift:
“AI is often seen as a growing burden on the electric grid, but through the Genesis Mission we have an opportunity to turn that challenge into an advantage… By bringing together the right partners and scaling AI and grid foundation models for the electric grid, we can accelerate planning, improve operations and efficiency, and help build a more affordable, resilient energy system.”
Hamann’s dual role underscores the tight integration between Brookhaven’s mission‑oriented research and Stony Brook’s academic strengths, particularly in the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences where he holds a professorship.
Stony Brook Contributions and Parallel Genesis Awards
At Stony Brook, Yue Zhao, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, is collaborating directly with Hamann on the GridFM effort. Additionally, Stony Brook recently secured another Genesis Mission Phase II award through Yixin “Berry” Wen, an assistant professor in the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences and the Institute for Advanced Computational Science. Wen’s work focuses on AI methods to produce hyperlocal precipitation, runoff and flood‑risk information for U.S. energy systems. Six Stony Brook researchers were among the initial Genesis Mission Phase II awardees announced in July, highlighting the university’s growing footprint in DOE‑backed AI‑energy initiatives.
The Genesis Mission: A National Platform for Integrated Discovery
The Genesis Mission itself is described by DOE as a historic national initiative that seeks to build the world’s most powerful integrated science discovery platform. By uniting government, industry, academia, and philanthropy, the mission accelerates breakthroughs in energy, scientific discovery, and national security through a unique combination of AI, supercomputing, quantum systems, and advanced scientific instruments. Brookhaven Lab Director John Hill emphasized the award’s significance:
“This award reflects DOE’s confidence in Brookhaven Lab to bring together science, artificial intelligence, and strong partnerships to address challenges of national importance… As electricity demand continues to grow, we need new approaches to strengthen, expand, and efficiently operate the nation’s electric grid. We’re proud to lead this effort and to work with an outstanding team to turn innovation into real‑world impact for America’s energy future.”
Expected Impacts on Grid Planning and Operations
If successful, GridFM will enable utilities to evaluate countless grid‑upgrade scenarios—such as integrating renewable generation, adding electric‑vehicle charging stations, or deploying storage—in a fraction of the time currently required. The ability to run a billion simulations within a day promises to identify optimal, cost‑effective solutions while maintaining reliability and resilience. Moreover, the model’s foundation‑model architecture means it can be fine‑tuned for specific regional conditions, allowing planners to tailor solutions to local load patterns, weather profiles, and regulatory environments.
Broader Implications for Energy Resilience and Security
Beyond immediate planning efficiencies, the GridFM project aligns with broader national objectives: enhancing grid resilience against extreme weather, cyber‑threats, and sudden demand spikes; supporting the transition to a low‑carbon energy system; and reinforcing America’s energy dominance by leveraging cutting‑edge AI. By demonstrating that AI can be a productive asset rather than a liability for the grid, the initiative may reshape perceptions and encourage wider adoption of machine‑learning tools across the energy sector.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The $14.2 million Genesis Mission Phase II award positions Brookhaven National Laboratory and its partners at the forefront of AI‑driven grid innovation. Over the next three years, the team will develop, test, and refine GridFM, aiming to deliver a scalable, open‑access foundation model that utilities nationwide can deploy. As the project progresses, stakeholders will watch closely for early results—particularly the model’s ability to simulate vast scenario spaces rapidly and accurately—because those outcomes will determine whether the promise of a faster, more affordable, and resilient electric grid can be fulfilled.
Sources: Direct quotations from the Brookhaven National Laboratory press release (September 1, 2025) and statements by DOE officials, Brookhaven Lab Director John Hill, and principal investigator Hendrik Hamann.
Brookhaven Lab to Lead $14M AI Project for Nation’s Electric Grid Through Genesis Mission