FieldSpan | GridReady Dispatch — Issue #2

Transmission Bottlenecks vs. Supply Chain Delays

The headlines make it clear: transmission is the bottleneck.

Renewable projects are stuck in interconnection queues, data centers are waiting for capacity, and utilities face mounting pressure to expand the grid at unprecedented speed.

But there’s an invisible choke point just as consequential—

supply chain delays.

What’s Really Holding Projects Back:

• Transformers now face multi-year backlogs, with prices rising 4–6x since 2022.

• HVDC cables, essential for long-distance transmission, can take five or more years to procure.

• Even when financing, permitting, and engineering are aligned, projects stall simply because critical components don’t exist in the pipeline.

This isn’t doom—

it’s a call to action.

Building Supply Chain Resilience

Strengthening the grid begins with strengthening the systems that supply it:

• Investing in domestic manufacturing of transformers, conductors, and HVDC components

• Partnering with innovators and local communities to diversify suppliers and shorten lead times

• Training a hybrid workforce with both traditional utility skills and advanced manufacturing capability

These strategies not only address material shortages—they reinforce economic stability and community resilience.

FieldSpan’s View

By identifying and naming the choke points, we can build strategic solutions that fortify the grid and the communities it serves. Transmission expansion is only as strong as the supply chain behind it—and that chain must be resilient, diversified, and prepared for the demands ahead.