GridLab
GridLab is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides pro bono technical expertise on grid transformation to state utility commissions, utilities, RTOs/ISOs, and clean energy advocates across 36 U.S. states, leveraging a network of 70+ expert consultants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersOakland, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What GridLab does
GridLab is a 501(c)(3) public interest nonprofit organization founded in 2017 and headquartered in Berkeley, California. Its mission is to provide expert capacity to address technical challenges and reliability questions related to U.S. electric grid transformation. The organization operates a network of over 70 independent expert consultants spanning power systems modeling, grid reliability analysis, resource planning, transmission planning, and distribution system planning. Rather than developing proprietary software products, GridLab's core capability is rigorous analytical and technical work — it commissions and publishes research reports, supports expert testimony in contested regulatory dockets, and conducts peer exchanges for state utility commissioners.
GridLab's "products" are a portfolio of research publications and technical analyses organized around four focus areas: Clean Energy Futures, Smart Transmission, Rethinking Reliability, and Modernizing the Grid. Key publications include the Storage Gap Report, Surplus Interconnection Service analysis, Beyond the Power Plant: The Hidden Costs of Gas-Fired Generation, Gas Turbine Cost Report, Price Impact of Additional Renewable & BESS Supply, the 2035 and Beyond Reconductoring Report, and the Innovate Modeling Series. The organization co-developed GridPath, an open-source grid analytics platform, with Sylvan Energy Analytics. Notable technical and research partnerships include the CHARGED Initiative (with Advanced Energy United and RMI), Current Energy Group, Aurora Energy Research, Halcyon, Energy Futures Group, Telos Energy, ESIG, Energy Innovation, and UC Berkeley.
The business model is grant-funded nonprofit operations with pro bono expert delivery. GridLab serves state public utility commissions, investor-owned utilities, RTOs/ISOs (PJM, MISO, SPP, CAISO, ERCOT, NYISO, ISO-NE), clean energy developers, and environmental NGOs/advocates. Its experts have direct experience serving 36 states and providing expert testimony in 29 states. The organization generates demand through thought leadership — public research, blog content, peer-reviewed citations in major media, conference presence, and the 'Plug in to The GridLab' online community — rather than commercial sales channels.
GridLab firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GridLab
- Legal name
- GridLab
- Website
- https://gridlab.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- GridLab is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides pro bono technical expertise on grid transformation to state utility commissions, utilities, RTOs/ISOs, and clean energy advocates across 36 U.S. states, leveraging a network of 70+ expert consultants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GridLab industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Energy Policy Consulting
- NAICS
- Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)
- SIC
- Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Grid Analytics, Forecasting & Decision Support (Load/DER/Outage) (EUADAEAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Network Upgrades & Capacity Additions (Reconductoring, Rebalancing, Voltage Optimization) (EUAEACAN), DERMS & Distributed Grid Orchestration (DER Integration within ADMS) (EUADAEAF)
Keywords
Where GridLab is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oakland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
GridLab business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Nonprofit Mission-Based Work: GridLab is a 501(c)(3) public interest organization that delivers pro bono expert capacity to address technical grid challenges and reliability questions. Revenue model is not publicly disclosed in detail; the organization appears to operate on grants, donations, and commissioned research studies. The Utilize Coalition (which includes GridLab as a member) commissioned the Brattle Group report on grid utilization, with GridLab serving as a coalition member rather than a direct revenue recipient.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
GridLab product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GridLab provides pro bono expert capacity to solve technical challenges and answer reliability questions on the U.S. electric grid. Through a network of 70+ independent experts and consultants, GridLab produces technical analyses, modeling reports, and expert testimony supporting state utility commissions, utilities, RTOs/ISOs, NGOs, and clean energy advocates in contested regulatory dockets. It publishes original research on interconnection, energy storage, reconductoring, gas infrastructure costs, and resource adequacy, and co-leads the CHARGED Initiative peer exchange program.
Product overview
GridLab is a 501(c)(3) public interest organization providing expert capacity to address technical challenges and reliability questions related to grid transformation. Rather than a unified software product, GridLab offers a portfolio of research reports, technical analyses, and expert services organized around four focus areas: Clean Energy Futures, Smart Transmission, Rethinking Reliability, and Modernizing the Grid. Key publications include The Storage Gap Report, Surplus Interconnection Service analysis, Hidden Costs of Gas-Fired Generation, Gas Turbine Cost Report, and the Innovate Modeling Series. GridLab also manages an Experts Network of 70+ independent consultants who provide technical reports and expert testimony, and co-leads the CHARGED Initiative with Advanced Energy United and RMI to prepare distribution systems for electrification.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Surplus Interconnection Service: A service allowing new energy resources to connect to the grid using existing plant interconnections to economically accelerate energy deployment
- The Storage Gap
- Beyond the Power Plant: The Hidden Costs of Gas-Fired Generation
- Innovate Modeling Series
Products and services
- The Storage Gap Report Public-interest research report documenting regional disparities in battery energy storage system (BESS) deployment across U.S. power markets, highlighting how eastern markets lag due to complex market rules and varying renewable penetration while western markets advance faster.
- Surplus Interconnection Service Analysis Analysis, issue brief, and technical report on Surplus Interconnection Service (SIS), which allows new energy resources to connect to the grid using existing plant interconnections to economically accelerate energy deployment and enhance grid reliability.
- Beyond the Power Plant: The Hidden Costs of Gas-Fired Generation Research report produced with Current Energy Group showing that mandatory gas infrastructure costs for transportation, processing, and storage add 30% or more to the true cost of new gas plants, drawing on seven utility case studies across Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
- Gas Turbine Cost Report White paper analyzing capital costs for new gas combustion turbine (CT) and combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plants, drawing on market data from utility Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) filings.
- Price Impact of Additional Renewable and BESS Supply Commissioned analysis by Aurora Energy Research estimating that if 10% of queued land-based renewable and battery storage projects in PJM had been built in time for the 2026/27 delivery year, consumers could have saved approximately $3.5 billion in capacity costs.
- CHARGED Initiative Collaborative initiative co-led with Advanced Energy United and RMI to prepare the distribution system for electrification so customers benefit from low costs and high reliability, including international peer exchange programs that take U.S. state utility commissioners to Great Britain and Australia.
- GridLab Experts Network Pro bono service offering through which GridLab deploys 70+ independent technical experts and consultants to deliver modeling analyses, technical reports, and credible expert testimony in contested regulatory dockets before state utility commissions across 29 states.
- Innovate Modeling Series Multi-part research series showcasing innovative capacity-expansion and portfolio-optimization modeling approaches developed by GridLab experts (Sylvan Energy Analytics, Telos Energy) to better integrate risk and uncertainty into power-system planning.
- Transmission Reliability Impacts of Retiring Conventional Generation Technical analysis of the transmission reliability impacts of retiring conventional generation, along with proposed solutions such as high-performance (advanced) conductors, grid-enhancing technologies (GETs), and battery energy storage systems.
- 2035 and Beyond Reconductoring Report Joint research report produced with Energy Innovation and UC Berkeley finding that deploying advanced conductors on existing transmission corridors could nearly double the amount of electricity flowing through America's grid; cited by The New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal and influencing FERC Order 1920 and a 21-state grid modernization initiative.
Quantifiable outcome
- Interconnection bottlenecks cost PJM customers $3.5 billion
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use GridLab
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
GridLab technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
GridLab partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Current Energy GroupcoreGridLab partnered with Current Energy Group (CEG) to produce the report 'Beyond the Power Plant: The Hidden Costs of Gas-Fired Generation,' finding that mandatory gas infrastructure costs add 30% or more to the true cost of new gas plants. CEG provided analysis across seven utility case studies from Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
- Utilize Coalition (Google, Tesla, Carrier, Renew Home, SPAN, Sparkfund, Verrus)coreGridLab is a member of the Utilize Coalition, a group of companies and organizations advocating for policy changes to improve utilization of the existing US power grid. The coalition commissioned The Brattle Group to model a representative mid-sized utility system, finding that a 10% improvement in system utilization could reduce electricity rates by approximately 3.4% and save consumers $110–170 billion over the next decade.
- Aurora Energy ResearchcoreGridLab commissioned Aurora Energy Research to analyze the price impact of additional renewable and BESS supply in PJM. The analysis found that had 10% of queued land-based renewables and batteries been built in time for the 2026/27 delivery year, consumers could have saved approximately $3.5 billion in capacity costs.
- HalcyonsupportingGridLab collaborated with Halcyon, an energy analysis software platform, to analyze rising costs of new gas generation power plants. Halcyon provided market data from its platform which was reviewed and analyzed by Energy Futures Group (another GridLab expert partner) and used to evaluate trends in gas turbine costs from IRP and CPCN filings.
- Energy Futures Group (EFG)coreEnergy Futures Group, a GridLab expert organization, reviewed and analyzed market data from Halcyon on gas turbine costs and executed regression analyses to evaluate trends. EFG provides consulting on energy efficiency, renewable energy, strategic electrification, decarbonization policy, and integrated resource planning.
- Energy Systems Integration Group (ESIG)supportingGridLab experts worked with ESIG to test grid-forming inverter (GFM) battery storage capability on industry models and a model of the Wisconsin transmission network, finding that GFM controls can ensure system stability while increasing hosting capacity for new generation sources. GridLab presented findings at ESIG's Spring Technical Workshop in Austin, Texas.
- Sylvan Energy AnalyticscoreSylvan Energy Analytics, co-founded by GridLab expert Dr. Elaine Hart, developed the GridPath open-source grid analytics platform with support from GridLab. Sylvan and GridLab collaborated on the 'Innovate' modeling series, including the Iterative Portfolio Optimization paper, which addresses challenges of incorporating complex planning considerations in capacity expansion models.
- Telos EnergycoreTelos Energy, a GridLab expert organization, developed an alternative approach to capacity expansion modeling for the 'Innovate' modeling series, aiming to better integrate risk and uncertainty into portfolio design. Telos founding partner Derek Stenclik presented at the ESIG Spring Technical Workshop on behalf of GridLab.
- 2035 and Beyond Report Partners (Energy Innovation, UC Berkeley)coreGridLab partnered with Energy Innovation and UC Berkeley to produce the '2035 and Beyond: Reconductoring Report,' which found that deploying advanced conductors could nearly double the amount of electricity running through America's grid. The report received widespread media attention including coverage by The New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal, and influenced FERC Order 1920 and the 21-state grid modernization initiative.
- CHARGED Initiative (Advanced Energy United, RMI)coreGridLab co-launched the CHARGED Initiative with Advanced Energy United and RMI in 2023 to help prepare the distribution system for electrification so that customers benefit from low costs and high reliability. The initiative conducts peer exchange programs for US state utility commissioners, including international trips to Great Britain and Australia to learn about distribution market innovations, performance-based regulation, and DSO models.
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)supportingDr. Fredrich (Fritz) Kahrl, a GridLab expert, is affiliated with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's Electricity Markets & Policy (EMP) department. LBNL conducts research on electricity markets and policy that aligns with GridLab's grid transformation mission.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
GridLab competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- RMI (Rocky Mountain Institute): RMI is a clean energy think tank that conducts technical analysis, modeling, and policy research on grid transformation, electrification, and decarbonization — directly comparable to GridLab's mission, with co-leadership of the CHARGED Initiative as evidence of close collaboration.
- Advanced Energy United: Advanced Energy United is an industry advocacy organization providing technical and policy support for clean energy companies, co-leading the CHARGED Initiative with GridLab and RMI. Overlaps directly in regulatory engagement, expert testimony, and grid modernization advocacy.
- Synapse Energy Economics: Synapse Energy Economics is a research and consulting firm that provides technical analysis, modeling, and expert testimony in utility regulatory proceedings on resource planning, transmission, and clean energy — a direct competitor in the same expert testimony and modeling market.
- Energy Innovation: Energy Innovation is a clean energy policy think tank producing technical analysis and reports on grid modernization, decarbonization, and energy policy. Co-authored the Reconductoring Report with GridLab and UC Berkeley, indicating deep mission and methodology alignment.
- Aurora Energy Research: Aurora Energy Research provides power market modeling and analysis focused on renewables, storage, and grid economics. GridLab commissioned Aurora for its PJM interconnection analysis; Aurora is a for-profit analytics firm in the adjacent technical-analyst role GridLab occupies on the nonprofit/advocacy side.
- Energy Systems Integration Group (ESIG): ESIG is a technical membership organization focused on grid systems integration, hosting technical workshops and producing research on grid reliability, inverters, and resource adequacy. GridLab presents at ESIG workshops and partners on GFM inverter research, making ESIG a closely related peer.
- Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA): CESA is a nonprofit coalition of state clean energy funds and programs that publishes reports, convenes stakeholders, and supports state-level clean energy policy. A closely comparable mission-aligned organization operating in the same clean-energy technical assistance space as GridLab.
Broad incumbents
- The Brattle Group: Brattle Group is a large economic and financial consulting firm with a major energy practice that provides expert testimony, modeling, and analysis in utility regulatory proceedings. GridLab commissioned Brattle for the Utilize Coalition report; Brattle is a much larger incumbent in the same expert-services market.
- ICF International: ICF is a large global consulting firm with deep energy and climate practices providing modeling, regulatory support, and technical analysis to utilities and regulators. A broader incumbent that competes for the same utility and government technical advisory engagements as GridLab.
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): NRDC is a large environmental advocacy organization that produces technical and policy analysis on grid transformation and intervenes in utility regulatory proceedings. Comparable in advocacy role but much broader and larger in scope and budget than GridLab.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
GridLab social profiles
Digital presenceGridLab financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GridLab leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
GridLab funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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GridLab M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GridLab
What does GridLab do?
GridLab provides pro bono expert capacity to solve technical challenges and answer reliability questions on the U.S. electric grid. Through a network of 70+ independent experts and consultants, GridLab produces technical analyses, modeling reports, and expert testimony supporting state utility commissions, utilities, RTOs/ISOs, NGOs, and clean energy advocates in contested regulatory dockets. It publishes original research on interconnection, energy storage, reconductoring, gas infrastructure costs, and resource adequacy, and co-leads the CHARGED Initiative peer exchange program.
Is GridLab a public or private company?
GridLab is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was GridLab founded?
GridLab was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is GridLab based?
GridLab is headquartered in Oakland, United States, in the North America region.
How does GridLab make money?
One revenue line is on record: nonprofit Mission-Based Work.
Who are GridLab's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are RMI (Rocky Mountain Institute), Advanced Energy United, Synapse Energy Economics, Energy Innovation, Aurora Energy Research, Energy Systems Integration Group (ESIG) and Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA). Broad incumbents are The Brattle Group, ICF International and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
Does GridLab have an API?
No public API is recorded for GridLab.
What industry is GridLab in?
GridLab's product category is Energy Policy Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUADAEAI, Grid Analytics, Forecasting & Decision Support (Load/DER/Outage), with a secondary code of EUAEACAN, Network Upgrades & Capacity Additions (Reconductoring, Rebalancing, Voltage Optimization). Its NAICS code is 22112 and its SIC code is 4900.