U.S. Department of Energy selects Ameren and Pitch Aeronautics to deploy grid enhancing technology that seeks to boost capacity and reliability of existing power lines
Key Highlights
- ➤DOE selected Ameren and Pitch Aeronautics for Missouri and Illinois grid upgrades
- ➤New conductors will more than double capacity on two high-voltage line segments
- ➤Pitch will deploy weather-based ratings across more than 8,000 transmission miles
- ➤DOE’s SPARK initiative provides $1.9 billion across 31 projects in 26 states
- ➤Projects are projected to benefit approximately 100 million Americans
Expert Statements
Shawn Schukar, Chairman and president of Ameren Transmission
“Ameren is working to deploy grid-enhancing technologies that will economically help us continue delivering the reliable energy our customers depend on.”
Shawn Schukar, Chairman and president of Ameren Transmission
“We expect this project will help us optimize the performance of our existing transmission system and deliver greater value to our customers.”
Shawn Schukar, Chairman and president of Ameren Transmission
“But grid enhancing technologies like these cannot entirely replace the need for new transmission infrastructure.”
Shawn Schukar, Chairman and president of Ameren Transmission
“Meeting our region's long-term energy needs will require both maximizing the capacity of existing transmission lines and building new transmission projects that expand the grid.”
Ian Gibson, COO and co-founder of Pitch Aeronautics
“SPARK is game-changing”
Ian Gibson, COO and co-founder of Pitch Aeronautics
“Working alongside Ameren, we'll deploy weather-based line ratings to enhance the capabilities of more than 8,000 miles of transmission lines in Missouri and Illinois.”
Ian Gibson, COO and co-founder of Pitch Aeronautics
“That should unlock more capacity across the network, improve reliability, and increase access to the lower-cost sources of electricity across the region for customers.”
U.S. Department of Energy selects Ameren and Pitch Aeronautics to deploy grid enhancing technology that seeks to boost capacity and reliability of existing power lines PR Newswire
* The federally funded project from Ameren and Pitch Aeronautics will help meet customers' growing electricity demand in Missouri and Illinois while improving reliability and easing the pressure of rising energy costs. * The innovative project combines targeted upgrades incorporating high-performance electrical conductors to move more energy over existing transmission lines with innovative technology that enables weather-based ratings across Ameren's network. * This project is part of a larger portfolio from the U.S. Department of Energy, which announced $1.9 billion in funding for grid improvements to benefit approximately 100 million Americans across 26 states. ST. LOUIS, Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois and Pitch Aeronautics Inc. to deliver grid upgrades expected to increase the amount of energy able to flow through existing power lines in Missouri and Illinois in two ways. The upgrades could help meet customers' growing electricity demand while improving reliability and easing the pressure of rising costs.
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