As an extreme winter storm approached the U.S. in late Jan. 2026, with potential impacts to millions of Americans, OATI chief operations officer Kevin Sarkinen spoke to Straight Arrow News about the power grid’s latest test, and how OATI’s “game-changing” technology was helping grid operators keep the lights on.
Sarkinen explained how the December 2025 rollout of Real-Time Co-optimization (RTC) plus batteries is a significant upgrade to the Texas power system since Winter Storm Uri left millions without power in the Lone Star State in 2021. OATI is providing the platforms that help ERCOT process massive amounts of power flow data, he said, which supports reliability efforts.
“The new system is a ‘game changer’ improving operations so that ‘emergency energy supply will be optimized in real-time to meet the immediate needs of the grid.’ Sarkinen told Straight Arrow News.
While talking to SAN, Sarkinen assured safety in the storm, expressing how grid operators are prepared for dealing with the unexpected.
Key Takeaways on Grid Readiness:
- Diverse Energy Mix: Since 2021, 90% of new generation capacity in Texas has come from solar power and utility-scale batteries.
- Battery Backup: The grid now utilizes massive battery storage systems that can discharge power instantly during peak demand—a resource that was virtually non-existent five years ago.