DOE Selects 23 Projects to Modernize the Grid
The Department of Energy (DOE) announced in November 2019 the allocation of $80 million over the next 3 years to cover the implementation of 23 grid modernization projects. The announcement was issued via the “2019 Grid Modernization Lab Call” through the Grid Modernization Initiative (GMI).
Details on the DOE Projects
This is the third Grid Modernization Lab Call released by the DOE. The first was announced in 2016 and called for $220 million over 3 years for the deployment of 87 projects across the U.S. The second was in 2017, and called for $32 million over 3 years for an additional 7 projects.
The “2019 Grid Modernization Lab Call” expands upon the work started in 2016 to fully integrate the energy system. The recommended projects focus on resilience modeling, energy storage, advanced sensors, generation, and cybersecurity, to name a few. Each project is expected to start paying back within 2 years.
The full details on the DOE grid modernization projects can be found at energy.gov. Here is a partial list in no particular order:
- Deployment of physical security tactics designed to protect power plants against electromagnetic pulse threats or attacks
- Identification of impacts and risks associated with the water resources necessary for generation facilities
- Coordination of an overall analysis of the grid’s resilience and reliability
- Development of an architecture capable of handing the integration of distributed energy resources such as solar PV, energy storage assets, and electric vehicles (among others)
- Expansion of HELICS (Hierarchical Engine for Large-scale Infrastructure Co-Simulation), which is an open-source cyber-physical-energy co-simulation framework for power systems
- Development of education and technical programs to support public utility commission grid modernization efforts.
- Development of an artificial intelligence -based system for early warning threat detection
- Development of guidelines and standards for blockchain concepts
As even this partial list proves, the DOE is serious about modernizing the grid. This is long overdue, and I, for one, applaud this new vision for achieving grid reliability and resiliency.
