DOE proposes $220M for multi-year grid modernization effort

Dive Brief:

The U.S. Department of Energy last week announced $220 million in research funding for grid modernization, advanced storage systems, clean energy integration, standards and test procedures, and several other areas, the Hill reports.
Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz announced the funding alongside the DOE’s new Grid Modernization Multi-Year Program Plan, outlining a strategy for modernizing the grid.
The funding will be awarded, subject to Congressional approval, over three years to DOE’s National Labs and partners.
Moniz said the work would help modernize the grid, lower carbon emissions and guard against attacks on the nation's energy infrastructure.

Dive Insight:

The Obama Administration continues to try and harden the grid against attacks while simultaneously bringing on increasing amounts of renewable energy. The three-year funding package announced last week will go towards the DOE’s comprehensive new Grid Modernization Multi-Year Program Plan, which it called a "blueprint" for upgrading the electric transmission sector.

“Modernizing the U.S. electrical grid is essential to reducing carbon emissions, creating safeguards against attacks on our infrastructure, and keeping the lights on,” Moniz said in a statement.

Moniz said the administration's grid modernization initiative represents a comprehensive DOE effort to help shape the future of the electric system, and ensure that it is resilient and secure "to withstand growing cyber security and climate challenges."

“Our Quadrennial Energy Review and Quadrennial Technology Review identified needs and opportunities to invest in the grid," Moniz said. "This public-private partnership between our National Laboratories, industry, academia, and state and local government agencies will help us further strengthen our ongoing efforts to improve our electrical infrastructure so that it is prepared to respond to the nation’s energy needs for decades to come.”

DOE said its research funding award falls under the Grid Modernization Laboratory Consortium, which involves 14 DOE National Laboratories and dozens of industry, academia, and state and local government agency partners across the country. The funds are being awarded to establish a comprehensive grid-related research and development effort.