The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced an investment of $32 million to fund six pilot projects aimed at addressing the increasing electric loads on the nation’s grid. This funding is part of the Connected Communities initiative, which encompasses eight states and seeks to develop innovative technology solutions that help energy providers manage growing demand effectively.
Jeff Marootian, principal deputy assistant secretary for the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, articulated the goals of the initiative, stating, “Providing low-cost, resilient, and reliable energy to all Americans is a top priority for the DOE.” He underlined the critical need for solutions that maximise energy resources and ensure the delivery of efficient electricity, particularly in the face of escalating demand.
The Connected Communities 2.0 projects take lessons learned from previous initiatives launched in 2020, originally designed to integrate distributed energy resources. This new phase focuses on equipping utilities and communities with the necessary tools to manage advancing electric loads at vehicle charging locations, data centres, industrial sites, and more. Future upgrades to the electric grid will need to be appropriately sized to cope with these demands.
Key areas of focus within the initiative include:
- Connection between integrated grid-edge technical measures across sectors such as buildings, industry, and transportation to enhance grid resilience.
- Smart Charge Management, which will explore various scenarios within urban, suburban, and rural contexts to optimally manage electric vehicle charging and its integration into the grid.
Three significant projects have been selected in each of the two primary focus areas.
In Minnesota, the ACCELERATING Connectivity initiative, led by the Beneficial Electrification League, aims to advance scalable approaches for building load management by fostering collaboration with electric cooperatives. This project has received a funding award of $5.3 million.
Meanwhile, Purdue University will work in collaboration with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association to demonstrate pathways for rural electric membership cooperatives to boost energy efficiency amid new load growth, which is funded at $5.9 million.
In California, the Responsive Energy Communities Harnessing Advanced Grid Efficiency (RECHARGE) initiative, spearheaded by Pacific Gas & Electric, will investigate solutions to electric demand and distribution capacity challenges in areas like San Jose and Fresno County, receiving $6 million in funding.
The Smart Charge Management segment has selected numerous projects as well. One Energy Enterprises in Findlay, Ohio, is set to create a community charging depot integrating microgrid technology for heavy-duty truck fleets, receiving $3.2 million in support.
In Maryland, Baltimore Gas & Electric Company plans to implement a distributed energy resource management system to enhance EV charging functionalities, backed by an award of $5.9 million.
Lastly, the company EV.Energy will undertake a project across California, Florida, Alaska, Rhode Island, and Hawaii, focusing on managing smart charge solutions in diverse utility territories, with funding of $6 million.
These six projects are designed to showcase the potential of grid-edge technologies and integrated power systems that promise efficiency, resilience, and affordability, alongside innovative distribution and planning strategies that could serve as replicable models nationwide. The initiative reflects a collaborative effort from various DOE offices, including the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Office of Electricity, and several technology entities working together towards integrated energy system planning.
Source: Noah Wire Services