
The US Department of Energy has announced that four projects have been selected for funding to deploy grid enhancing technologies (GETs) that will improve grid reliability, optimize existing grid infrastructure, and support connection of renewable energy. The GETs that will be primarily used are Advanced Power Flow Control (APFC) such as SmartValve, Dynamic Line Ratings (DLR) and Digital Twin technologies.
Grid enhancing technologies have gained increasingly more recognition in the US over the past few years, especially in terms of their role in enabling better use of the existing grid. So much so that the Department of Energy (DOE) launched a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) in February specifically for accelerating the deployment of GETs. The recipients of this funding were announced by the DOE on 13 November for four projects that will use APFC, DLR and Digital Twin technologies. The US Department of Energy’s official release is available here.
These projects will deploy these GETs in multiple states across the US, aiming to optimize infrastructure in existing rights of way, while also facilitating renewable resource interconnection and market access by improving the reliability and efficiency of power transfer. Some of the projects will combine different GETs to harness the powerful synergies that exist when used together. For example, DLR identifies spare capacity above the static line limits, and APFC redirects power flows to utilize this available capacity and provide other dynamic services.
Ted Bloch-Rubin, Director of Business Development, Americas at Smart Wires
Smart Wires also offers SUMO, a state-of-the-art dynamic line rating software developed by a Transmission System Operator, that provides system-wide dynamic ratings to identify spare grid capacity above static limits. Powerful synergies exist when DLR such as SUMO is combined with APFC such as SmartValve, providing multiplier effect which enables much more renewable energy to flow on the existing grid infrastructure, improves resiliency, and solves many other critical grid challenges.
The projects will be delivered in 2024.
Selection for award negotiations is not a commitment by DOE to issue an award or provide funding. Before funding is issued, DOE and the applicants will undergo a negotiation process, and DOE may cancel negotiations and rescind the selection for any reason during that time.
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