DOE puts up $48M for grid reliability, resilience efforts

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $48 million in funding support for a new program to develop power grid technologies to improve control and protection of the nation’s power grid, modernizing it and minimizing the potential for failures and outages.

The new program is known as the Unlocking Lasting Transformative Resiliency Advances by Faster Actuation of Power Semiconductor Technologies (ULTRAFAST). It’s managed by the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) to develop faster electronics that are more capable and could increase control of power flow. Teams will pursue device concepts focused on semiconductor material, device, and power module level advances that enable faster switching and triggering at high current and voltage levels, improved immunity to electromagnetic interference and sensing, packaging and thermal management.

“A reliable and resilient grid is the key to protecting our power supply from outside threats and expanding America’s clean energy and transportation options,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said. “Federal investments in tools and analysis to modernize our grid will put the nation on a path to meet President Biden’s climate goals and extend the benefits of a decarbonized energy and transportation sector to all corners of the country.”

The DOE estimated that improving the coordinated operation of electricity supply and demand could improve the cost efficiency of grid operations and block unpredictable outages that could cost the U.S. economy about $150 billion annually.