The Golden Field Office of the U.S. Department of Energy is offering a federal grant opportunity titled "Solar and Wind Interconnection for Future Transmission (SWIFTR)". This grant aims to support innovative work that enables simpler, faster, and fairer interconnection of clean energy resources while enhancing the reliability, resiliency, and security of the electrical grid.

The grant will focus on two topic areas. Topic Area 1, "Improved Efficiency of EMT Simulations for Interconnection Studies of IBRs", seeks to improve the efficiency of the interconnection study process for new solar and wind plants and battery energy storage systems. This will be achieved by enhancing software tools used in power systems interconnection studies and developing a better understanding of when high-fidelity simulations are necessary in the interconnection process. The goal is to increase long-term plant reliability.

Topic Area 2, "Dynamic Stability-Enhanced Network Assessment Tools", aims to develop tools that provide stakeholders with data on transmission system characteristics related to stability, voltage, and grid strength. These tools will ensure the security of confidential and critical energy infrastructure information. The projects in this topic area will establish the type of information required by stakeholders, develop the necessary tools, and test and evaluate them on at least one real transmission system.

The grant requires cost sharing or matching and falls under the category of funding activity for Energy. The funding instrument type is a Cooperative Agreement. The grant has a closing date of June 28, 2024, and an estimated total program funding of $10,000,000. The award ceiling is $2,500,000, and the award floor is $1,000,000. It is expected that 10 awards will be granted.

The grant is open to unrestricted applicants, including institutions of higher education, for-profit entities, nonprofit entities, state and local governmental entities, and federally recognized Indian Tribes. The applicants must be domestic entities organized, chartered, or incorporated under the laws of a particular state or territory of the United States, have majority domestic ownership and control, and have a physical place of business in the United States. Certain entities, such as those banned from doing business with the United States government or nonprofit organizations engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995, are not eligible to apply.

For more information and to apply for the grant, please visit the additional information URL. If you have any questions, you can contact the grantor at i2X-FOA@ee.doe.gov.