GRID RELIABILITY WITH AUTOMATIC DAMPING AND INERTIA FOR ELECTRICAL NETWORKS AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS (GRADIENTS)
ID: 358207Type: Posted
Overview

Buyer

Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy (DOE-ARPAE)

Award Range

$2M - $5M

Eligible Applicants

Unrestricted

Funding Category

Science and Technology and other Research and Development

Funding Instrument

Other

Opportunity Category

Discretionary

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

Yes

Additional Information

https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov
Timeline
    Description

    The Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) is offering a funding opportunity under the GRADIENTS program, aimed at enhancing grid reliability through innovative technologies in the context of increasing renewable energy integration. This program seeks to support the development of disruptive grid assets and control solutions that enable renewable energy systems to provide essential services traditionally supported by conventional synchronous generators, focusing on three key areas: Flexible Renewable Generation, Intelligent Automatic Relays, and Wide-Area Real-Time Control Co-Design (RT-CCD). With approximately $30 million in total funding available, applicants are encouraged to propose collaborative and innovative solutions that improve grid stability metrics and resilience, with a submission deadline of February 14, 2025. For more information, interested parties can visit the ARPA-E eXCHANGE website or contact ARPA-E at ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov.

    Point(s) of Contact
    Files
    Title
    Posted
    The Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) under the GRADIENTS program, aimed at enhancing grid reliability through innovative technologies amid increasing renewable energy integration. With approximately $30 million in funding, the program will support development in three key areas: Flexible Renewable Generation, Intelligent Automatic Relays, and Wide-Area Real-Time Control Co-Design (RT-CCD). The program seeks to transform inverter-based resources (IBRs) into reliable grid assets by overcoming challenges associated with high renewable penetration, such as inadequate inertia and damping during frequency fluctuations. Applicants are encouraged to propose collaborative and innovative solutions, employing advanced control systems and autonomous decision-making capabilities. Key objectives include improving grid stability metrics like RoCoF, nadir, and recovery time, while fostering resilience in the energy infrastructure. The program explicitly calls for a synchronized approach that engages multiple stakeholders, emphasizing a proactive and holistic control framework that can swiftly respond to grid dynamics and enhance the overall efficiency of energy management. This funding opportunity signifies a strategic move to reinforce U.S. energy resilience and leadership in advanced energy technologies, ensuring the grid remains stable in the face of growing renewable energy sources and escalating operational challenges.
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