As part of the U.S. Energy Department’s ongoing efforts to modernize the nation’s grid through the Grid Modernization Initiative, the Energy Department on May 2nd, 2016 announced USD 25 million in available funding through an effort called “Enabling Extreme Real-Time Grid Integration of Solar Energy (ENERGISE)” to help software developers, solar companies, and utilities accelerate the integration of solar energy into the grid.
Since President Obama took office, the amount of solar power installed in the U.S. has increased 23-fold – from 1.2 gigawatts in 2008 to an estimated 27.4 gigawatts in 2015, with one million systems now in operation.
One of the key challenges to further solar deployment is the ability to integrate distributed generation sources like rooftop PV panels into the grid while balancing that generation with traditional utility generation to keep reliable and cost-effective power flowing to homes and businesses. The funding opportunity announcement will help support companies working to meet that challenge.
ENERGISE specifically seeks to develop software and hardware platforms for utility distribution system planning and operations that integrate sensing, communication, and data analytics.
These hardware and software solutions will help utilities manage solar and other distributed energy resources on the grid and will be data-driven, easily scaled-up from prototypes, and capable of real-time monitoring and control.
“Our ongoing grid modernization work will help accelerate the widespread adoption of the clean energy resources that will define our low-carbon future. This funding will help that mission by supporting industry partners working to integrate, store, and deploy solar energy throughout our electric grid,” said Lynn Orr, Energy Department Under Secretary for Science and Energy.
“In doing so, we hope to drive down costs and encourage even more American homeowners and businesses to install solar systems.”
Through industry and utility partnerships, the expected 10–15 solutions developed with this new funding will be field-tested by utilities to demonstrate their performance and value in real-world operating environments. These live demonstrations and research findings will provide valuable new tools for utilities and grid operators across the nation.
The full funding opportunity announcement, including application requirements, can be found on Energy.gov.
source:http://www.solarserver.com
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