$11 Million Now Available in New York for Solutions Addressing Grid Challenges

Governor Kathy Hochul this week (Aug 11) announced the availability of $11 million in funding through the fourth round of the Future Grid Challenge for projects that identify solutions to the technical challenges of integrating a changing energy resource mix into the electric grid.

The announcement also included more than $5 million in project awards under the third round of the challenge. Modernizing the electric grid enhances reliability and resiliency in response to a changing climate, optimizes transmission of power, and supports New York's nation-leading Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goal to achieve 70 percent renewable electricity by 2030.

"With the increasing number of extreme weather events in New York and across the country, we are working hard to modernize our electric grid and support the development of technologies that will improve reliability," Governor Hochul said. "By making our grid smarter, more flexible and cleaner with the use of renewable energy, we can ensure the reliability of our energy system, reduce emissions, and create a more sustainable future for New Yorkers.

Administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), through Round Four, proposals are sought from single or team providers including researchers, product vendors, asset managers and consultants to develop or demonstrate advanced technologies that will support a reliable modern energy transmission and distribution system. Projects must also advance reduced energy costs and greater quantities of renewables integration, while helping the State meet its ambitious climate goals. 

Up to $3 million per project is available to address high-priority grid technologies including:

• Improved transmission utilization
  
• Operational situational awareness 
  
• Distribution Energy Management Systems (DERMS) 
  
• Inverter based resource integration 
  
• Power electronics 
  
• Grid modeling 
  
• Data analytics 
  
• Artificial intelligence/machine learning 
  
• Protection systems

The deadline for proposal submissions is 3:00 p.m. on October 26, 2023. For additional details and associated documents, visit NYSERDA's website. 

NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, "A modernized grid is dynamically managed using live data on everything from the weather and the changing needs of electricity users to the capacity of the grid to accept and distribute energy from renewable sources like wind and solar. The technologies that are being supported through the Future Grid Challenge are advancing grid modernization while helping deliver cleaner sources of energy to all New Yorkers."

Chair and CEO of the Public Service Commission Rory M. Christian said, "I applaud Governor Hochul's commitment to developing a robust pathway to modernize the grid in a way that will allow it to meet the ever-changing needs of residential and business consumers and to enhance the use of clean, renewable energy resources."

Projects awarded under Round Three include: 

• Clarkson University - $399,000: To evaluate the stability and reliability risks associated with a high voltage direct current meshed network for offshore wind. 
  
• Electric Power Research Institute -
  
• $397,000: To investigate the unique situations of the onshore power system as a result of increased offshore wind penetration. 
  
• $2.3 million: To develop a control management software so solar, battery storage and other distributed energy resources (DERs) can  provide even further benefits to the grid. 
  
• $400,000: To study how energy storage deployment can address grid stability issues for transmission and sub-transmission networks. 
  
• New York University - $187,000: To study a methodology for detecting large power transformer defects without disrupting service for maintenance. 
  
• Quanta Technology - $400,000: To study how intelligent power electronic devices located at large renewable generation plants can be used to improve visibility and grid operator situational awareness. 
  
• Switched Source - $1 million: To demonstrate a power electronics device's ability to improve the efficiency, increase renewable hosting capacity and improve reliability of the electric grid.

The Future Grid Challenge offers funding to grid technology companies and research institutions that address challenges ranging from the need for greater real-time system data to incorporating smart technologies and energy storage into power grid planning and operations. The goal of the program is to foster innovative technologies to enhance resiliency, enable and advance energy infrastructure for the performance needed to achieve the Climate Act goals and ensure reliability of the transmission and distribution system, reducing cost, and allowing for faster integration of renewables.

Challenges have been developed in partnership with the Joint Utilities of New York members Con Edison, Central Hudson Gas & Electric, National Grid, New York State Electric and Gas, Rochester Gas & Electric, and Orange & Rockland and the Advanced Technology Working Group to accommodate renewable energy sources and understand their impact on the transmission and distribution systems. Together, these utilities provide electric service to over 13 million households, businesses, and government facilities across the State. 

This week's announcement builds on NYSERDA's successful Grid Modernization Program, which will provide a total of $133 million through 2026 to further research, develop, and provide funding for innovative solutions that support the advancement of a smart, modernized electric grid, remove barriers and enable the utility investments necessary for full deployment at scale of advanced technologies for the power grid. Since 2016, NYSERDA's Smart Grid program has awarded approximately $65 million under 111 contracts to grid technology companies and research organizations for projects including low-cost, high-accuracy grid sensors, modeling and simulation tools, and advanced engineering solutions for more effective optimization, reliability and resiliency, and integration of renewable energy resources.

Funding for this initiative is through the State's 10-year, $6 billion Clean Energy Fund. More information about this funding is available on NYSERDA's website.

_{Source:  New York State Energy Research and Development Authority}

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17th Microgrid Global Innovation Forum - EMEA, September 26-27, 2023 | London

Utility Cyber Security Forum - Europe, November 14-15, 2023 | London

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18th Microgrid Global Innovation Forum - North America, December 5-6, 2023 | Chicago

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