Office of Electricity

?? Reminder! ?? The application period for the Critical Facility Energy Resilience (CiFER) funding opportunity closes in 2 weeks on Oct. 4! This will support advancing innovative storage tech from early-stage R&D to commercialization. Apply now: https://bit.ly/3ZtsNCE

?? Exciting news! The Office of Electricity is expected to contribute approximately $2.4 million to the upcoming Fiscal Year 2025 Core Laboratory Infrastructure for Market Readiness (CLIMR) Lab Call. Stay tuned for the official release in October, as U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) plans to award up to $36.8 million across six topics. This initiative, backed by the Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF), aims to accelerate clean energy technology commercialization and boost U.S. energy competitiveness and security!

?? As summer transitions into fall, OE has been hard at work, providing more than $41 million in investments aimed at advancing the grid of the future through digitization, cybersecurity, and more. We're also excited to announce a new initiative aimed at supporting under-represented and remote communities in achieving their energy goals. Dive into this edition?of “OE Grid Galaxy" to learn more about our recent efforts and ongoing commitment to ensuring clean and reliable energy for all. Read the full newsletter below. ??

#ICYMI: Energy storage is key to a modern, resilient electric grid! ?? OE is launching the $200,000 Beyond the Meter Energy Storage Integration Prize & soft launching the $300,000 Energy Storage Innovations Prize Round 2, fostering innovative, inclusive energy storage solutions while maximizing value for consumers. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4d88IEW

?? Today, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Office of Electricity announced its intent to issue two funding opportunities, one to reduce the costs of High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) power circuit breakers and the other to prevent cascading grid failures. Modernizing the grid through better HVDC circuit breakers and physics- and human behavior-aware analytics as well as risk and uncertainty characterization can allow more power on the grid, help prevent grid failures, and thus reduce the cost of energy while improving the reliability and resilience of the electric infrastructure. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), U.S. Department of Energy Learn more about these funding opportunities: https://bit.ly/3znXrCF

Did You Know? Edison Electric Light placed signs (like this one from 1892) in public places like hotels and railroad stations. ?? These signs helped guide people transitioning from match-lit gas lights to electric bulbs, which were operated by turning a key switch on the wall. ???? This innovation made electricity more accessible, safer, and laid the groundwork for our modern electrical systems!

Meet the big 3 (divisions) of OE! Our divisions work hand-in-hand to solve some of the biggest challenges facing our electrical grid and develop the necessary technologies to build our grid of the future. Check them out: ? Grid Systems and Components: Leads the national efforts to develop next generation technologies, tools, and techniques for the electricity delivery system. ??? Grid Controls and Communications: Manages research, development, and demonstration programs aimed at modernizing our grid. ?? Energy Storage: Develops innovative energy storage technologies to provide system reliability, resilience, and efficiency. Learn more about each of our divisions and their work: https://bit.ly/3VJqpFR

Energy storage is key to modernizing our electric grid and maximizing value for consumers. By integrating energy storage and grid-edge technology, consumers can reduce their reliance on the grid, lower energy costs, and contribute to grid stability. To accelerate innovation, OE is launching the $200,000 Beyond the Meter Energy Storage Integration Prize. This initiative encourages companies to showcase behind-the-meter grid-edge technologies to create a more distributed and resilient energy system. These technologies are crucial to reduce dependence on traditional energy sources while maximizing value for consumers through increased energy reliability and cost savings. We're also soft launching the $300,000 Energy Storage Innovations Prize Round 2, focusing on less conventional use cases (e.g., remote and/or underserved communities, extreme climates) and innovative (less mature) energy storage technology solutions, across all duration scales, to advance the market landscape. Read more about how these initiatives work toward building a resilient, reliable, secure, and affordable energy system for everyone: https://bit.ly/4d88IEW U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

Today, we remember those we lost during — and in the aftermath – of 9/11, and we honor those who risked or gave their lives to save others. In one of our nation's darkest moments, we saw the resilience and courage of the American spirit. We carry that with us today.

?? Ready to power up your knowledge about the electric grid? Tune in to our electrifying podcast, Grid Talk, and join the conversation on the future of energy: https://bit.ly/2Z8cZUK