Next Generation Technologies Needed for the Future Grid
Office of Electricity | U.S. Department of Energy
DOE’s Office of Electricity works with the public & private sectors to modernize U.S. critical electric infrastructure.
The modern electric grid can be traced back to the late 1800s and early 1900s when electricity was only needed for lighting and a few other services limited to industrial and other specialized applications. Over time however, electricity has become essential to all parts of modern life, including critical healthcare infrastructure, communication, and transportation. The grid has gradually evolved to meet these new uses and challenges, but modern requirements are much more complicated than before and are placing significant stress on the grid.
Increasing renewable resources, electric vehicles, distributed energy resources, and building electrification mean that the structural requirements of the future electric network differ substantially from those of today’s grid. Furthermore, governments (local, state, and federal) are setting increasingly aggressive targets for deep decarbonization of the economy. The Biden Administration has set a goal of a 50% emissions reduction by 2030, 100% clean electricity by 2035, and net-zero emissions by 2050. To meet these aggressive targets, the entire electric power sector must be dramatically upgraded and expanded to ensure the required improvements are made so grid infrastructure is able to support this power sector transformation.
OE recently released?the Next Generation Technologies report which includes a deep dive into the research and development (R&D) opportunities for three transformative technology advancements for a next-generation grid:
1.?????System carrying capacity line ratings - from static to dynamic to allow for faster response to changing system conditions.
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2.?????System topology and optimization - from inflexible and firm grid to variable and agile.
3.?????System equipment - from passive hardware to dynamic power electronics that can facilitate and manage the future grid.
These cutting-edge grid technologies support an integrated platform that help solve today’s challenges and facilitates the transition to a future grid capable of integrating more solar and wind generation and millions of electric vehicles and distributed energy resources.?