OE Grid Galaxy - November Edition

Message from Gene:

I know that the Presidential election is on the minds of many of us, but I think it’s important to keep things in perspective. Administrative transitions occur every four or eight years as a feature of our national elections. We have people all throughout DOE who are experienced in shepherding us through a stable transition, especially right here at the Office of Electricity (OE). We have staff that have capably led OE through transitions for multiple administrations, so I have every confidence they will make this upcoming transition seamless and successful.

I firmly believe that OE’s mission is vital. Reliability, Resilience, Security, Affordability: These four pillars of OE’s mission transcend the politics of the moment. They are critical imperatives for the American power grid no matter who resides in the White House. With that in mind, I am certain that the Office of Electricity will remain focused on fulfilling its critical mission for the American people.

Let us also recognize that the transition can be an exciting and invigorating time. It provides us with an opportunity to shine a spotlight on OE’s tremendously vital work and on our incredible people. We will have the opportunity to revisit priorities and consider revised approaches to better serve the American people. I couldn’t be prouder of our team at OE, and I know they will continue to work in partnership with our industry stakeholders to advance the 21st century power grid our great nation deserves. I hope you are all as excited as I am to watch OE write its next chapter!

Yours in partnership,

OE Partnership to Extend Life of Transmission Lines

The Office of Electricity (OE) is partnering with the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and DOE’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) to advance the technology that allows transmission lines to handle the strain from extreme weather events and wildfires.????

Over the last few decades, advancements in conductor materials and configuration, including composite cores and coatings, enable them to transfer more power, lower line losses, and sag less than previous conductors. Advanced conductors are instrumental in our efforts at decarbonization because they can be used in conjunction with traditional conductors.??

To help understand how well-advanced conductors can handle extreme conditions, OE and CESER are co-sponsoring a national laboratory testing group to evaluate advanced conductors to determine their limits and maintenance needs. The test group, led by INL, began functional evaluations in September 2024 and will conduct up to 50 distinct tests on five different types of advanced conductors.???

“This project is another example of the innovative thinking and partnerships between DOE and our national labs,” said Assistant Secretary Gene Rodrigues. “Results from these critical tests will show the promise of advanced conductors to deliver even more affordable energy for the benefit of all Americans.”??

OE’s efforts to safeguard the material integrity of advanced conductors are just one reason why Assistant Secretary Rodrigues says, “We’re bringing forward advanced technology that will keep America’s energy grid the envy of the world.”??

Read more about the OE-supported advanced conductor testing at INL here.

Grid Storage Launchpad: Validating and Testing Bigger and Better Batteries

By Oliver Peckham, PNNL?

Energy storage is increasingly critical to building a resilient electric grid in the United States—a trend embodied by the Grid Storage Launchpad (GSL), a newly inaugurated, 93,000-square-foot facility funded by the Department of Energy's Office of Electricity at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL).?

GSL is a hub for propelling energy storage technologies out of the lab and into the real world: a perfect fit for PNNL, where decades of targeted innovation have positioned the Laboratory as a leader in energy storage research. GSL reinforces and elevates that position, bringing many of PNNL’s energy storage research programs under one roof while adding new testing, production, and development capabilities.?

Validating and testing more, bigger, and better batteries?

Grid batteries face challenging requirements: charging and discharging quickly, operating continuously for long periods of time, enduring constant cycling for years—and, of course, holding enough energy to make a difference to today’s electric grid.??

Validating these properties is crucial when developing experimental grid storage technologies. Previously, PNNL had the ability to test batteries at a 5–10 kW scale—about the power provided by a mid-tier electric vehicle (EV) charger or the average power draw of a handful of typical homes.?

That capability is increasing by an order of magnitude: GSL has the ability to test and validate much more powerful systems (up to 100 kW) with capacities up to 400 kWh—enough to power several homes for days or even weeks. This increase in power and scale, combined with the realistic grid operating conditions used to test these batteries, will help to derisk adoption and acceleration commercialization of grid-scale energy storage.?

Read the full blog.?

OE Employee Spotlight: IT Cybersecurity Specialist Cole Smith

What exactly do you do?

I’m a program manager for RD&D (research, development, and demonstration) projects focused on grid cybersecurity and communications.

What drew you to OE?

The mission and potential for impact. With recent historic legislation (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act) focusing attention on the energy sector, I saw an amazing opportunity to help the Office of Electricity’s R&D team look at future grid-focused technologies through a cyber lens.

As a veteran, what do you find rewarding about your work?

I get to work with some of the smartest energy professionals in the world at DOE. I feel like I’m always challenged and learning—Both signs of a great job!

What was your favorite project that you were involved in?

The CyberForce? Program is focused on workforce development of up-and-coming cyber professionals, specifically in the energy sector. Developing this talent is impactful as they will one day be critical participants in ensuring the security of future grid technologies. And there’s of course the added benefit of helping young cyber job seekers find really cool work!

What projects are you excited about?

Working with INL on accelerating commercialization of OmniTap technology! OmniTap is an exciting technology developed by INL that provides enhanced visibility into operational technology (OT) networks. Through the Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF), we are funding the accelerated development of a production-ready, OmniTap-based device.

How does that project impact everyday Americans? ?

Commercialization of this technology will address a significant market need in the OT cybersecurity space. Additionally, it would have broader benefits to the security of not just the energy sector but for all critical infrastructure sectors. And more secure critical infrastructure is a win for all of us!

Watt's New

OE Out and About

Chris Irwin, Program Manager in Grid Controls, speaks at the GCC Division Program Review in Washington, D.C.

Assistant Secretary Gene Rodrigues, left, receives the Art Rosenfeld Achievement Award at the California Efficiency + Demand Management Council (CEDMC) for his leadership in advancing our Nation’s clean energy goals.

Dr. Emeka Obikwelu, far left, Director of Grid Systems, with his fellow panelists at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Annual Meeting.

Did You Know?

Thanksgiving Day can see a 20% increase in household energy use, with much of it happening in the kitchen.

Energy-saving tip: Pre-planning the cooking schedule and minimizing door openings in the oven can help you cook efficiently. Consider using a slow cooker for side dishes or a pressure cooker, which consume less energy than an oven.?