New York announces $11M in funding for solving grid challenges
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New York announces $11M in funding for solving grid challenges

New York’s Governor Hochul 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 the transmission of power, and is intended to support New York’s 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 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. Additional details and associated documents are available on NYSERDA’s website.

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 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 increase renewable hosting capacity and improve the reliability and efficiency 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 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.  

The announcement builds on NYSERDA’s Grid Modernization Program, which will provide a total of $133 million through 2026 to further research, develop, and provide funding for solutions that support the advancement of a smart, modernized electric grid, 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. Learn more on NYSERDA’s website. 

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