Another $620 Million for Smart Grid
The second of the two main smart grid funding announcements (DE-FOA-38) from DOE was issued today by Secretary Chu while visiting Columbus, Ohio. According to the Department’s press release, the award includes $620 million for projects around the country to demonstrate advanced smart grid technologies and integrated systems that will help build a smarter, more efficient, more resilient electrical grid. The 32 demonstration projects include:
- large-scale energy storage
- smart meters
- distribution and transmission system monitoring devices
- range of other smart technologies
A complete project list (pdf) is available on the DOE website.
Big winners appear to be Battelle Memorial Institute ($88 million), AEP Ohio ($75 million), LADWP ($60 million), and ConEd ($45 million), among others. The goal of the funding is to demonstrate technologies in regions across the U.S. that “embody essential and salient characteristics of each region and present a suite of use cases for national implementation and replication.”
Last month, the Department announced $3.4 billion in funding as part of its smart grid investment program.
Secretary Chu also released a video to YouTube discussing the benefits of Smart Grid.
