NYSERDA Announces Up to $30 Million in Funding for Third Round of Future Grid Challenge to Identify Solutions to Technical Challenges of Renewable Power Integration
Up To $3 Million Per Project Now Available to Study, Develop, or Demonstrate New Technologies that Support Transmission and Distribution
August 17, 2022
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today announced up to $30 million in funding is being made available in the third round of the Future Grid Challenge for projects that identify solutions to the technical challenges of integrating renewable resources into the electric grid. Up to $3 million per project is available for single or team providers that propose to study, develop, or demonstrate innovative technologies that support modern transmission and distribution. These efforts support New York’s nation-leading Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act) goal to achieve 70 percent renewable electricity by 2030.
Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO, NYSERDA said, “With the release of this latest round of the Future Grid Challenge, we are seeking to support critical technology solutions that will allow the electric grid to continue to handle increasing amounts of renewable energy. Investments in innovation are investments in a grid of the future that incorporates clean energy and allows for dynamic management and operation to ensure resilient and reliable transmission and distribution, even when factoring in the impacts of climate change.”
With today’s announcement, NYSERDA is seeking proposals that support implementing advanced technologies that can play a vital role in ensuring reliability of the transmission and distribution system, reducing cost, and allowing for faster integration of renewables, while helping the State to meet its ambitious climate goals. This challenge seeks to address high priority grid technologies including:
- Power flow control devices
- Energy storage for transmission and distribution services
- Tools for improving operator situational awareness
- Transformer monitoring
- Advanced high-temperature, low sag conductors
- Compact tower design
- Distribution Energy Management Systems (DERMS)
- Grid impacts from offshore wind interconnection
Solicitation proposals are due by 3:00 p.m. on November 2, 2022. For additional details and associated documents, visit NYSERDA’s website.
Rory M. Christian, CEO of the Department of Public Service, said, “Supporting the development of new technology is critically important as we deal aggressively with the need to create a clean energy grid. The new technology that will be created will help ensure transmission and distribution system reliability, while speeding integration of renewables that will assist New York in meeting its nation-leading climate goals.”
The Future Grid Challenge is part of NYSERDA’s Smart Grid Program included in the State’s Clean Energy Fund (CEF) Grid Modernization Program, which is providing a total of $110 million through 2026 to further research, develop, and provide funding for innovative solutions that support the advancement of a smart, modernized electric grid, remove barriers 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 $57 million under 100 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 integration of renewable energy resources. Learn more on NYSERDA's website.
Administered by NYSERDA, 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. Challenges are developed in partnership with the Joint Utilities of New York members Con Edison, Central Hudson Gas & Electric, National Grid, New York State Electric and Gas, Rochester Gas & Electric, and Orange & Rockland to accommodate renewable energy sources and understanding their impact on the transmission and distribution systems. Together, these utilities provide electric service to over 13 million households, businesses, and government facilities across the State.
Nation-Leading Climate Plan
New York State's nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York is on a path to achieve its mandated goal of a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy wide carbon neutrality. It builds on New York's unprecedented investments to ramp-up clean energy including over $35 billion in 120 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce buildings emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $1.6 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. Combined, these investments are supporting nearly 158,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector in 2020, a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011 and a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035. Under the Climate Act, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while ensuring that at least 35 percent with a goal of 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities, and advance progress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs of end-use energy savings.
About NYSERDA
NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation, offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and funding to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. NYSERDA professionals work to protect the environment and create clean-energy jobs. NYSERDA has been developing partnerships to advance innovative energy solutions in New York State since 1975. To learn more about NYSERDA’s programs and funding opportunities, visit nyserda.ny.gov or follow us on Twitter
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