The DOE has introduced a brand new Funding Alternative Announcement (DE-FOA-0003136), which provides as much as $65 million for Related Communities 2.0, a program that “seeks to validate grid-edge know-how improvements in real-world conditions and supply new instruments for utilities, grid planners and operators, automakers and good cost administration service suppliers.”
This FOA has two main matter areas:
- Related Communities, centered on grid edge technical measures in buildings, trade and transportation to arrange the electrical grid for anticipated new hundreds.
- Sensible Cost Administration, centered on city, suburban and rural use instances to construct confidence in good charging as an efficient method for EVs to supply flexibility and worth to the electrical grid.
The primary Related Communities tasks, launched in 2020, centered on integration of distributed power assets to assist a extra variable grid. The two.0 model goals to foster growth of recent applied sciences to make sure that the grid is versatile, resilient, and sized appropriately to accommodate growing hundreds from EV charging, information facilities, and constructing and industrial electrification. Examples embody managed EV charging, good panels, power storage and rooftop photo voltaic.
“It’s important that we plan for an influence system that’s safe, environment friendly and versatile, utilizing grid edge applied sciences,” stated Jeff Marootian, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Vitality Effectivity and Renewable Vitality. “Related Communities 2.0 will supercharge these efforts by forging improvements that may be replicated in communities throughout America whereas guaranteeing affordability, fairness and resilience.”
One of many targets of Related Communities 2.0 is to exhibit how good and coordinated administration of EVs and different distributed power assets can present grid assist, cut back system prices and encourage buyer adoption.
This FOA targets a number of areas for analysis, growth and demonstration, together with area validation of good cost administration for EVs that may be deployed at massive scale.
Required concept papers are due August 20, 2024, and full purposes are due October 10.
Supply: US Department of Energy