by Jbs073009 g3 — July 31, 2009—The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently awarded $47 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to eight ongoing smart grid demonstration projects. The $47 million investment will add to the $17 million in funds DOE had awarded these eight projects in 2008, thereby accelerating the timelines for the projects.
Most of the projects relate to technologies to help transmission and distribution systems operate better, but a few are directly related to clean energy. For example, the city of Fort Collins, Colorado, will research, develop, and demonstrate a coordinated and integrated system of mixed clean energy technologies and distributed energy resources, allowing the city to reduce its peak electrical demand by at least 15%. Meanwhile, the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago will focus on implementing distributed energy resources and creating demand-responsive microgrids, which are small power networks that can operate independently of the utility power grid.
DOE also released the first Smart Grid System Report (.pdf file), which examines smart grid deployments nationwide. The findings show that while many smart grid capabilities are just beginning to emerge, the adoption of various technologies—such as smart metering, automated substation controls, and distributed generation—is growing significantly.
The report also notes that smart grid capabilities are socially transformational. As with the Internet or cell phone communications, smart grid technologies have the potential to dramatically change how we experience electricity in the country, but improvements in physical and cyber security and information privacy will require consumers, manufacturers, and utilities to closely follow a range of best practices for the smart grid, says DOE.
Finally, DOE has begun the development of a Smart Grid Information Clearinghouse, tapping Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University for the $1.3 million initiative to develop and maintain the clearinghouse Web site, which will provide information to the public about smart grid initiatives happening nationwide. The clearinghouse was mandated by the Recovery Act.
For more information on DOE’s Smart Grid initiatives, visit online.
