US government works toward grid modernization
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US government works toward grid modernization https://gridmod.labworks.org
T
he reliability, resiliency, and security of the electricity grid in the United States are easy to overlook because electricity is readily available with the flick of a switch. But the country’s power grid, which has become a vital part of modern society, is not set up to meet the needs and challenges of the future. Initially designed to distribute electricity that was generated at large-scale and often remote facilities, the grid architecture included very little energy-storage capacity and operated with limited feedback and ability for control. Over the last century, there have been many changes that have impacted the grid—drastic growth, aging infrastructure, development and introduction of alternative electricity generation methods, deployment of efficiency measures, increasing cyber security threats, and climate impacts. The grid requires modernization to ensure electricity will continue to be available with the flick of a switch. The Grid Modernization Initiative (GMI) is a US Department of Energy
(DOE) effort to update the country’s grid. Based on ideas and recommendations found within the DOE’s recent Quadrennial Energy Review (QER) and Quadrennial Technology Review (QTR), the GMI webpage says it brings together “public and private partners to develop the concepts, tools, and technology needed to measure, analyze, predict, protect, and control the grid of the future.” The QER characterizes the electricity grid as a “critical and essential national asset” and makes the case for US government involvement in updating the grid saying, “it is a strategic imperative to protect and enhance the value of the electricity system through modernization and transformation.” Established under the Obama administration to build on grid modernization efforts supported by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the GMI is a coordinated effort across the DOE. Within the GMI, the Grid Modernization Laboratory Consortium (GMLC) is a strategic partnership that was established between 14 DOE laboratories (see Table 1) Table 1. GMLC Laboratories. to streamline the grid modernization process Acronym DOE Laboratory Name State by sharing expertise, ANL Argonne National Laboratory IL resources, and technoloBNL Brookhaven National Laboratory NY gies. In addition, the GMI INL Idaho National Laboratory ID released a Multi-Year LANL Los Alamos National Laboratory NM Program Plan (MYPP) in 2016 that acts as a LBNL Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory CA five-year roadmap by LLNL Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory CA defining priorities and NBL New Brunswick Laboratory IL outlining grid-related NETL National Energy Technology Laboratory PA research, development, NREL National Renewable Energy Laboratory CO and deployment activities ORNL Oak Ridge National Laboratory TN for the DOE. The MYPP reiterates the need for US PNNL Pacific Northwest National Laboratory WA government involvement SLAC SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory CA in updating the el
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