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So Where’s the DOE Smart Grid Money Going? Here’s a First Look By Jul 21, 2009 - 2:12:23 PM
Applications aren’t due until August, but the Department of Energy surprised some with its announcement Monday of $47 million in Recovery Act awards for Smart Grid demonstration projects in seven states. The initial awards represent a fraction of the $3.9 billion in stimulus money the DOE will eventually dole out to advance Smart Grid technologies and demonstrations.
The $47 million Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced will go to eight existing projects that the DOE awarded $17 million to last year. The additional funding is intended to accelerate completion timelines for the demonstration-scale projects.
Devens, MA-based American Superconductor (AMSC) was the big money winner in this first round of funding, receiving more than $12 million for two separate demonstration projects. Award recipients include projects led by universities, a utility, a municipality and private firms.
Below is a breakdown of the eight projects by award amount and lead organization.
· Zenergy Power – $8,081,973
The San Francisco subsidiary of London-based Zenergy will design, test and demonstrate its high-temperature superconducting fault current limiters – a technology described as “a surge protector for the electric grid.” It’s intended to restrict power surges in fault conditions (such as a short circuit) and maintain power quality and grid stability. According to the San Francisco Business Journal, Zenergy already has a model installed at Southern California Edison and plans to install two at ConEd in New York next year.
· American Superconductor -- $7,584,120
In one of two awards, AMSC will develop a high-temperature superconductor transmission cable system for installation in the Long Island power grid. The goal is to increase the reliability and efficiency of power delivery cables. The company will also use Recovery Act funding to demonstrate a prototype cable in the Long Island Power Authority power grid.
· University of Nevada - Las Vegas -- $5,724,709
UNLV will explore technologies to apply distributed generation and detailed energy accounting and control for a large residential development in the desert Southwest. The objective is to significantly reduce residential electrical demand by applying cost benefit analysis and researching various energy-conserving design approaches.
· Consolidated Edison of New York – $5,631,110
The utility is using the DOE money to develop and demonstrate true interoperability between an energy delivery company and retail electric consumers. By using demand response resources, the project is intended to enhance the reliability of the distribution grid and the efficiency of its operations.
· University of Hawaii -- $5,548,585
Focus of this project is to demonstrate a dispatchable distribution feeder for peak load reduction and wind farming. The University of Hawaii at Manoa–Hawaii Natural Energy Institute will explore the management of distribution system resources for improved service quality and reliability, transmission congestion relief, and grid support functions.
· Illinois Institute of Technology -- $5,405,583
IIT will develop and demonstrate a system that will achieve “perfect power” at its main campus in Chicago. Since different end users have different needs, a perfect power system focuses on flexibility and adaptability that can accommodate every user. According to DOE, the IIT system will focus on implementing distributed resources and creating demand-responsive microgrids to increase reliability and decrease overall energy demand. The project aims to replicate its efforts with other municipality-sized energy systems.
· City of Fort Collins, CO – $4,841,647
In cooperation with a number of partners, the city of Fort Collins will research, develop and demonstrate a coordinated and integrated system of mixed clean energy technologies and distributed energy resources. The objective is to enable the city to reduce peak load electricity demand by at least 15 percent at distribution feeders and allow for expanded use of renewable energy.
· American Superconductor – $4,832,972
Using a different technology than Zenergy, AMSC is developing and demonstrating advanced technology for a fault current limiter, which will restrict power surges through equipment in fault conditions to maintain power quality and grid stability.
Since these projects were already on DOE’s radar, it may be difficult to read anything into them in terms of direction for future awards. However, the list of companies and utilities seeking stimulus money for Smart Grid initiatives continues to grow.
Application deadline for the rest of the $615 million that will go to Smart Grid demonstrations is Aug. 26. DOE anticipates notifying applicants of their acceptance in November, with awards issued in the December/January timeframe.
Applications for $3.4 billion in Smart Grid Investment Grants are being accepted in three phases; letters of intent for phase one were due July 16, with deadline for applications being Aug. 6. (See the FAQ linked below for further details.)
SGN: American Superconductor Poised for Super Results SGN: Consolidated Edison NY Profile CNET: DOE opens wallet for smart-grid trials
DOE Releases FAQs on Smart Grid Stimulus Projects
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