Funding Notice: i2X Solar and Wind Interconnection for Future Transmission (SWIFTR)

***This webpage was updated Jun. 6, 2024, to reflect a deadline extension for full applications.***

Office: Solar Energy Technologies Office and Wind Energy Technologies Office 
FOA number: DE-FOA-0003246
Link to apply: Apply on EERE Exchange
FOA Amount: $10 million

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) and Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) announced the Solar and Wind Interconnection for Future Transmission (SWIFTR) funding opportunity, which will provide up to $10 million to develop new analytical tools and approaches that will accelerate the reliable interconnection of renewable energy into the electrical grid.

SWIFTR projects will facilitate the secure and reliable integration of solar energy, wind energy, and energy storage systems into the nation’s electrical grid and the transition to an equitable decarbonized electrical system by 2035.

New clean energy generation and storage resources need to be integrated into the electrical grid through a process known as interconnection. The high volume of interconnection requests and complexities of interconnection processes have led to uncertainties, delays, and higher costs for developers seeking to connect new clean energy generation to the grid. This leads to a more difficult and costly energy transition.

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) seeks applications to address the challenges   in the transmission system interconnection processes by creating software tools that can accurately simulate the effect of new clean energy plants on existing grid infrastructure, and by providing detailed, secure data  to project developers.

The SWIFTR FOA is part of DOE’s Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange (i2X™) program. In 2023, i2X released a draft roadmap that outlines goals, solutions, and metrics for the transmission system interconnection process. This FOA addresses two goals in the draft roadmap—maintaining a reliable and resilient grid and increasing interconnection data access and transparency.

Topic Areas

Topic Area 1: Improved Efficiency of Electromagnetic Transient (EMT) Simulations for Interconnection Studies of Inverter-based Resources (IBR) – 1-5 projects, $1-2 million each

Projects in this topic area will create or improve software tools for EMT simulations, which produce detailed, accurate predictions of how new IBRs, such as solar, wind, and energy storage systems, will affect the operation and reliability of the existing grid. Projects will determine when detailed EMT studies are needed and make these studies faster and more reliable to speed approval of interconnection requests. 

Topic Area 2: Dynamic Stability-Enhanced Network Assessment Tools – 1-5 projects, $1-2.5 million each 

Projects in this topic area will fund grid operators to develop tools to provide interconnection stakeholders with data on transmission system characteristics such as stability, voltage, and grid strength while securing sensitive energy infrastructure information. Projects will establish the type of information required by stakeholders to effectively operate grids with large amounts of renewable energy, and test and evaluate those tools on a real transmission system.

Teaming Partner List

DOE is compiling a "Teaming Partner List" to facilitate the formation of project teams for this FOA. The Teaming Partner List allows organizations that may wish to participate on a project to express their interest to other applicants and explore potential partnerships.

The Teaming Partner List will be available on the EERE eXCHANGE website and will be regularly updated to reflect new teaming partners who provide their organization’s information.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: View the Teaming Partner List by visiting the EERE eXCHANGE homepage and clicking on “Teaming Partners” within the left-hand navigation pane. This page allows users to view published Teaming Partner Lists. To join the Teaming Partner List, submit a request within eXCHANGE. Select the appropriate Teaming Partner List from the drop-down menu, and fill in the following information: Investigator Name, Organization Name, Organization Type, Topic Area, Background and Capabilities, Website, Contact Address, Contact Email, and Contact Phone.

DISCLAIMER: By submitting a request to be included on the Teaming Partner List, the requesting organization consents to the publication of the above-referenced information. By facilitating the Teaming Partner List, DOE is not endorsing, sponsoring, or otherwise evaluating the qualifications of the individuals and organizations that are identifying themselves for placement on this Teaming Partner List. DOE will not pay for the provision of any information, nor will it compensate any applicants or requesting organizations for the development of such information.

Key Dates

Additional Information

• Download the full funding opportunity on the EERE Exchange website.
• For FOA-specific support, contact [email protected].
• Learn how the i2X program is enabling simpler, faster, and fairer interconnection. 
• Sign up for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) funding email list to get notified of new EERE funding opportunities. Also sign up for SETO’s newsletter to stay current with the latest news.