The Grid Modernization Division oversees activities that prevent outages and enhance the resilience of the electric grid. Our modernization programs aim to increase grid resilience at the transmission and distribution levels; enable grid integration of distributed energy resources and new grid-related technologies; and support state, tribal, territory, and local stakeholders in engaging with the grid and grid operators.
Grid Resilience and Modernization Funding
In working to reduce the likelihood and consequence of impacts to the electric grid due extreme weather, wildfire, and natural disaster, GDO supports electric grid operators, electricity generators, transmission owners and operators, distribution providers, fuel suppliers, and other relevant entities in grid hardening efforts.
The $10.5 billion Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program aims to enhance grid flexibility and improve the resilience of the power system against growing threats of extreme weather and climate change. The program includes:
- Grid Resilience Utility and Industry Grants ($2.5 billion) funds comprehensive transformational transmission and distribution technology solutions that will mitigate multiple hazards across a region or within a community, including wildfires, floods, hurricanes, extreme heat, extreme cold, storms, and any other event that can cause a disruption to the power system.
- Smart Grid Grants ($3 billion) increases the flexibility, efficiency, and reliability of the electric power system, with particular focus on increasing capacity of the transmission system, preventing faults that may lead to wildfires or other system disturbances, integrating renewable energy at the transmission and distribution levels, and facilitating the integration of increasing electrified vehicles, buildings, and other grid-edge devices.
- Grid Innovation Program ($5 billion) provides financial assistance to one or multiple states, Tribes, local governments, and public utility commissions to collaborate with electric sector owners and operators to deploy projects that use innovative approaches to transmission, storage, and distribution infrastructure to enhance grid resilience and reliability.
In addition, the Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants is a $2.3 billion formula grant program to strengthen and modernize America’s power grid against wildfires, extreme weather, and other natural disasters exacerbated by the climate crisis.
Grid Resilience and Adaptivity Technical Assistance and Analysis
This Division helps assess and mitigate risks to the electric sector and improve the adaptivity of the electric grid, including the introduction of new technologies and supporting shifts in electricity generation and consumption. This includes socializing learnings and best practices for the design and deployment of resilience and modernization investments.
In coordination with national, regional, state, and local organizations and utilities, this Division also analyzes the physical, regulatory, and institutional barriers that interfere with the development and operation of electric transmission and distribution systems.
Grid Reliability, Risk, and Assurance
The Division provides support across GDO in relation to supply chain security, cybersecurity and best practices in the use of digital technology on the electric grid, and risk assessment. In addition, it supports and coordinates GDO’s Davis-Bacon Act compliance; Build America, Buy America Act compliance; and other vetting efforts.
Territory Recovery and Assistance
GDO's Territory and Recovery Assistance work, also managed by this Division, directs DOE support to U.S. territories to develop electricity policies and programs. This includes supporting Puerto Rico’s grid recovery and modernization, as well as managing the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund.