The Department of Energy’s (DOE’S) Office of Electricity (OE) partnered with the Indian government’s Department of Science and Technology to sponsor a joint US-India project on advanced electric distribution systems.
August 28, 2024
minute read time
In 2017, I was part of a significant collaboration between the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Electricity (OE) and the Indian government’s Department of Science and Technology. Together, we sponsored a joint US-India project focused on advancing electric distribution systems. This partnership led to the creation of the U.S. India Collaborative for Smart Distribution Systems with Storage (UI-ASSIST), which brought together experts from both countries to develop technologies that have greatly improved smart distribution systems. Over the course of this project, our team, which included 31 partners, published 185 articles in international journals, presented 244 conference proceedings, and even secured 4 patents.
In September 2023, I had the privilege of traveling to India with Noel Schulz, UI-ASSIST’s U.S. Administrative Lead and co-director of Washington State University’s Advanced Grid Institute. We attended the final UI-ASSIST workshop and met with utility engineers to discuss the impressive outcomes of our ambitious 6-year project.
Beyond the research and development milestones, UI-ASSIST facilitated the establishment of over 20 field demonstration sites and laboratory test beds, all aimed at integrating renewable energy and storage. The project also explored microgrids, which have proven essential for reliable and resilient energy production. Whether serving as back-up power for large urban areas or providing clean, reliable power to remote locations, the technologies and knowledge we developed will not only benefit India and the U.S. but will also contribute to modernizing and enhancing grid systems globally.
One of the most compelling examples of UI-ASSIST’s impact came during our visit to the remote village of Harnoo in rural India. Before 2019, Harnoo had no electricity infrastructure—no poles, wires, or outlets—and relied on sporadic, unreliable energy from a nearby distribution feeder. Thanks to UI-ASSIST, local technicians and researchers were able to work with the villagers to create a microgrid powered by a biomass system using cow manure and agricultural waste, solar energy, and battery storage. The village also installed six solar pumps for agricultural irrigation. This microgrid now supplies power to the village, supports a women’s agricultural cooperative, and has led to improved education and a higher standard of living.
Visiting Harnoo in person was an amazing opportunity for me. It truly allowed me to see how the research and development we support can be transformed into real-world systems that have a profound impact on individuals.
Merrill Smith
Merrill Smith has been managing various advanced grid R&D activities in the Office of Electricity since 2006. Currently she is working on projects to advance grid resilience including managing the UI-ASSIST program. She has managed a range of projects and technologies including smart grid demonstrations, microgrids, distributed energy generation and combined heat and power, low emissions combustion technologies, advanced materials (ceramic composites), and various industrial energy efficiency technologies. Prior to DOE she worked as a civil design engineer and construction manager. Merrill is a civil engineer from Virginia Tech and George Washington University.