Energy Department Announces $10.5M for Microgrid Solution Projects in Underserved and Indigenous Communities

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Electricity (OE) today announced selectees of about $10.5 million in funding to support multi-year research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) of microgrid-related technologies. This funding will bring replicable microgrid solutions to underserved and Indigenous communities in remote, rural, and islanded regions throughout the United States. Programs like this aim to ensure low-cost, clean energy is available to support and improve the lives of every American.

Microgrids provide a solution to electricity grid threats, such as severe weather events and physical or cyber-attacks, via localized grids that can operate autonomously, whether disconnected from the traditional grid or supporting remote/isolated communities. OE supports critical grid system research—such as this funding—to strengthen grid resilience, help mitigate grid disturbances, and integrate renewable energy and distributed energy resources to accelerate our evolution into a more flexible, socially equitable, and secure grid of the future.

The overall goals are to:

1. Promote microgrids as a core solution for increasing grid reliability and resilience.
2. Ensure that microgrids act as a point of aggregation for a larger number of distributed energy resources.
3. Decrease microgrid capital costs by 15 percent by 2031, while reducing project development, construction, and commissioning times by 20 percent.

“We look forward to partnering with our selectees to bring reliable and resilient electric power to those who live and work in remote areas,” said Gene Rodrigues, Assistant Secretary for Electricity. “Developing and deploying microgrid-enabling technologies and addressing non-technical barriers are essential elements of our commitment to meeting Americans where they are and working with the local resources available to their communities.”

OE has selected the following projects: 

• Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
  • Project Title: Dynamic Modular Microgrids: Real-Time and Packetized Microgrid Implementation
  • This team will develop a microgrid control solution, Dynamic and Modular Microgrid (DyM-MG), that will be implemented and operated in real time with a modular and packetized configuration to further enhance operational flexibility and resilience.
  • DOE/OE Funding: $1,441,992
• Standing Rock Renewable Energy Power Authority, Fort Yates, ND 
  • Project Title: Design rEmote microgriDs wIth enhanced resilienCe: Analysis, protoTyping, and modularizATION (DEDICATION)
  • This team aims to revolutionize the energy landscape of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe by developing, prototyping, and demonstrating modular microgrid systems with standardized functionalities and advanced black start control.
  • DOE/OE Funding: $1,449,472
• Guam Power Authority, Mangilao, Guam 
  • Project Title: Modular Microgrid Control System for Distribution Networks in Rural and Island Communities
  • This project team will develop, test, and demonstrate a modular microgrid control (MMC) system technology that will standardize the development of control and communication of modular microgrids.
  • DOE/OE Funding: $916,885
• Alliance for Sustainable Energy LLC (Three Projects), Golden CO 
  • Project Title (1): Standardized, scalable, and cost-effective AI enhanced microgrids for remote communities to improve resiliency and support decarbonization
    • This project aims to reduce the cost and timeline of field integration of microgrid controllers by standardizing key software components.
    • DOE/OE Funding: $1,450,000
  • Project Title (2): Modular Multi-terminal Multi-port MVDC Converter for Remote Microgrid Connectivity (M4DC)
    • This project proposes to develop a vendor-agnostic universal M4DC controller to address challenges related to integration and interoperability between multiple vendor products, microgrid controllers, and Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), while supporting remote microgrid connectivity.
    • DOE/OE Funding: $2,000,000
  • Project Title (3): Empowering Next-gen Energy Systems & Workforce with Intelligent Observability (EnLightNet)
    • This project aims to accelerate modernization of the energy workforce and landscape for remote communities by creating a workforce development framework to establish regional initiatives that focus on human and technical capacity building in underserved and Indigenous communities.
    • DOE/OE Funding: $545,960
• Intelligent Energy Systems LLC, Anchorage, AK 
  • Project Title: Coordinated Development of Standardized Modular Microgrid Control Systems for Remote Alaskan Communities
  • This project will standardize and validate the digital design of Alaskan remote community microgrid systems to bridge the gap between custom on-site engineering, vendor limited control system supply and remote community centered design; allowing remote communities to play a central role in the design and management of their own microgrid systems.
  • DOE/OE Funding: $1,402,000
• National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, Albuquerque, NM 
  • Project Title: Microgrid Optimization System using Artificial Intelligent Controls (MOSAIC)
  • This project proposes a microgrid controller that will combine advanced situational awareness, socioeconomic factors, and optimization techniques for control of microgrids with high penetrations of DERs.
  • DOE/OE Funding: $1,279,460

These projects support the Biden-Harris Administration’s goals to achieve or facilitate a carbon pollution-free electricity sector no later than 2035. 

Learn more about the Office of Electricity.