In a groundbreaking partnership, the University at Albany and the University of Connecticut (UConn) have joined forces to enhance the resilience of the power grid in the Northeastern United States. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has allocated $4.6 million for six projects aimed at conducting grid resilience analysis and modeling to fortify the power grid against extreme weather conditions.
Of these six projects, researchers from UAlbany and UConn, in collaboration with other partners, have been selected for two projects totaling $2.63 million. These projects will specifically focus on communities in the Northeast that are vulnerable to power grid disruptions.
Chris Thorncroft, director of UAlbany’s Atmospheric Sciences Research Center and Center of Excellence in Weather & Climate Analytics, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating that it will advance research and cutting-edge technologies to enhance energy industry efficiency and reliability amidst the evolving climate landscape and transition to clean energy sources.
Professor Emmanouil Anagnostou, interim director of the UConn Tech Park and director of the Eversource Energy Center, highlighted the unique challenges faced by the Northeast region, which is at the forefront of transitioning to electrification and renewables while being highly susceptible to natural disasters such as hurricanes and severe storms.
The DOE’s Grid Resilience Analysis and Climate Change Impacts (GRACI) funding initiative aims to support the modernization and strengthening of America’s power grid against the backdrop of increasing natural disasters exacerbated by climate change. Maria Robinson, director of the DOE’s Grid Deployment Office (GDO), emphasized the importance of providing financial support and tools to address region-specific challenges and achieve optimal community benefits.
In the Northeast, UAlbany and UConn researchers will collaborate to provide risk assessments and guidance on grid resilience investments for states in the region. Through the use of advanced weather prediction models and outage prediction tools, the teams will identify key trends and recommend strategies to bolster grid resilience.
Additionally, a separate project involving Pointerra, electric utilities (Avangrid, Eversource, National Grid), and university partners (UAlbany, UConn, Cornell University) aims to develop a cost-benefit methodology to assess the long-term value of grid resilience investments in the Northeast.
Jorge Gonzalez Cruz, Professor of Empire Innovation at UAlbany’s Atmospheric Sciences Research Center, underscored the importance of modernizing the electric grid to safeguard economic activity and community well-being in the face of increasing extreme weather events.
These initiatives further strengthen the research collaboration between UAlbany and UConn at the intersection of weather, climate, and the energy industry. The Center for Weather Innovation and Smart Energy Resilience (WISER), supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation, aims to leverage expertise from both universities to develop innovative solutions for the energy industry.
The partnership between UAlbany, UConn, and EnergyWERX, managed by the DOE’s Office of Technology of Transitions, underscores a commitment to rapidly develop and deploy clean energy solutions to meet the challenges posed by the changing climate and ensure a reliable energy future for all.
ualbany-uconn-partner-to-improve-grid-resilience-through-2-63m-investment-from-doe – The Troy Record
The University at Albany and the University of Connecticut are partnering to improve grid resilience through a $2.63 million investment from the US Department of Energy. This collaboration aims to enhance the reliability and security of the power grid, particularly during extreme weather events and other challenges. The funding will support research and development efforts to advance grid modernization and strengthen the nation’s energy infrastructure. This partnership reflects a commitment to innovation and sustainability in the face of evolving energy demands and threats to the power grid.