Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, D-N.Y., has announced the first round of funding for the $15 million Future Grid Challenge, a program to help solve technical challenges utilities face with energy transmission and distribution when integrating renewable energy resources into New York’s electric grid.
Modernizing the grid supports the governor’s mandate for 70% renewable electricity by 2030 and a carbon-free power grid by 2040, as included in climate legislation that was just passed by the legislature, the New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
“New York is leading the fight against climate change and prioritizing more resiliency and reliability during extreme weather events,” Cuomo says. “These investments will add renewables, such as wind and solar, to create a grid of the future that serves the needs of communities across the state and drives us toward a clean, fully carbon-free power grid.”
Administered by the New York State Energy Research Development Authority, the Future Grid Challenge will offer funding to grid technology companies and research institutions to address challenges ranging from the need for greater real-time system data to incorporating smart technologies and energy storage into power grid planning and operations. This initiative will have two rounds, with each round addressing different challenge areas.
In this first round, up to $6 million is available for projects that partner with Con Edison and Orange & Rockland utilities, with up to $3 million available per utility. Proposals should focus on 1) helping Con Ed advance distributed energy resource monitoring, control, data analytics and advanced forecasting, or 2) assisting Orange & Rockland with improving smart inverter functionality to provide integration of distributed resources, improve grid stability and reduce system losses.
Proposals are due by Oct. 9. The remaining funds will be made available through the second round of the program later in 2019.
