U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has launched a partnership with a range of stakeholders in energy production with the united goal of getting more clean energy onto the nation's power grid, the agency announced recently.
The Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange (i2X) initiative unites utility providers, clean-energy developers, grid operators, state and local governments, energy-justice groups and other entities, the DOE states in the May 31 announcement. The coalition seeks to identify and address issues challenging the power industry, such as lengthy wait times in interconnection queues and the costs of connecting clean-energy sources to the grid, according to the DOE statement.
"Eliminating the gridlock that's slowing down clean-energy deployment is critical to increasing access to cheaper electricity for American families and businesses," U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said in the statement.
The acceleration of demand for clean-energy projects isn't sustainable by current costs, rules and procedures for connecting to the grid, according to the report. The increase in the number of projects waiting to be added to the grid is also increasing wait times in interconnection queues. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's large investments in clean energy coupled with President Biden's goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035 will spur the development of even more, according to the DOE.
"Funding in the president's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help DOE and our National Labs build a coalition of problem-solvers to tackle interconnection issues, ensure grid reliability and develop equitable solutions for all communities," Sec. Granholm said in the statement.
i2X partners plan to solve the core challenges of interconnecting clean-energy sources to the grid, including staffing shortages and a lack of data and grid-impact assessments, the DOE reports. Regional, state and local entities will be able to access technical assistance from i2x to solve specific connection challenges, and i2x will also investigate any inequities caused by unduly difficult interconnection processes, according to the DOE report.
i2x participants will work with the DOE's Solar Energy and Wind Energy Technologies Office and the National Labs to create a five-year strategy for goal-setting and identifying both gaps in research and benchmarks for success, according to the report.
"As the Biden Administration ramps up expansion of new renewable energy to reach the President's goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035," the DOE states in the announcement, "i2X partners will develop solutions for faster, simpler, and fairer interconnection of clean energy resources through better data, roadmap development, and technical assistance."
