The U.S. Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory are asking for applicants to participate in the second cohort of the Clean Energy Cybersecurity Accelerator (CECA) program.
The program promotes cyber innovation that defends modern, renewable energy technologies against cybersecurity risks, a news release said.
The application portal is open through Feb. 10 at 11:59 p.m. Mountain time. Up to five participants will be selected for the second cohort, a news release said.
Information about applying is available online.
“As physical and virtual threats to our critical energy infrastructure continue to evolve, DOE is using all the tools at our disposal to lock down cybersecurity vulnerabilities of today and tomorrow,” Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said in the release. “By supporting new, innovative technologies, the CECA program will help bring cutting-edge solutions to market more rapidly, ensuring our nation’s electric grid is secure and reliable as it transitions to 100% clean energy.”
To combat cyber risks to the U.S. energy sector, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, Duke Energy and Xcel Energy are working with the Department of Energy and National Renewable Energy Laboratory as part of the program.
Other utilities are welcome to participate, the Energy Department said.
“DOE’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) and Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) lead CECA and other initiatives that support integrating cybersecurity as the United States decarbonizes the electric grid,” the release said.
