A new program that will develop power grid technologies to improve the control and protection of the U.S. power grid received $48 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy.
The Unlocking Lasting Transformative Resiliency Advances by Faster Actuation of Power Semiconductor Technologies program, known as ULTRAFAST, will help modernize power grids, according to a Feb. 24 news release. The goal is to modernize the grid infrastructure, improve efficieny and increase resilience against extreme weather.
“A reliable and resilient grid is the key to protecting our power supply from outside threats and expanding America’s clean energy and transportation options,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said in the release. “Federal investments in tools and analysis to modernize our grid will put the nation on a path to meet President Biden’s climate goals and extend the benefits of a decarbonized energy and transportation sector to all corners of the country.”
ULTRAFAST is managed by the Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, the release reported. The program aims to support the development of faster and more capable power electronics to improve resiliency, reliability and control of power flow across all grid interfaces.
The DOE’s new program will fund projects that help utilities to “control grid power flow to avoid disturbances, and quickly isolate and route around disruptions,” the release said. Efficiency and resilience against extreme weather events will improve through modernization of the U.S.’ grid infrastructure. Unforeseen outages cost the U.S. economy approximately $150 billion annually.
“Successful ULTRAFAST project teams will develop device concepts that target: Semiconductor material, device and/or power module level advances to enable faster switching and/or triggering at higher current and voltage levels; improved electromagnetic interference immunity; complementary sensing, packaging and thermal management technology,” the release said.
