Meeting U.S. goals of shifting to a carbon-neutral, domestic energy power sector by 2050 will require modernizing grid hardware, software, architecture, controls and system management. Researchers in the Electrification and Energy Infrastructures Division are creating innovative grid modernization technologies at every level, from the smallest power module to the electrical transmission system. These will help the grid meet the demands of a growing population, a pivot toward electric vehicles, and increased distributed energy sources like solar and wind farms.
Test beds at ORNL’s Grid Research Innovation and Deployment Center, or GRID-C, are equipped with industry-standard equipment for developing and piloting innovations to ensure the safe, reliable and resilient provision of electricity. EEID capabilities incorporate software and hardware development, real-time system integration, simulation tools for grid modeling, and grid-level pilot demonstration. GRID-C harnesses the power of collaboration and provide technical assistance to industry partners.
Advanced components, transformers, solid state power substations, conductors and novel power electronics developed in GRID-C enable integration of renewable energy sources and electric vehicle charging capacity, including remote and extreme-fast charging. This hardware can be validated in the lab by connecting it to real-time grid simulation platforms, demonstrating its impacts on grid operations and power flow before introducing changes to the broader electric grid.
Researchers also use simulation on a broader scale to help utilities and equipment manufacturers accurately understand the potential impact of new energy sources and demands.
Advanced modeling techniques and software platforms allow better planning for energy system interdependencies and the incorporation of AC/DC transmission flexibility.
In EEID, technological breakthroughs are followed up with studies of how users interact with that technology. For example, GRID-C testbeds are used to develop new microgrid architecture and automated systems for managing multiple microgrids as a unit. But researchers are also tackling the challenges of information sharing and operational choices when balancing the priorities of multiple microgrid owners. Projects focused on automated control strategies for smart building systems and appliances encompass not only the software and hardware, but also the ways that building residents use and respond to these elements. This holistic approach makes it easier to deploy innovations, shaping tomorrow’s grid today.
