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US Allocates USD 70 Million to Bolster Resilience of Energy Infrastructure

The funding will support the development of next-generation innovations that strengthen the resilience of various components of America’s energy systems.

January 08, 2024. By Abha Rustagi

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a substantial funding opportunity of up to USD 70 million to propel research into cutting-edge technologies that enhance resilience and mitigate risks to energy delivery infrastructure.

This includes safeguarding against cyber threats, physical hazards, natural disasters, and the escalating impacts of climate change-induced extreme weather events.

The competitive funding opportunity is open to a diverse range of stakeholders, encompassing both public and private sectors, universities, and the DOE's National Laboratories.

The funding will support the development of next-generation innovations that strengthen the resilience of various components of America’s energy systems, including the power grid, electric utilities, pipelines, and renewable energy sources like wind and solar.

The administration has set ambitious goals for a net-zero emissions economy by 2050, reinforcing the importance of resilient energy systems in achieving these objectives.

US Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm emphasized the necessity of making strategic investments in America's energy systems today to ensure their reliability and resilience against emerging threats. “As we build our clean energy future, these investments will help save money in the long run by identifying and developing innovative solutions that ensure our nation’s energy infrastructure can withstand emerging threats and the challenges of a changing world,” she said.

The All-Hazards Energy Resilience program, managed by the DOE’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER), is designed to address future challenges, ensuring the continuous safe, and reliable flow of energy to communities across the nation.

The program emphasizes the constantly changing climate and technology landscape, encouraging awardees to develop innovative and unique solutions tailored to specific challenges.

Under this funding opportunity, CESER plans to fund up to 25 research, development, and demonstration projects, with amounts ranging from USD 500,000 to USD 5,000,000.

The projects will cover various topic areas, including Cyber Research and Development, Climate Mitigation Research and Development, Wildfire Mitigation Research and Development, Physical Security Research and Development, and University-Based Research and Development.

The proposed projects aim to address the increasing risk of cyber-attacks, the impact of climate change on energy infrastructure, wildfire resilience, and the enhancement of physical security measures. Additionally, university-based research will play a crucial role in improving the cybersecurity posture of the electric sector.

DOE encourages diverse teams from universities, non-profit and for-profit companies, national laboratories, state and local governments, and Tribal Nations to apply.

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Energy efficiency

US Department of Energy

DOE

United States

DOE's National Laboratories

Energy infrastructure fund

Climate change

America’s energy systems

renewable electricity

Renewable energy

Solar energy