The electric power distribution system in the U.S. has over 5.5 million line-miles with over 180 million power poles, all of which are susceptible to damage by weather and its effects, and account for a majority of power outages in the country. Climate-change fueled extreme weather events are increasing the frequency and intensity of blackouts across the U.S., harming communities and disrupting livelihoods.
The U.S. electric system is undergoing significant change due to a range of drivers, including the evolution of federal, state, and local policies addressing climate mitigation and adaptation, as well as an increasingly diverse and distributed set of electricity resources and the addition of devices capable of providing a great deal of data.
The Department of Energy (DOE) is making critical investments in the electric grid to lower the cost of energy, while enabling utilities to achieve resource adequacy and clean energy targets. Last year, in the largest grid investment in history, the DOE announced up to $3.46 billion for 58 projects across 44 states to strengthen electric grid resilience and reliability across the United States, all while improving climate resilience and creating good-paying union jobs. Across the selected projects, there are various strategies to increase the integration of renewables, in total allowing more than 35 gigawatts of clean energy to be brought online and expanding the country’s renewable energy capacity by 10.5%. The projects also will enhance grid flexibility, meaning that operators can balance different types of power in real-time and in response to real conditions to help keep the power on and prices affordable.
Upgrading infrastructure with smart grid modernization like smart meters, advanced sensors, and real-time monitoring systems can improve flexibility and manage variability. The benefits of smart technologies extend beyond mere data collection, they empower grid operators with real-time insights, enabling them to adjust and optimize the grid dynamically, manage variability effectively, and ultimately deliver a more reliable and efficient electricity supply.
