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The United States Department of Energy (“DOE”) announced in an October 15th news release the availability of up to $46 million in research funding to:

. . . advance holistic solutions that provide grid operators the situational awareness and mitigation strategies against cyber and physical threats.

The Solar Energy Technologies Office of DOE states that the:

. . . Advanced Systems Integration for Solar Technologies . . . Situational Awareness and Resilient Solutions for Critical Infrastructure funding opportunity will strengthen the integration of solar on the electricity grid, especially at critical infrastructure sites, improve the resilience of the nation’s electricity grid, and streamline technology transfer challenges.

See Funding Number DE-FOA-0001987.

DOE notes the daily increase in solar generation and references a need for grid operators to have the tools and technologies to ensure that “the electric grid is resilient and energy services are delivered to critical infrastructures.”

DOE states that approximately 10 projects will be funded over three years. The projects will vary from $2 to $10 million in size. Further, applicants are:

. . . encouraged to work with critical infrastructure owners and operators, including state, local, tribal, and territories to take proactive steps to manage cyber and physical threats to improve the resiliency of solar generated electricity.

A copy of the news release can be found here.