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Grid Reliability with Automatic Damping and Inertia for Electrical Networks and Transmission Systems (GRADIENTS)

Open Date:

1/15/2025

Close Date:

TBD

Eligible Recipients:

  • Educational Institutions
  • General Public
  • National Laboratories
  • Non-profits
  • Private Sector

Program Purpose:

  • Energy Infrastructure

Reserved for Energy
Communities?

No

Upcoming Milestones:

Deadline for Concept Paper Questions to [email protected]: February 4, 2025 at 5 PM ET

Submission Deadline for Concept Papers: February 14, 2025 at 9:30 AM ET

Deadline for Full Application Questions to [email protected]: TBD at 5 PM ET

Submission Deadline for Full Applications: TBD at 9:30 AM ET

Bureau/Office:

Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E)

Funded by:

U.S. Department of Energy

Overview

The Grid Reliability with Automatic Damping and Inertia for Electrical Networks and Transmission Systems (GRADIENTS) program will support the development of disruptive grid assets and control solutions enabling renewable energy systems to provide and improve services traditionally supported by large conventional synchronous generators. The program will drive advancements in grid resilience, efficiency, and adaptability. By addressing and coordinating resources that can provide inertia (energy) and damping (control) with fast frequency regulation across the grid, GRADIENTS will improve reliability in high-renewable penetration scenarios, mitigating blackout risks, reducing potential curtailment of renewables, lowering operational costs, and maximizing economic viability.

Projects in this program will cover technologies in three categories:

  • Flexible Renewable Generation: Projects in this category shall encourage improved power electronics co-design solutions that include some form of storage (battery less short-term energy storage solutions for a few seconds at rated power), in addition to advanced control solutions. Category 1 projects shall include experiments that analyze the performance of the intelligent renewable generators under a set of major potential contingencies and different topology scenarios.
  • Intelligent Automatic Relays: Projects under this category shall develop new fast-acting relays with smart sensors, automatic contingency prediction, impedance estimation, stability assessment, and under-frequency/under-voltage load-shedding capabilities for emergency operation, as well as other new and improved functionalities.
  • Wide-Area RT-CCD: Projects under Category 3 shall develop new optimization control algorithms for energy (inertia) allocation, control authority (damping) allocation, and load-shedding allocation in the grid. Leveraging information from Category 1 and Category 2, grid operators can take a more holistic approach to resolving scenarios for normal and emergency operation while optimizing the grid and its generation assets. This category seeks submissions that address critical challenges in advancing power grid stability and resilience through innovative tools and testing platforms. The projects shall develop advanced operational tools and their validation.

Related Resources

Additional information is available on the Resources page.

Funding Details

Funding Source:
Funding Type:
Grant - match required
Total Amount Available:
$30,000,000
Limit per Applicant:
$5,000,000
Estimated Awards:
6 - 15

Applicant Guidance

Contact Information

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