The objective of this FOA is to address the findings of the 2022 DOE Report “Grid Enhancing Technologies: A Case Study on Ratepayer Impact”. Specifically, the FOA aims to fill gaps in information on the real-world benefits and usage of GETs through at-scale field demonstrations. The impact of GETs technologies like Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) and Power Flow Controllers (PFC) is highly location-dependent, and so demonstrations across a variety of systems differing in scale, geography, topology, and connected renewable generation resources would be useful in determining important aspects for the location specific impact of GETs.

Projects must include both DLR and PFC demonstration. For the purposes of this FOA, the definition of these two technologies are as follows:

• Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) – Hardware and/or software used to appropriately update the calculated thermal limits of existing transmission lines based on realtime and forecasted weather conditions. In most cases, these schemes establish new limits that safely allow more energy transfer across existing infrastructure. This could be as simple as utilizing existing line measurements and incorporating forecasted weather conditions to continually update the calculation of line thermal ratings. More advanced methods could include utilization of advanced grid sensors and real-time weather data.
• Power Flow Controllers (PFC) – Hardware and software used to push or pull power, helping to balance overloaded lines and underutilized corridors within the transmission network. Power flow controllers (PFCs) are a family of technologies that can actively change the way power flows through the transmission system without making changes to generator dispatch or the topology of the network. The AC power flowing on a given transmission line is driven by four key parameters based on physics of the power system: the voltage on each end of the line, the reactance of the line, and the voltage phase angle difference between both ends. AC PFCs operate by adjusting one or more of these parameters.

The bulk of the demonstrations should be on DLR and PFC, but projects are not limited to only these two GETs. The holistic operation of an advanced and modern grid would include the GETs to be studied here (PFCs and DLR) along with Dynamic Transformer Rating (DTR), equipment asset monitoring for active management, and energy storage. Multiple GETs technologies, both networks of the same GETs technologies and of different GETs technologies working in concert, are encouraged as part of these demonstrations. Finally, utilization of advanced sensors for better data, analysis, and methods for system observability are important components of GETs solutions, and thus relevant data analysis tool development and demonstration is also encouraged.

The focus of the demonstrations should be on transmission systems, however projects that include both transmission and distribution GETs, and explore coordinated planning and operation across these boundaries, are encouraged.