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June 26, 2009

Smart Grid and Electric Transmission Infrastructure

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: electric grid, energy, power, transmission — @ 1:02 pm

Obama Administration Announces Availability of $3.9 Billion to Invest in Smart Grid Technologies and Electric Transmission Infrastructure
Recovery Act Funding Will Create Jobs, Help Modernize Nation’s Electric Grid

Washington, DC – U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that the Department of Energy is soliciting applications for $3.9 billion in grants to support efforts to modernize the electric grid, allowing for greater integration of renewable energy sources while increasing the reliability, efficiency and security of the nation’s transmission and distribution system, as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“These investments will be used to develop a smart, strong and secure electrical grid that will help integrate renewable resources onto the grid, deliver power more reliably and effectively with less environmental impact, and create new jobs across the country,” said Secretary Chu. “By investing in updating the grid now, we will lower utility bills for American families and businesses, lessen our dependence on oil, and help advance a clean energy future for the nation.”

Secretary Chu announced the release of the final Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA) for $3.9 billion in Recovery Act funds. Approximately $3.3 billion for the Smart Grid Investment Grant Program and $615 million for smart grid demonstration projects will help develop and implement smart grid technologies across the country.

As part of the Smart Grid Investment Grant Program, DOE will provide cost-shared grants to support manufacturing, purchasing and installation of existing smart grid technologies that can be deployed on a commercial scale. Funding under the Smart Grid Demonstration Program will be used to demonstrate how emerging technologies can be applied in innovative ways within the electric delivery system to provide integrated and economically-feasible solutions. The Investment Grant program is intended to enable smart grid functions on the electric system as soon as possible, while the Demonstration program is aimed at identifying and developing new and more cost-effective smart grid equipment, tools, techniques, and system configurations that can significantly improve upon today’s technologies.

The final FOAs reflect the more than 600 comments DOE received on the draft solicitations. The Department previously announced that while the maximum award limits for both programs were being increased, the Department will support projects of all sizes. Under the final solicitations, the maximum award for the Smart Grid Investment Grants will be $200 million; the maximum award for the Smart Grid Demonstrations will be $100 million.

The final FOAs are available at www.fedconnect.net. Search public opportunities for the following reference numbers: Smart Grid Investment Program (DE-FOA-0000058) and Smart Grid Demonstrations (DE-FOA-0000036).

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February 4, 2009

Power Sources: Improved Batteries

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: electric, energy, power — @ 1:44 pm

The US government is trying to improve using batteries as a power source. One of the driving forces is to secure energy for the military. Sandia National Laboratories is spearheading the project.

Executive Summary

Our objective is to be a preferred source for power sources, electrochemistry expertise, testing, and storage systems integration for government and industry by:
* Applying state-of-the-art research, development, modeling, design, and engineering capabilities to meet our customers’ expanding needs for reliable, high-performance, state-of-the-art power sources.
* Developing specialized thermal batteries, lithium batteries, silver/zinc batteries, lead-acid, zinc/bromine, sodium/sulfur, nickel/cadmium batteries, RTG’s, ultracapacitors, and special components
* Being a leader in providing highly versatile, responsive, and impartial power source evaluation, analysis, abuse testing, and failure analysis.
* Implementing state-of-the-art battery abuse tests to understand failure mechanisms and help our customers field safer electrochemical systems.
* Leading Sandia’s effort to integrate power sources with power electronics for energy storage systems.
*>Cooperating with industry and universities to develop a comprehensive modeling effort for power source technology that includes engineering tools based on fundamental understanding of electrochemistry.
* Contributing to strengthen Sandia’s competency in fuel cell development.

Our goal is to be Sandia’s center of excellence in power sources for DOE applications and to meet the needs of defense and commercial markets. We will achieve this goal by making a strong commitment to listening to our customers’ needs; seeking out projects that use our unique skills related to customized, high performance power source system design; and fostering and maintaining a participatory atmosphere that encourages and supports staff creativity, communication, and growth.

By building on our past contributions to Sandia programs, we accept the challenge to continue to improve the way we do business by seeking ways of reducing time and the cost of doing business. We will focus our efforts on using our unique combination of skills in areas ranging from new materials development to production, to deliver customized power source designs, developing calculational capabilities that will lead to a new way of designing power sources, and continuing to provide high-quality, confidential, objective test and evaluation services to our customers.

Introduction

The legacy of our contributions to power sources for weapon systems (DOE and DOD) provides a strong technology base and comprehensive facilities upon which we are enhancing our capabilities to work with all sectors. We have expanded our original role and are developing solutions to electric and hybrid electric vehicle applications as well as national electric energy problems. The scope of our activities spans fulfilling the demanding needs of batteries and other power sources for weapon systems, to contributing to the power source technology for the evolving MEMS (Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems) applications , to the ongoing improvements in energy storage being sought in electric utility and stationary applications business, to the broad arena of consumer power source needs.

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