i2X SWIFTR FOA 3246.000001.pdf

Template Version November 2023 Controlled by: The U.S. Department of Energy, DOECUI@hq.doe.gov

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

Solar and Wind Interconnection for Future Transmission

(SWIFTR)

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number: DE-FOA-0003246 FOA Type: Modification 000001

Assistance Listing Number: 81.087

FOA Issue Date: 3/19/2024 Submission Deadline for Concept Papers: 4/17/2024 5 p.m. ET Submission Deadline for Full Applications: 7/11/2024 5 p.m. ET Expected Submission Deadline for Replies to Reviewer Comments: 8/16/2024 5 p.m. ET Expected Date for EERE Selection Notifications: 10/1/2024 Expected Timeframe for Award Negotiations: October–December 2024

• Applicants must submit a Concept Paper by 5 p.m. ET on the due date listed above to be eligible to submit a Full Application.

• To apply to this FOA, applicants must register with and submit application materials through EERE eXCHANGE at eere-eXCHANGE.energy.gov, EERE’s online application portal.

• Applicants must designate primary and backup points of contact in EERE eXCHANGE with whom EERE will communicate to conduct award negotiations. If an application is selected for award negotiations, it is not a commitment to issue an award. It is imperative that the applicant/selectee be responsive during award negotiations and meet negotiation deadlines. Failure to do so may result in cancelation of further award negotiations and rescission of the selection.

• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM) – Each applicant (unless the applicant is excepted from those requirements under 2 CFR 25.110) is required to: (1) register in the SAM at www.sam.gov before submitting an application; (2) provide a valid UEI number in the application; and (3) maintain an active SAM registration with current information when the applicant has an active federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a federal awarding agency. DOE may not make a federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable UEI and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time DOE is ready to make a federal award, DOE will determine https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/ https://www.sam.gov/

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NOTE: Due to the high number of UEI requests and SAM registrations, entity legal business name and address validations are taking longer than expected to process.

Entities should start the UEI and SAM registration process as soon as possible. If entities have technical difficulties with the UEI validation or SAM registration process, they should use the Help feature on SAM.gov. SAM.gov will address service tickets in the order in which they are received and asks that entities not create multiple service tickets for the same request or technical issue. Additional entity validation resources can be found here: GSAFSD Tier 0 Knowledge Base - Validating your Entity.

Mod. No. Date Description of Modification 000001 6/3/2024 Submission deadline for full applications has been moved from

6/28 to 7/11. Deadline for replies to reviewer comments has been moved accordingly to 8/16. Expected date for selection notifications has been moved to 10/1 and timeframe for negotiations has been moved to October-December 2024.

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Table of Contents

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Background and Context

i. Background and Purpose

ii. Technology Space and Strategic Goals

iii. Teaming Partner List

B. Topic Areas

i. Topic Area 1: Improved Efficiency of Electromagnetic Transient Simulations for Interconnection Studies of Inverter-based Resources

ii. Topic Area 2: Dynamic Stability-Enhanced Network Assessment Tools

iii. Applicant Teaming Expectations

C. Applications Specifically Not of Interest D. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion E. Authorizing Statutes

II. Award Information A. Award Overview

i. Estimated Funding

ii. Period of Performance

iii. New Applications Only

B. EERE Funding Agreements

i. Cooperative Agreements

ii. Funding Agreements with Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDCs)

III. Eligibility Information A. Eligible Applicants

i. Domestic Entities

ii. Foreign Entities

B. Cost Sharing

i. Legal Responsibility

ii. Cost Share Allocation

iii. Cost Share Types and Allowability

iv. Cost Share Contributions by FFRDCs

v. Cost Share Verification

vi. Cost Share Payment

C. Compliance Criteria D. Responsiveness Criteria E. Other Eligibility Requirements

i. Requirements for DOE/NNSA and Non-DOE/NNSA FFRDCs Included as a Subrecipient

a. Authorization for non-DOE/NNSA FFRDCs

b. Authorization for DOE/NNSA FFRDCs

c. Funding, Cost Share, and Subaward with FFRDCs

d. Responsibility

F. Limitation on Number of Concept Papers and Full Applications Eligible for Review G. Questions Regarding Eligibility

IV. Application and Submission Information A. Application Process

i. Additional Information on EERE eXCHANGE B. Application Forms mailto:i2X-FOA@ee.doe.gov

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C. Content and Form of the Concept Paper D. Content and Form of the Full Application

i. Full Application Content Requirements

ii. SF-424: Application for Federal Assistance

iii. Technical Volume

iv. Resumes

v. Letters of Commitment

vi. Statement of Project Objectives (SOPO)

vii. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan

viii. Budget Justification Workbook

ix. Summary for Public Release

x. Summary Slide

xi. Subrecipient Budget Justification (if applicable)

xii. Budget for DOE/NNSA FFRDC (if applicable)

xiii. Authorization for Non-DOE/NNSA or DOE/NNSA FFRDCs (if applicable)

xiv. SF-LLL: Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

xv. Waiver Requests (if applicable)

Foreign Entity Participation Performance of Work in the United States (Foreign Work Waiver Request)

xvi. Current and Pending Support

xvii. Locations of Work

xviii. Transparency of Foreign Connections

xix. Potentially Duplicative Funding Notice

E. Content and Form of Replies to Reviewer Comments F. Post Selection Information Requests G. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM) H. Submission Dates and Times I. Intergovernmental Review J. Funding Restrictions

i. Allowable Costs

ii. Pre-Award Costs

iii. Performance of Work in the United States (Foreign Work Waiver)

1. Requirement

2. Failure to Comply

3. Waiver

iv. Construction

v. Foreign Travel

vi. Equipment and Supplies

vii. Build America Buy America Requirements for Infrastructure Projects

viii. Lobbying

ix. Risk Assessment

1. Financial stability;

2. Quality of management systems and ability to meet the management standards prescribed in 2 CFR 200 as amended and adopted by 2 CFR 910;

3. History of performance;

4. Audit reports and findings; and

5. The applicant's ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements imposed on non-federal entities

x. Invoice Review and Approval

xi. Prohibition Related to Foreign Government-Sponsored Talent Recruitment Programs

xii. Affirmative Action and Pay Transparency Requirements

xiii. Foreign Collaboration Considerations

V. Application Review Information

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A. Technical Review Criteria

i. Concept Papers

ii. Full Applications

iii. Criteria for Replies to Reviewer Comments

B. Standards for Application Evaluation C. Other Selection Factors

i. Program Policy Factors D. Evaluation and Selection Process

i. Overview

ii. Pre-Selection Interviews

iii. Pre-Selection Clarification

iv. Recipient Responsibility and Qualifications

v. Selection

E. Anticipated Notice of Selection and Award Negotiation Dates VI. Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices

i. Ineligible Submissions

ii. Concept Paper Notifications

iii. Full Application Notifications

iv. Applicants Selected for Award Negotiations

v. Alternate Selection Determinations

vi. Unsuccessful Applicants

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

i. Registration Requirements

2. System for Award Management

3. FedConnect

4. Grants.gov Electronic Authorization of Applications and Award Documents

ii. Award Administrative Requirements

iii. Foreign National Participation

iv. Subaward and Executive Reporting

v. National Policy Requirements

vi. Environmental Review in Accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

vii. Flood Resilience

viii. Applicant Representations and Certifications

1. Lobbying Restrictions

2. Corporate Felony Conviction and Federal Tax Liability Representations

3. Nondisclosure and Confidentiality Agreements Representations

ix. Statement of Federal Stewardship

x. Statement of Substantial Involvement

xi. Subject Invention Utilization Reporting

xii. Intellectual Property Provisions

xiii. Reporting

xiv. Go/No-Go Review

xv. Conference Spending

xvi. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) Financing Statements

xvii. Real Property and Equipment

xviii. Implementation of Executive Order 13798, Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty

xix. Participants and Collaborating Organizations

xx. Current and Pending Support

xxi. U.S. Manufacturing Commitments

xxii. Interim Conflict of Interest Policy for Financial Assistance

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xxiii. Data Management Plan

xxiv. Fraud, Waste, and Abuse

xxv. Human Subjects Research

VII. Questions/Agency Contacts VIII. Other Information

A. FOA Modifications B. Government Right to Reject or Negotiate C. Commitment of Public Funds D. Treatment of Application Information E. Evaluation and Administration by Non-Federal Personnel F. Notice Regarding Eligible/Ineligible Activities G. Notice of Right to Conduct a Review of Financial Capability H. Requirement for Full and Complete Disclosure I. Retention of Submissions J. Title to Subject Inventions K. Government Rights in Subject Inventions

i. Government Use License

ii. March-In Rights

L. Rights in Technical Data M. Copyright N. Export Control O. Prohibition on Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment P. Personally Identifiable Information (PII) Q. Annual Independent Audits

Appendix A – Cost Share Information Appendix B – Sample Cost Share Calculation for Blended Cost Share Percentage Appendix C – Waiver Requests For: 1. Foreign Entity Participation; and 2. Foreign Work Appendix D – Required Use of American Iron, Steel, Manufactured Products, and Construction Materials Buy America Requirements for Infrastructure Projects Appendix F – List of Acronyms

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I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Background and Context

i. Background and Purpose This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is jointly issued by the U.S.

Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) and Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) as part of their Interconnection Innovation Exchange (i2X) program1 to support innovative work to enable simpler, faster, and fairer interconnection of clean energy resources while enhancing the reliability, resiliency, and security of our electrical grid.

SETO and WETO work to accelerate the development and deployment of solar and wind technologies to support an equitable transition to a decarbonized electricity system by 2035 and a net-zero energy sector by 2050. Achieving these goals will support the nationwide effort to address the climate crisis and ensure that all Americans benefit from the transition to a clean energy economy. SETO supports solar energy research, development, demonstration, and technical assistance in six areas—photovoltaics, concentrating solar-thermal power, systems integration, manufacturing and competitiveness, soft costs,2 and equitable access—to improve the affordability, reliability, and domestic benefit of solar technologies on the electrical grid. WETO invests in wind energy research, development, demonstration, and deployment activities that enable and accelerate the innovations needed to advance offshore, land-based, and distributed wind systems; reduce the cost of wind energy; drive deployment in an environmentally conscious manner; and facilitate the integration of high levels of wind energy with the electrical grid.

Building a clean and equitable energy economy and addressing the climate crisis is a top priority of the Biden Administration. This FOA will advance the Biden Administration’s goals to achieve carbon-pollution-free electricity by 2035 and to “deliver an equitable, clean energy future, and put the United States on a path to achieve net-zero emissions, economy-wide, by no later than 2050,”3 to the benefit of all Americans. DOE is committed to pushing the frontiers of science and engineering, catalyzing clean energy jobs through research, development, 1 Innovation Interconnection e-Xchange. www.energy.gov/eere/i2x/interconnection-innovation-e-xchange.

2 Soft costs are the non-hardware costs associated with solar generation. These costs include permitting, financing, and installing solar generation, as well as the expenses solar companies incur to acquire new customers, pay suppliers, and cover their bottom line.

3 The White House. January 27, 2021. Executive Order 14008, “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.”

http://www.energy.gov/eere/i2x/interconnection-innovation-e-xchange

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Solar and wind energy technologies are essential to achieving a 100% clean electricity system by 2035 and a net-zero energy system by 2050. According to analysis from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), to achieve 100% clean electricity by 2035,4 solar and wind power will need to grow to provide up to 80% of U.S. electricity from a combined 2 terawatts (TW) of capacity. This will require growth rates as high as 90 gigawatts (GW)/year for solar capacity and as high as 145 GW/year for wind capacity, both representing sizable increases from the pace of growth forecast by the U.S. Energy Information Administration in 2024.5 The research and development (R&D) activities to be funded under this FOA will support the government-wide approach to the climate crisis by driving innovation leading to the deployment of critical clean energy technologies. Specifically, this FOA will provide new analytical tools and approaches to stakeholders that will accelerate and improve the reliable interconnection of renewable energy into the transmission system, also known as the bulk power system (BPS). The transmission system is the high-voltage system used to move large amounts of power between regions, as opposed to the local distribution system that serves customers.

ii. Technology Space and Strategic Goals As new clean energy generation and storage resources proliferate, they need to be connected to the distribution and transmission systems through a process known as “interconnection.” This process involves an interconnection customer, such as a wind, solar, or battery energy storage developer, who submits an application to an electric service provider or independent system operator responsible for managing and operating the grid, to connect a new energy generation or storage facility. Within this FOA, such operators are referred to as “transmission operators” (TOs). The TO must then evaluate the existing resources on the grid to determine whether the project can be built, connected, and operated in a safe and reliable way.

Interconnection is dictated by a complex network of laws, regulations, and administrative processes that have been developed at the regional, state, or utility-territory level. Current interconnection procedures, however, are not designed to accommodate the deployment of the hundreds of gigawatts of solar

4 Denholm, P., P. Brown, W. Cole, T. Mai, B. Sergi, M. Brown, P. Jadun, J. Ho, J. Mayernik, C. McMillan, and R.

Sreenath. 2022. Examining Supply-Side Options to Achieve 100% Clean Electricity by 2035. NREL.

www.nrel.gov/docs/fy22osti/81644.pdf.

5 U.S. Energy Information Administration. January 2024. “Solar and Wind to Lead Growth of U.S. Power Generation for the Next Two Years.” www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=61242.

mailto:i2X-FOA@ee.doe.gov http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy22osti/81644.pdf http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=61242

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Controlled by: The U.S. Department of Energy, DOECUI@hq.doe.gov energy, wind energy, and battery energy storage resources needed each year to meet climate goals. From 2000 to 2010, the United States averaged 500–1,000 new transmission interconnection requests each year, corresponding to around 150–200 gigawatts (GW)/year of proposed generation. From 2011 to 2020, however, new requests have risen to 2,500–3,000 each year, representing anywhere from 400 to 600 GW/year of proposed generation, an increase in queue volume of three to five times.6 Consequently, many new clean energy projects get delayed in interconnection queues, sometimes for years, awaiting review, study, and approval.

This FOA seeks applications to address the challenges posed to transmission system interconnection processes—including, but not limited to, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Large Generator Interconnection Process7 and Small Generator Interconnection Process,8 as implemented by TOs—by the rapid, widespread clean energy transition in the United States. Challenges include limited transmission capacity and an increased number of applications from clean energy developers to TOs requesting connection to the grid.

In addition, the nature of inverter-based resources (IBRs) such as wind and solar generators and battery energy storage systems has led to a need for new types of studies. IBRs rely on a piece of equipment known as an “inverter” to convert the direct current electrical energy that they produce or store into alternating current that is compatible with the electrical grid. To identify how IBRs will operate when there is an unexpected outage or other event on the electrical grid, TOs may conduct electromagnetic transient (EMT) studies. EMT studies use highly accurate models of equipment and controls to identify interactions between grid devices and check that they will work correctly with each other and maintain a reliable grid. However, EMT studies are typically more complicated and more difficult to perform than traditional interconnection studies. The high volumes and complexities of interconnections have led to uncertainties, delays, and higher costs for developers seeking to connect new generation to the grid, which results in a more difficult and costly energy transition for ratepayers, utilities, and their regulators.9

6 Berkeley Lab. “Queued Up: Characteristics of Power Plants Seeking Transmission Interconnection.”

emp.lbl.gov/queues.

7 See www.ferc.gov/electric-transmission/generator-interconnection/final-rules-establishing-and-revising-standard.

8 See www.ferc.gov/electric-transmission/generator-interconnection/standard-interconnection-agreements-and-procedures.

9 North American Electric Reliability Corporation. 2023. “Reliability Guideline: Electromagnetic Transient Modeling for BPS-Connected Inverter-Based Resources.”

www.nerc.com/comm/RSTC_Reliability_Guidelines/Reliability_Guideline-EMT_Modeling_and_Simulations.pdf.

mailto:i2X-FOA@ee.doe.gov https://emp.lbl.gov/queues http://www.ferc.gov/electric-transmission/generator-interconnection/final-rules-establishing-and-revising-standard http://www.ferc.gov/electric-transmission/generator-interconnection/final-rules-establishing-and-revising-standard http://www.ferc.gov/electric-transmission/generator-interconnection/standard-interconnection-agreements-and-procedures http://www.ferc.gov/electric-transmission/generator-interconnection/standard-interconnection-agreements-and-procedures https://www.nerc.com/comm/RSTC_Reliability_Guidelines/Reliability_Guideline-EMT_Modeling_and_Simulations.pdf

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To address these challenges, SETO and WETO launched i2X in 2022, with the support of several national laboratories, including the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), and NREL.

The i2X program partners with utilities, grid operators, state and local governments, clean energy industry, energy justice groups, nonprofits, and others to conduct four key activities: stakeholder engagement, data collection and analysis, strategic roadmap development, and technical assistance.

In 2024, the i2X team published the draft DOE transmission interconnection roadmap.10 This roadmap highlighted 34 solutions for stakeholders seeking to collaboratively improve interconnection processes in the short term, medium term, and long term. To address these challenges, organized under four goals, these solutions aim to deploy clean resources rapidly, equitably, and reliably.

The four roadmap goals are as follows:

• Goal 1: Increase data access and transparency, centering on improving data availability that informs interconnection decision-making and monitoring of queue reform outcomes.

• Goal 2: Improve process and timing, focusing on the process of interconnection itself and providing solutions to streamline interconnections as the number of applications remains high.

• Goal 3: Promote economic efficiency, seeking to improve interconnection outcomes that meet market and policy objectives at lower costs to ratepayers, with fair allocation between producers and consumers and among states and Tribes.

• Goal 4: Maintain a reliable grid, focusing on prevention of unnecessary system disturbance and transmission impacts from increased inverter-based resource deployment.

While all solutions of the roadmap aim to promote a fair interconnection process, it is important to acknowledge that not all stakeholders start with the same tools and resources. An equitable interconnection process would acknowledge these barriers and provide transmission connection access opportunities for all. Energy equity in interconnection requires intentionally designing systems, technologies, procedures, and policies for all types of interconnection stakeholders, including energy, equity, and justice communities.

Enhancements to interconnection and, relatedly, transmission planning processes can help make interconnection outcomes more inclusive and fairer.

10 I2X. Transforming Interconnection: Paving the Way to Reliably Achieve an Energy Transition on the U.S.

Transmission System by 2035, page 16 DOE. www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2023- 10/Draft%20i2X%20Transmission%20Roadmap.pdf. (Currently in Draft) mailto:i2X-FOA@ee.doe.gov https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2023-10/Draft%20i2X%20Transmission%20Roadmap.pdf

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This FOA addresses all four of these goals by developing new methods of conducting interconnection studies and collecting data on the condition of the transmission system resources available to facilitate the interconnection process.

These new methods will increase data transparency and lead to improved processes, ultimately promoting efficient and beneficial interconnection outcomes while maintaining grid reliability. As described in Section I.B, the FOA is particularly focused on solutions related to Goal 1 and Goal 4.

This FOA represents one of the many ways that i2X is working to address interconnection challenges. Prior to this FOA, i2X has funded technical assistance and interconnection queue and cost data collection and analysis and hosted workshops to upskill the interconnection workforce. In addition to this FOA, i2X is developing programming to accelerate the implementation of interconnection solutions through thought-leadership convenings, support of champions of change, investment in training the interconnection workforce, peer learning and exchange of best practices, and technical assistance. Furthermore, i2X is working on similar programming and a roadmap for the distribution system. Through this work, DOE is committed to building an interconnection community of practice to support interconnection innovation and excellence.

Relevant Past SETO and WETO Funding

DOE has historically funded many projects to improve the ability of power systems engineers to accurately model and simulate the impact of generators on the electrical grid, dating back to the initial development of EMT software at the Bonneville Power Administration.11 Through more recent funding opportunities, SETO and WETO have funded research and development that improve the ability of engineers to screen or quickly assess the impact of new IBR interconnections on the grid through new models, methods, tools, and processes.

SETO supports interconnection efforts through both its systems integration12 and soft costs13 subprograms. Recent efforts include the SETO FY2021 Systems Integration and Hardware Incubator funding program,14 the Solar and Wind Grid Services and Reliability Demonstration funding program,15 the Operation and

11 Ametani, A. 2021. “Electromagnetic Transients Program: History and Future.” IEEJ Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Engineering, 16: 1150–1158. https://doi.org/10.1002/tee.23192.

12 SETO. Systems Integration. www.energy.gov/eere/solar/systems-integration.

13 SETO. Soft Costs. www.energy.gov/eere/solar/soft-costs.

14 SETO. Solar Energy Technologies Office Fiscal Year 2021 Systems Integration and Hardware Incubator Funding Program. www.energy.gov/eere/solar/solar-energy-technologies-office-fiscal-year-2021-systems-integration-and-hardware.

15 SETO. Solar and Wind Grid Services and Reliability Demonstration Funding Program.

www.energy.gov/eere/solar/solar-and-wind-grid-services-and-reliability-demonstration-funding-program.

mailto:i2X-FOA@ee.doe.gov http://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/systems-integration http://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/soft-costs http://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/solar-energy-technologies-office-fiscal-year-2021-systems-integration-and-hardware http://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/solar-energy-technologies-office-fiscal-year-2021-systems-integration-and-hardware http://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/solar-and-wind-grid-services-and-reliability-demonstration-funding-program

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Planning Tools for Inverter-Based Resource Management and Availability for Future Power Systems (OPTIMA) funding program,16 and projects through both the Soft Costs and Systems Integration areas of SETO’s FY22-24 Lab Call.17

WETO supports interconnection R&D through the Renewable Systems Integration subprogram.18 Highlights of this work include efforts related to grid planning and analysis and grid operation and market impact.19 WETO has supported the development of software products such as GridPACK™, an open-source framework for developing high-performance computing simulations of the power grid.20 Both SETO and WETO have supported national laboratory research through their support of the Grid Modernization Initiative.21

iii. Teaming Partner List DOE is compiling a Teaming Partner List to facilitate the formation of project teams for this FOA. The Teaming Partner List allows organizations that may wish to participate on a project to express their interest to other applicants and explore potential partnerships.

The Teaming Partner List will be available on EERE eXCHANGE and will be regularly updated to reflect new teaming partners who provide their organization’s information.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: View the Teaming Partner List by visiting the EERE eXCHANGE homepage and clicking on “Teaming Partners” within the left-hand navigation pane. This page allows users to view published Teaming Partner Lists.

To join the Teaming Partner List, submit a request within eXCHANGE. Select the appropriate Teaming Partner List from the drop-down menu and fill in the following information: Investigator Name, Organization Name, Organization Type, Topic Area, Background and Capabilities, Website, Contact Address, Contact Email, and Contact Phone.

16 SETO. Funding Notice: Operation and Planning Tools for Inverter-Based Resource Management and Availability for Future Power Systems (OPTIMA). www.energy.gov/eere/solar/articles/funding-notice-operation-and-planning-tools-inverter-based-resource-management.

17 SETO. Solar Energy Technologies Office Lab Call FY2022-24. www.energy.gov/eere/solar/solar-energy-technologies-office-lab-call-fy2022-24.

18 WETO. Renewable Systems Integration. www.energy.gov/eere/wind/renewable-systems-integration.

19 WETO. Renewable Systems Integration: Past Research Project Highlights.

www.energy.gov/eere/wind/renewable-systems-integration-past-research-project-highlights.

20 PNNL. GridPACK™: An Open Source Framework for Developing High Performance Computing Simulations of the Power Grid. www.pnnl.gov/projects/gridpacktm-open-source-framework-developing-high-performance-computing-simulations-power.

21 DOE. Grid Modernization Initiative. www.energy.gov/gmi/grid-modernization-initiative.

mailto:i2X-FOA@ee.doe.gov http://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/articles/funding-notice-operation-and-planning-tools-inverter-based-resource-management http://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/articles/funding-notice-operation-and-planning-tools-inverter-based-resource-management http://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/solar-energy-technologies-office-lab-call-fy2022-24 http://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/solar-energy-technologies-office-lab-call-fy2022-24 http://www.energy.gov/eere/wind/renewable-systems-integration http://www.energy.gov/eere/wind/renewable-systems-integration-past-research-project-highlights http://www.pnnl.gov/projects/gridpacktm-open-source-framework-developing-high-performance-computing-simulations-power http://www.pnnl.gov/projects/gridpacktm-open-source-framework-developing-high-performance-computing-simulations-power http://www.energy.gov/gmi/grid-modernization-initiative

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DISCLAIMER: By submitting a request to be included on the Teaming Partner List, the requesting organization consents to the publication of the above-referenced information. By facilitating the Teaming Partner List, DOE is not endorsing, sponsoring, or otherwise evaluating the qualifications of the individuals and organizations that are identifying themselves for placement on this Teaming Partner List. DOE will not pay for the provision of any information, nor will it compensate any applicants or requesting organizations for the development of such information.

B. Topic Areas

This funding opportunity solicits proposals for projects to expedite future interconnections of wind, solar, and battery energy storage systems into the transmission system while preserving data security and system reliability. Awardees under this funding opportunity will develop tools and methods that provide necessary information to grid stakeholders to specifically address the following DOE transmission interconnection roadmap22 goals:

• Increasing data access and transparency, centering on improving data availability that informs interconnection decision-making and monitoring of queue reform outcomes. (Goal 1: Solutions 1.1 and 1.3)

• Maintaining a reliable grid, focusing on prevention of unnecessary system disturbances and evaluating transmission impacts from increased inverter-based resource deployment. (Goal 4: Solutions 4.1–4.3)

The two FOA topic areas are as follows:

• Topic Area 1: Improved Efficiency of EMT Simulations for Interconnection

Studies of IBRs Projects in this topic area will seek to improve the efficiency of the interconnection study process for new IBRs, such as solar and wind plants and battery energy storage systems, by improving software tools to study plant dynamics to increase long-term plant reliability. Projects will achieve this both by improving the speed of advanced, high-fidelity EMT modeling and simulation tools used in power systems interconnection studies and by developing a better understanding of when such high-fidelity simulations are necessary in the interconnection process.

22 I2X. Transforming Interconnection, page 16. www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2023- 10/Draft%20i2X%20Transmission%20Roadmap.pdf. (Currently in Draft) mailto:i2X-FOA@ee.doe.gov

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• Topic Area 2: Dynamic Stability-Enhanced Network Assessment Tools Projects in this topic area will develop tools to provide stakeholders with data on transmission system characteristics related to stability, voltage, and grid strength while securing confidential and critical energy infrastructure information.

Projects will establish the type of information required by stakeholders, develop a tool or tools, and test and evaluate those tools on at least one real transmission system.

Topic Area 1 is primarily focused on the improvement of software tools, methods, or processes used to conduct EMT studies, the results of which will inform the transmission system interconnection stakeholders in Topic Area 2. Projects in Topic Area 2 do not need to be focused solely on transmission system characteristics based on EMT studies.

All projects must present a plan to engage with public partners or organizations representing local community interests. Projects must justify that the knowledge and outputs generated from the project will contribute to more effective deployment of IBRs than current practices and explain this improvement relative to existing benchmarks. Any projects proposing to create digital resources such as datasets, models, or decision support tools must include a plan for the maintenance or commercialization of that tool by the end of the project period of performance, to ensure that the tool remains useful and available to all relevant stakeholders after the end of DOE funding.

Projects must include partners that enable real-world testing and verification of the proposed method or technology. If the proposed project will require accessing commercial facilities, proposals must provide evidence that the site owner or controller supports the project and is willing to provide site access.

i. Topic Area 1: Improved Efficiency of Electromagnetic Transient

Simulations for Interconnection Studies of Inverter-based Resources

Introduction

When interconnecting a new generation resource to the transmission system, TOs must ensure that it will not have a destabilizing impact or otherwise reduce the reliability of the grid. For large interconnections, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) defines reliability standards that must be maintained.23 To understand whether a new interconnection could impact grid

23 NERC. “Reliability Standards.” www.nerc.com/pa/Stand/Pages/ReliabilityStandards.aspx.

http://www.nerc.com/pa/Stand/Pages/ReliabilityStandards.aspx

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Controlled by: The U.S. Department of Energy, DOECUI@hq.doe.gov reliability, power system planners and operators rely on simulation tools that model their electrical networks, the flow of electricity through them, and how that flow changes dynamically in response to changes in the system, such as a sudden loss of generation or a fault.

Traditionally, the simulation tools used in these interconnection studies rely on the balanced nature of the three-phase transmission system and its representation in the phasor domain to simplify computations and make large-scale studies possible. However, the faster dynamics and nonlinearities that are introduced by IBRs such as solar and wind generators and battery energy storage systems cannot be accurately represented in these traditional tools.24 This has led engineers to use more sophisticated EMT simulation tools that can more accurately represent faster dynamics when studying IBR interconnections in sensitive regions.25

These EMT simulation tools can capture microsecond-scale dynamics of the power system, including the electromagnetic dynamics of the transmission lines, the power electronic switching of inverters, and the real control code that would be installed in the field.26, 27 However, these more accurate representations require more complex network and equipment models and much smaller simulation timesteps compared to the traditional simulation tools, which typically run in millisecond-scale timesteps. This can increase computation times by several orders of magnitude, even requiring several days to simulate large systems.28 In addition, building the more complex models of network and equipment typically requires more engineering resources (e.g., labor, investment, and expertise).

State of the Art – Topic Area 1

In response to grid reliability events in 2021 and 2022, investigations by NERC indicated that improper inverter settings led to plants going offline

24 Rahimi, E. August 2023. “EMT Studies in CAISO,” ORNL EMT Workshop. emtworkshop.ornl.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2.-CAISO_ORNL_EMT_Workshop.pdf.

25 Rose, J. August 2023. “Before Clicking Run: Quality and Goals of EMT,” ORNL EMT Workshop.

emtworkshop.ornl.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1.-ERCOT_ORNL_EMT_Workshop.pdf.

26 EMTP. “Renewable Energy Systems.” www.emtp.com/applications/renewable-energy-systems.

27 Manitoba Hydro International Ltd. September 2018. “Photovoltaic Example.” www.pscad.com/knowledge-base/download/pvsystemgenericexample.pdf.

28 Choi, J., and S. Debnath. April 2021. “Electromagnetic Transient (EMT) Simulation Algorithm for Evaluation of Photovoltaic (PV) Generation Systems,” 2021 IEEE Kansas Power and Energy Conference (KPEC). NREL.

https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1817500.

mailto:i2X-FOA@ee.doe.gov https://emtworkshop.ornl.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2.-CAISO_ORNL_EMT_Workshop.pdf https://emtworkshop.ornl.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2.-CAISO_ORNL_EMT_Workshop.pdf https://emtworkshop.ornl.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1.-ERCOT_ORNL_EMT_Workshop.pdf http://www.emtp.com/applications/renewable-energy-systems http://www.pscad.com/knowledge-base/download/pvsystemgenericexample.pdf http://www.pscad.com/knowledge-base/download/pvsystemgenericexample.pdf https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1817500

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Controlled by: The U.S. Department of Energy, DOECUI@hq.doe.gov unnecessarily.29, 30 In their reports on these investigations, NERC produced a table, shown in Figure 1, that evaluated causes of solar plant tripping and whether that tripping behavior could have been accurately simulated ahead of time in the interconnection and commissioning process by either traditional (positive-sequence) or advanced EMT simulation tools. In Figure 1, the rows circled in red indicate the types of erroneous tripping events that NERC has concluded cannot be accurately simulated with traditional tools and, therefore, must be identified by EMT simulation tools. As a result, NERC is recommending updating their own standards to “incorporate EMT modeling requirements and quality checks for all submitted models as well as EMT studies to ensure reliable operation of the BPS with increasing levels of inverter-based resources.”31

Figure 1. Causes of solar plant tripping from the NERC 2022 Odessa disturbance report, with causes that NERC indicates can only be accurately modeled in EMT simulations highlighted in red.

Currently, different TOs have their own practices and requirements for when EMT models of proposed plants must be provided and when EMT studies are performed in the interconnection process. The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) only performs EMT studies after a separate screening study deems further analysis to be needed, at which point the interconnection customer must provide EMT models that meet SPP’s requirements.32 Other TOs, such as the California

29 NERC. September 2021. Odessa Disturbance: Texas Events: May 9, 2021 and June 26, 2021; Joint NERC and Texas RE Staff Report. www.nerc.com/pa/rrm/ea/Documents/Odessa_Disturbance_Report.pdf.

30 NERC. December 2022. 2022 Odessa Disturbance: Texas Event: June 4, 2022; Joint NERC and Texas RE Staff Report. www.nerc.com/comm/RSTC_Reliability_Guidelines/NERC_2022_Odessa_Disturbance_Report%20(1).pdf.

31 Ibid.

32 SPP. January 2022. “SPP Electromagnetic Transient (EMT) Model Requirements.”

opsportal.spp.org/documents/studies/SPP%20EMT%20Model%20Requirements.pdf.

mailto:i2X-FOA@ee.doe.gov http://www.nerc.com/pa/rrm/ea/Documents/Odessa_Disturbance_Report.pdf http://www.nerc.com/comm/RSTC_Reliability_Guidelines/NERC_2022_Odessa_Disturbance_Report%20(1).pdf https://opsportal.spp.org/documents/studies/SPP%20EMT%20Model%20Requirements.pdf

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Independent System Operator (CAISO), require EMT models for all IBR interconnection applications above a minimum capacity.33 Some TOs, such as the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), are working closely with NERC to develop requirements for every transmission-level IBR interconnection to provide an EMT model, with the expectation that more EMT studies will be needed in the future to ensure reliability.34

Transmission operators outside the United States are also developing procedures for determining when EMT studies of IBRs are required. In Australia, studies must be performed to determine if an interconnection will impact system strength and, if so, whether remediation measures are required to proceed with the interconnection. This process previously involved wide-area EMT studies; however, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has developed a simpler screening approach, reducing the effort required for interconnection studies.35 In Europe, a common European grid code, Commission Regulation 2016/631,36 was introduced in 2016 to harmonize the simulation requirements across countries. Only high-level requirements were provided regarding modeling the power dynamics of the plant, but software platform or model fidelity, including EMT requirements, were not specified. As a result, different countries require different levels of accuracy in their simulations, based on their specific model validation processes.37 German regulators have recently begun to require EMT models for some specific cases, such as IBRs connected with or near high-voltage direct current or connected to very weak sections of grid.38

33 CAISO. October 2020. “Electromagnetic Transient Modeling Requirements.”

www.caiso.com/Documents/Presentation-ElectromagneticTransientModelSubmissionsRequirement- Oct212020.pdf.

34 North American Electric Reliability Corporation. May 2023. “Reliability Guideline: Electromagnetic Transient Modeling for BPS-Connected Inverter-Based Resources—Recommended Model Requirements and Verification Practices.” www.nerc.com/comm/RSTC/EMMTF/EMT%20Modeling%20for%20BPS-Connected%20Inverter- Based%20Resources%E2%80%94Recommended%20Model%20Requirements%20and%20Verification%20Practices %20-%20Presentations.pdf.

35 Badrzadeh, B. October 2023. “IBR Grid Connection Studies – Lessons Learned.” www.esig.energy/download/ibr-grid-connection-studies-lessons-learned-babak-badrzadeh/?wpdmdl=10768&refresh=653fe6bb6cf7d1698686651.

36 The European Commission. April 2016. Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/631 of 14 April 2016 Establishing a Network Code on Requirements for Grid Connection of Generators. eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0631.

37 Schmidt, J. “Generator Grid Code Compliance Assessment Using Simulation Models.” Energynautics.

www.esig.energy/download/generator-grid-code-compliance-assessment-using-simulation-models-jan-david-schmidt/?wpdmdl=10765&refresh=653fe6bb499831698686651.

38 Fortmann, J. October 2023. “German Grid Code Compliance Assessment Practice.” ESIG.

www.esig.energy/download/german-grid-code-compliance-assessment-practice-jens-fortmann/?wpdmdl=10766&refresh=653fe6bb54c711698686651.

mailto:i2X-FOA@ee.doe.gov http://www.caiso.com/Documents/Presentation-ElectromagneticTransientModelSubmissionsRequirement-Oct212020.pdf http://www.caiso.com/Documents/Presentation-ElectromagneticTransientModelSubmissionsRequirement-Oct212020.pdf http://www.nerc.com/comm/RSTC/EMMTF/EMT%20Modeling%20for%20BPS-Connected%20Inverter-Based%20Resources%E2%80%94Recommended%20Model%20Requirements%20and%20Verification%20Practices%20-%20Presentations.pdf http://www.nerc.com/comm/RSTC/EMMTF/EMT%20Modeling%20for%20BPS-Connected%20Inverter-Based%20Resources%E2%80%94Recommended%20Model%20Requirements%20and%20Verification%20Practices%20-%20Presentations.pdf http://www.nerc.com/comm/RSTC/EMMTF/EMT%20Modeling%20for%20BPS-Connected%20Inverter-Based%20Resources%E2%80%94Recommended%20Model%20Requirements%20and%20Verification%20Practices%20-%20Presentations.pdf http://www.esig.energy/download/ibr-grid-connection-studies-lessons-learned-babak-badrzadeh/?wpdmdl=10768&refresh=653fe6bb6cf7d1698686651 http://www.esig.energy/download/ibr-grid-connection-studies-lessons-learned-babak-badrzadeh/?wpdmdl=10768&refresh=653fe6bb6cf7d1698686651 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0631 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R0631 http://www.esig.energy/download/generator-grid-code-compliance-assessment-using-simulation-models-jan-david-schmidt/?wpdmdl=10765&refresh=653fe6bb499831698686651 http://www.esig.energy/download/generator-grid-code-compliance-assessment-using-simulation-models-jan-david-schmidt/?wpdmdl=10765&refresh=653fe6bb499831698686651 http://www.esig.energy/download/german-grid-code-compliance-assessment-practice-jens-fortmann/?wpdmdl=10766&refresh=653fe6bb54c711698686651 http://www.esig.energy/download/german-grid-code-compliance-assessment-practice-jens-fortmann/?wpdmdl=10766&refresh=653fe6bb54c711698686651

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Increasing the number of EMT-level simulations required in the IBR interconnection process may be challenging, whether it stems from NERC or TO requirements. Plant developers would need to validate and submit EMT-level models of their plants, which are often proprietary to the inverter original equipment manufacturer (OEM). The final settings (or even inverter vendor) are often not known early in the design and interconnection proposal process.39 As a result, both TOs and plant developers, as well as consultants who support them, would need to invest more resources in specialized EMT software and more engineering time in performing the lengthier, more complex EMT studies.

Topic Area 1 Objectives

The objective of this topic area is to fund improvements to EMT software tools and processes that will improve the efficiency of new IBR interconnection studies that require EMT simulations to ensure grid reliability. Additionally, this topic area seeks to fund studies that will investigate when EMT simulations are required in the interconnection process and provide guidelines for utilities and TOs to streamline their interconnection processes for EMT model validation and grid reliability studies.

Successful projects will address these objectives through the following three major categories of activity. Any individual project may address one, some, or all of these categories.

First, projects will improve the computational efficiency of EMT simulation software by developing and testing new methods. Methods may focus on improving computational efficiency for large power system networks that include many IBRs. Such methods may include leveraging sparsity, network segmentation, and hybrid modeling approaches. Other methods that improve simulation efficiency, such as event-based processing, adaptable simulation timesteps, and variable model fidelity, are also of interest. Projects may also explore the use of computationally efficient simulation platforms, such as parallel multicore processing, cloud-based solutions, software-as-a-service solutions, or real-time solutions. Projects must develop software specifications to incorporate the proposed improvements into a prototype or beta version of a commercial software package or other form that can be broadly used by industry upon completion of the project.

Second, projects will improve the efficiency of engineering workflows for EMT interconnection studies.