US launches initiative to connect more clean energy to the grid

The US Department of Energy (DOE) on Wednesday launched the Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange (i2X) – a new partnership funded by President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that brings together grid operators, utilities, state and tribal governments, clean energy developers, energy justice organisations, and other stakeholders to connect more clean energy to America’s power grid by solving challenges facing the power industry.

The partnership will help reduce wait times for clean energy sources in interconnection queues and lower costs to connect to the grid, the department said.

The Biden Administration has set a goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035.

According to the DOE, i2X partners will develop solutions for faster, simpler, and fairer interconnection of clean energy resources through better data, roadmap development, and technical assistance.

“Eliminating the gridlock that’s slowing down clean energy deployment is critical to increasing access to cheaper electricity for American families and businesses,” US Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said in a statement.

A recent DOE Solar Futures Study found that both solar and wind energy resources will need to dramatically expand to meet the US goals. However, current rules, costs, and procedures for connecting to the grid cannot handle the rapid increase in clean energy projects and require more efficient processes to bring the projects online.

Furthermore, the interconnection queue waiting times for the number of clean energy generation and storage projects slated to be added on to the grid is growing, as demand for renewable electricity accelerates faster than ever, the department said in a statement.

Collaborating with participating i2X organisations, experts from DOE’s Solar Energy and Wind Energy Technologies Offices and DOE’s National Labs will develop a 5-year roadmap that sets goals and identifies research gaps and benchmarks for success, the department said.

The partnership will officially kick off on June 7 at a virtual event with the US Energy Secretary.