WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Electricity today announced more than $8 million in selections for funding to projects that accelerate microgrid innovation through the Community Microgrid Assistance Partnership (C-MAP) program. C-MAP will fund 14 projects, reaching 35 towns and villages and 20 partners including business and nonprofits, Alaska Native Corporations, a labor union, and power providers like utilities and energy cooperatives.
In addition to $5.5 million in direct funding to communities supported by microgrid energy system, C-MAP will provide more than $2.6 million for technical expertise provided through DOE’s National Laboratories and local partners, such as the Alaska Center for Energy and Power at the University of Alaska.
“Funding for the C-MAP projects cover costs associated with designing, engineering, and sustaining microgrid systems that bring the reality of America’s energy abundance to rural homes, businesses, and industries,” said Gil Bindewald, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office Electricity. “We want to see microgrid designs that work not just on paper but in the real world.”
Americans living in remote reaches of the country pay some of the highest prices for electricity, yet their service is often below modern standards. The electrical infrastructure is insufficient or aging, vulnerable to weather-related disruptions, and dependent on long supply chains for costly diesel fuel, the most common energy source. Operational efficiencies enabled by microgrids have immense benefits in energy reliability and affordability in areas with a weak grid connection or in the stand-alone microgrids used in remote industries, Tribes and island communities, and national defense.
With support from C-MAP, selectees will:
- Implement advanced controls and monitoring software to improve system performance,
- Build workforce capacity for long-term operations and maintenance,
- Modernize power systems to address poor power quality and outages,
- Prioritize local energy supply chains to stabilize and lower costs and;
- Develop construction-ready engineering plans for infrastructure improvements.
A function of the President’s National Energy Dominance Council is to consult with officials from State, local, and Tribal governments and individuals from the private sector to solicit feedback on how best to expand all forms of energy production. C-MAP is a model for bringing these entities together to address critical energy security gaps with practical solutions.
“Microgrids come in many forms, and we have more technologies for generating and managing power than ever before. However, adoption is limited by microgrid system complexity, capital costs, and commissioning times.,” said Dan Ton, C-MAP Lead for the Office of Electricity. “I believe the United States can lead the world in standardized, modular, and scalable microgrids, but this requires research-backed demonstrations that can be replicated nationwide.”
Alaska has more than 200 microgrids, states the Alaska Center for Energy and Power, and the majority of the C-MAP awards are based in Alaska. According to Alaska Energy Authority’s 2024 Power Cost Equalization Program Statistical Report, these rural villages and communities are often burdened with electricity rates 3 to 5 times higher than urban areas and are at the forefront of rethinking grid architectures to lower costs, build energy independence, and power key industries such as commercial fishing and seafood processing.
“The 12 high-caliber projects selected in Alaska through C-MAP exemplify the innovation, collaboration, and resourcefulness in the 49th State,” said Dr. Erin Whitney, Director of the Arctic Energy Office at the U.S. Department of Energy. “Microgrids in remote Alaska are far too often dependent on flying or barging in diesel fuel, facing outages caused by extreme weather or aging conditions, and overcoming workforce shortages or logistical nightmares. These C-MAP investments will play an outsized role in propelling these communities forward.”
To best support each project, C-MAP engages experts in the region of the project including Renewable Energy Alaska Project and the University of Alaska Fairbanks Center for Energy and Power. C-MAP is funded to provide targeted technical support to selected projects, as needed, in addition to their awards. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory administers C-MAP, and the partnership network includes additional DOE national laboratories, universities and nonprofit, as well as state agencies and DOE’s Arctic Energy Office and Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs.
This partnership will also synthesize lessons, experiences, and best practices from these 14 selected projects and make them available to other communities, organizations, and industry members who are also using, or considering the use of, microgrid energy systems.
Proposals competitively selected for award negotiation include 12 projects in Alaska, one project in South Dakota, and one project in Nevada. A list of these projects can be seen at this link.
Learn more about OE and the C-MAP program.
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