DOE invests $34 million into infrastructure protection

The Department of Energy (DOE) announced on Friday that it will be investing approximately $34 million into two projects aimed at protecting the energy grid and other energy infrastructure from cyber attacks.

“Cybersecurity is one of the most serious challenges facing grid modernization, which is why maintaining a robust, ever-growing pipeline of cutting-edge technologies is essential to helping the energy sector continue adapting to the evolving landscape,” Patricia Hoffman, assistant secretary for DOE’s Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, said. “To meet this challenge, we must continue investing in innovative, next-generation technologies that can be transitioned to the energy sector to reduce the risk of a power disruption resulting from a cyber incident.”

The University of Arkansas will receive $12.2 million to support the research and development at their National Center for Reliable Electric Power Transmission test facilities. This will also allow the Arkansas Electric Cooperatives Corp. to conduct research at the facility. Successful technology from this project will be transitioned for commercialization and deployment.

The University of Illinois’ Cyber Resilient Energy Delivery Consortium will receive $22.5 million to take on development, research, educational and outreach activity that will lead to the deployment of prototypes to industrial settings for further development.