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The Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange (i2X) program is the first of its kind at the U.S. Department of Energy, addressing the long queue times to interconnect solar, wind, and other renewables to the bulk power grid. Over the past several months, i2X has engaged with hundreds of stakeholders who want to play a part in simplifying grid interconnection through its Solution e-Xchanges. But that’s not the only way i2X is making progress.
Through technical assistance, i2X supports stakeholders as they tackle interconnection challenges. Three national labs—the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), and Sandia National Laboratories (SNL)—are working with stakeholders to develop interconnection solutions and best practices that can be adapted by organizations at the regional and national levels to drive innovation and implement effective strategies for meeting their clean energy deployment goals.
Technical assistance projects cover a wide range of topics—from exploring approaches to expand grid capacity for interconnection, to developing new methods to assess hosting capacity of distribution systems, to streamlining interconnection with automation to reduce time, cost, and workforce constraints.
The labs are working with a diverse set of organizations to tackle these challenges:
- Buffalo Renewables Inc.
- City of Loveland, Colorado Water and Power
- Coalition for Community Solar Access
- Commonwealth Edison/Xcel Energy
- Duquesne Light Company
- Enphase Energy
- Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities
- New Mexico Public Regulation Commission
- Oregon Public Utility Commission
- Sacramento Municipal Utility District
- Siva Powers America Inc.
- Solar and Storage Industries Institute
These technical assistance projects, funded in part by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help deliver a more equitable clean energy future for the American people.
The projects are expected to conclude in March 2024. The products they develop will be shared with the public through webinars, case study reports, and other avenues facilitated by i2X.
Learn more about the technical assistance projects and watch recorded Solution e-Xchange meetings to see how i2X is engaging stakeholders across the interconnection landscape.
PS: i2X will be at RE+ in Las Vegas! Register for the Workshop: Sneak Peek: A Roadmap to the Future of Interconnection Innovation at 8 a.m. PT on Monday, September 11 to see highlights from the draft 5-year Strategic Roadmap and provide feedback before the final version is released in the coming months.
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