Stakeholder Engagement
PNNL routinely engages a broad, multidisciplinary range of stakeholders to explore innovative ideas and emerging issues and build integrated solutions.
Distribution
America needs a smarter electric grid. One where utilities can see and respond to changing electricity demands in real time. Where systems automatically reroute electricity when equipment fails or outages occur, keeping power flowing. And where utilities can meet increasing demands by tapping into distributed and renewable energy resources at exactly the right amounts. PNNL has a legacy of pioneering smart grid advancements, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy and industry.
Grid Architecture
Grid Architecture is a connected body of work that has found ever-increasing use in the electric utility industry, not just in the United States, but worldwide. For example, the Electric Power Research Institute has adopted the PNNL Grid Architecture approach as the basis for its utility modernization roadmaps. It is used by electric utilities and utility regulatory commissions and boards in dozens of states and has uptake in other countries around the world. Grid Architecture helps stakeholders understand the issues of grid modernization from a structural standpoint and provides principles and reference models that they can adopt and then adapt to their unique circumstances.
Grid Cybersecurity
PNNL supports the U.S. Department of Energy’s cybersecurity goal of strengthening today’s energy delivery systems and creating more resilient, self-defending energy systems for the future. With more than 100 technical experts focused on cybersecurity infrastructure research and solutions, PNNL has been advancing the reliability and security of the nation's power system for more than a decade.
Explosives Detection
While there is no single solution to counter the wide range and continual evolution of explosive threats to our society, our scientists and engineers are developing methods to enable interdiction of these threats across a variety of deployment scenarios.
Emergency Response
Widespread power outages have shut down businesses, disrupted the lives of millions of people, and cost the economy millions of dollars. In nationally declared emergencies like natural disasters or attacks that affect electricity delivery, the U.S. Department of Energy is responsible for coordinating government and private sector response and recovery efforts. The goals are to reduce the magnitude and duration of disruptive events, keep critical functions operating despite shocks, manage disruptions as they unfold, and get back to normal as quickly as possible. As a national laboratory in service to the nation, PNNL is called upon to support grid-related emergency response. PNNL develops tools to help the energy sector better anticipate and protect against emergencies, as well as respond when they do happen. When Disaster Strikes When requested by officials from DOE, trained responders from PNNL travel to emergency sites to support recovery efforts. Where power is lost, such as with downed transmission lines or faulty backup generators, the goal is to restore electricity to the most critical operations as quickly and safely as possible. In such cases, PNNL staff may work in centralized emergency response centers, communicating with utility workers and other responders in the field about the status and actions regarding energy infrastructure. Extreme weather is the top contributor to severe grid outages. During and after weather emergencies, a PNNL software tool is helping entities understand what infrastructure has been damaged, so repairs can be located and prioritized. The Automated Damage Assessment tool detects and displays damaged areas using remote sensing imagery and meteorological data. It looks for flooded area definition, rubble, land-cover changes, and damage from tornadoes and ice storms. The results, for example, can show areas of a utility’s territory that have been damaged by high winds, that are flooded and inaccessible, or have damaged vegetation, indicating downed lines from fallen trees. Anticipating and Protecting Against Emergencies Utilities need more effective ways to anticipate potential energy disruptions and stop them from surging into widespread catastrophes. PNNL’s advanced software tools are helping utilities keep the grid stable under challenging conditions. For example, utilities have used PNNL’s Dynamic Contingency Analysis Tool to understand power instability during extreme events. The software enables operators to see and reinforce weak spots on the grid to stop cascading power losses or blackouts. Agencies and utilities have also used this tool to prioritize restoration and improvement investments for resiliency. PNNL’s Mode Meter tool identifies electromechanical oscillation modes that help operators understand where to take remedial action when a power system approaches unstable conditions. The Shared Perspectives tool enables electric utilities in different service areas to see a combined view of what’s happening in real time, thus accelerating operator response. Other PNNL-developed software shows whether microgrids can survive with their current generation and load mix under extreme scenarios. Cybersecurity attacks could disrupt energy services. PNNL works with government and industry on new ways to thwart constantly evolving attacks; see more information.
Advanced Building Controls
PNNL leverages its longstanding controls research and development to improve building energy performance and grid integration.
High-Impact Technology Integration
PNNL’s work in building systems optimization and integration is advancing ultra-low-energy buildings.