DOE partners with national labs to transform energy systems in remote communities

Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Program (ETIPP), a new partnership that will provide resources and access to on-the-ground support for remote and islanded communities in the United States seeking to transform their energy systems and lower their vulnerability to energy disruptions.

This cross-sector initiative will build on tools developed by DOE, pool the technical assets of community-based organizations, and engage DOE’s national labs to work alongside communities pursuing energy transitions. Together, this broad coalition will empower competitively selected communities to plan for, withstand and recover from energy disruptions.

“Remote and islanded communities face some of the highest energy costs in the United States and are often most vulnerable to disruptions,” said Daniel R Simmons, Assistant Secretary of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. “By leveraging, refining and building on the technical assets and resources of the Department of Energy, and working in partnership with these communities, we believe that this program can enable communities to plan for a more resilient future with more affordable energy.”

ETIPP will combine deep energy sector experience with specialized local expertise to address energy challenges, build capacity, and accelerate the sharing of best practices and innovations. Drawing upon DOE’s holistic, community-driven approach to building resilience, this coalition will provide technology-neutral technical assistance that prioritizes local challenges, values and goals. Working collaboratively with communities, the ETIPP network will identify and advance strategic, tailored technological solutions designed to bolster community resilience and reduce economic risk.

To compound the impact of the Energy Transitions Initiative’s proven resilience framework, ETIPP will leverage the support, experience, and expertise of:

• DOE Office of Strategic Programs
• DOE Water Power Technologies Office
• DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
• Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
• Sandia National Laboratories

ETIPP will combine deep energy sector experience with specialized local expertise to address energy challenges, build capacity, and accelerate the sharing of best practices and innovations. The team selected the following community-based partners to work with communities on stakeholder and capacity development:

• Alaska Center for Energy and Power DOE Office of Strategic Programs
• Coastal Studies Institute
• Hawaii Natural Energy Institute
• Island Institute
• Renewable Energy Alaska Project

The ETIPP network will provide technology-neutral technical assistance that prioritizes local challenges, values and goals. The program will support at least three cohorts of communities, with an anticipated 12-18 month project per community. In winter 2020, communities will be able to apply to participate in this collaborative effort to achieve their resilience goals.

News item from the Department of Energy

<!–
–>
Original Source: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2020/10/doe-partners-with-national-labs-transform-energy-systems-remote-communities/