COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 19,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- American Electric Power (Nasdaq:
AEP) has been selected for a $27.8
million federal grant under the U.S. Department of Energy's
Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program to help
improve service and build a more modern, responsive electric grid
for customers across its footprint.
The grant will fund part of the cost to implement more advanced
systems and new technologies that will enhance AEP's ability to
reduce service interruptions and minimize the duration of outages
through smart devices that optimize power delivery for customers.
The systems also will allow AEP to visualize, manage and control
the electric grid as new distributed energy resources are
integrated into the grid.
"This project supports our ongoing work to strengthen the
reliability, resiliency and efficiency of the grid in a
cost-effective way for customers," said Peggy Simmons, AEP's executive vice president –
Utilities. "It will deliver significant benefits to customers
throughout our service territory, improving our ability to manage
outages and providing more flexibility in operating the grid as it
continues to evolve with the addition of new resources and
capabilities. We look forward to working with the U.S. Department
of Energy and our state regulatory commissions on the next steps to
bring these benefits to our customers."
The GRIP grant program was created as part of the federal
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed into law in
November 2021. The first round of
funding under the program was announced Oct.
18, 2023.
The grant supports AEP's deployment of an Advanced Distribution
Management System (ADMS) that enhances the ability of system
operators to monitor and control the grid to maintain a safe and
reliable distribution network. It combines real-time distribution
grid data with network model visualization, improving situational
awareness for operators and allowing a greater level of flexibility
and visibility into the grid. The ADMS tools support outage
restoration, grid optimization, fault location, isolation and
restoration, switching analysis and load flow.
The Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS) is
part of the ADMS platform. DERMS provides visibility into the
distributed energy resources that are connected to and interacting
with the grid, allowing operators to plan and manage the flow of
those resources on the system.
The grant is subject to final agreement between AEP and the U.S.
Department of Energy on terms and conditions.
American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, is powering a cleaner,
brighter energy future for its customers and communities. AEP's
approximately 17,000 employees operate and maintain the nation's
largest electricity transmission system and more than 225,000 miles
of distribution lines to safely deliver reliable and affordable
power to 5.6 million regulated customers in 11 states. AEP also is
one of the nation's largest electricity producers with nearly
29,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including
approximately 6,100 megawatts of renewable energy. The company's
plans include growing its regulated renewable generation portfolio
to approximately 50% of total capacity by 2032. AEP is on track to
reach an 80% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from 2005 levels
by 2030 and has committed to achieving net zero by 2045. AEP is
recognized consistently for its focus on sustainability, community
engagement, and diversity, equity and inclusion. AEP's family of
companies includes utilities AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power
(in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in
Tennessee), Indiana Michigan
Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power
Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana, east Texas and the Texas
Panhandle). AEP also owns AEP Energy, which provides
innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide. For more
information, visit aep.com.
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SOURCE American Electric Power