Funding that will support research into tech Today, the U.S. Department of Energy announced funding of up to $70 million to support research into technologies intended to reduce risks and increase resilience to energy delivery infrastructure from a variety of hazards, such as natural disasters, extreme weather events caused by climate change, and cyber and physical threats.
This new competitive funding opportunity will support the advancement of next-generation innovations that fortify the resilience of America's energy systems, which include the power grid, electric utilities, pipelines, and renewable energy generation sources like wind and solar.
President Biden's aim of net-zero emissions Achieving President Biden's objective of a net-zero emissions economy by 2050 will require strengthening America's energy and national security, which is why the announcement made today supports the Biden-Harris Administration's efforts to construct robust and secure energy infrastructure across the nation.
Along with making significant investments in climate resilience and adaptation, the Biden-Harris administration has also received over $50 billion from the President's Investing in America agenda.
Under the direction of the DOE's Office of Cybersecurity, Electricity Security, and Emergency Response, the All-Hazards Energy Resilience initiative aims to tackle upcoming obstacles to maintain a secure and dependable supply of electricity to communities all throughout the country.
The recipients of awards will encompass all categories of energy delivery infrastructure and will tackle a wide range of possible risks related to energy generation, production, transmission, and/or distribution.
Under this funding opportunity, CESER anticipates funding up to 25 research, development, and demonstration projects with budgets ranging from $500,000 to $5,000,000.
Applications are encouraged from diverse teams from state and local governments, national laboratories, colleges, charity and for-profit businesses, and tribal nations.
The projects' suggested subject topics include the following: Cyber Research and Development: Energy systems are more vulnerable to cyberattacks as a result of the expanding digital ecosystem.
These initiatives will improve cybersecurity and lower cyber threats to the infrastructure used in energy distribution.
Development and Research on Climate Mitigation: The world's vital energy infrastructure suffers from a growing number of extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and rising temperatures.
Through the development and application of creative solutions, these projects will lessen the influence of climate change on the reliability and transmission of energy.
Development and Research on Wildfire Mitigation: Communities, ecology, and energy systems are all severely impacted by wildfires.
Through these studies, possibilities to fortify infrastructure against wildfires will be identified, allowing electric companies to increase rapid recovery, operate through catastrophic occurrences, and improve resilience.
Research and Development on Physical Security: Vandalism, sabotage, and ballistic damage are some of the hazards that utility power plants must deal with when it comes to their physical security.
Physical barriers, access control, and video monitoring systems are some of the modern defenses against these attacks, although they are insufficient to reduce breaches and damage.
University-Based Research and Development: By integrating university-based research, these projects will strengthen the electric sector's cyber and cyber-physical security posture.
In line with the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through Historically Black Colleges and Universities, applicants must be from historically black colleges and universities.
Teams must consist of academic institutions as well as owners, operators, and/or providers of solutions for the energy sector.
Visit their official site to learn more about DOE's initiatives to safeguard and preserve the US energy industry.
This Cyber News was published on www.cysecurity.news. Publication date: Fri, 05 Jan 2024 17:13:06 +0000