Energy.Gov Presents: Understanding the Grid
In January 2016, the U.S. Department of Energy is making a series of announcements to support its Grid Modernization Initiative. As we do so, we realize many of you may be wondering: What does "grid modernization" mean?
Let's start at the beginning. The electric power grid has been rightly celebrated as the single most important engineering feat of the 20th century. The grid powers our homes, offices, hospitals, and schools; and, increasingly, it powers our favorite devices from smartphones to HDTVs. With those and other modern innovations and challenges, our grid will need to evolve. Grid modernization efforts will help the grid make full use of today’s advanced technologies and serve our needs in the 21st century. While the vast majority of upgrades are implemented by private sector energy companies that own and operate the grid, DOE has been investing in technologies that are revolutionizing the way we generate, store and transmit power.