Energy Storage Technology and Microgrid Assistance Program (Energy Act)

Federal Agency

Sub-Department

N/A

Purpose

To provide grants to eligible entities for technical assistance on evaluating, designing, and demonstrating energy storage technology and demonstration projects that utilize energy from renewables.

Applicant and/or Project Eligibility Requirements

Eligible entities include rural electric cooperatives, public utilities, or other political subdivisions of a state that sell or otherwise use electrical energy to provide electric services for customers, or a non-profit working with at least 6 of these entities.

Decarbonization Considerations

Consider projects that reduce the peak loads of homes and businesses and increase the feasibility of microgrids (grid-connected or islanded mode) or that reduce the overall peak loads of the locality and businesses and increase the feasibility of microgrids.

Equity Considerations

See the "Equity Design Considerations for Federal Funding" for general considerations and additional sector-based resources: https://cityrenewables.org/resources/equity-design-considerations-for-federal-funding/

Helpful Tips

See bill text for eligible uses of grants and technical assistance. These include feasibility studies, implementation of strategies to overcome storage barriers (including financial, contracting, siting, and permitting barriers), to perform detailed engineering and cost-benefit analysis, to purchase and install equipment for emerging technologies, and to obtain technical assistance from other experts.

Other Notes

This is a new program and the Secretary will be setting program guidelines in the coming months. Funding for this program expires in 2025.