The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is propelling grid resilience through a partnership with regional utility EPB of Chattanooga that will demonstrate advanced microgrid capabilities to reduce customer power outages.

As the ORNL noted, microgrids are localized energy systems that can connect to the main grid or operate independently when outages occur. “They help utilities balance supply and demand to reduce costs during periods of peak energy demand, while delivering more reliable power in areas where blackouts are more frequent,” said the ORNL.

(UT-Battelle manages ORNL for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States.)

“The Department of Energy isn’t just talking about strengthening America’s energy system — we’re out here building it,” said Katie Jereza, assistant secretary for the Office of Electricity. “Microgrids make electricity more dependable when it’s needed most and help reduce energy costs when demand spikes. The combined forces of utilities and national labs can quickly take new technology to the grid, keeping energy affordable, reliable and secure for every American.”

ORNL has developed an advanced microgrid control platform that allows microgrid boundaries to “flex” on a larger scale than previously seen, expanding or contracting based on critical needs and available energy resources. This enables the utility to expand service beyond the microgrid borders to serve more customers during a broader outage.

The same microgrid control platform will also enable “nested” microgrids – in this case, smaller grids within the existing distribution system, where one grid can control or support others. Together, according to the ORNL, dynamic boundaries and nesting capabilities enhance reliability for utility customers.

“National laboratories accelerate grid modernization technologies from concept, to scale up, to deployment in the nation’s electric grid,” said Stephen Streiffer, ORNL laboratory director. “Microgrid innovations demonstrated through utility partnerships are enabling safeguards for critical infrastructure and community services in the face of disasters.”

Streiffer also noted that microgrids are an increasingly important tool as grids serve larger loads. “ORNL is marshaling its expertise and facilities to better manage energy supply for AI data center operations while strengthening infrastructure resilience and security through its Next-Generation Data Center Institute,” said the ORNL.

While EPB already had three existing microgrids, the project with ORNL enables the regional utility to add almost 58 megawatt hours of energy storage in a fleet of five microgrids across two sites. If needed, these facilities can provide backup power to more than a thousand residential customers, as well as fire stations, community centers, grocery stores, and other community resources.

“At EPB, our mission to enhance local quality of life drives our efforts to deliver reliable, affordable energy for the people we serve,” said David Wade, CEO of EPB. “Working with the Department of Energy and Oak Ridge National Laboratory allows us to test and deploy new technologies to benefit our customers. Together, we’re developing practical solutions that help us reduce the impact of outages while managing costs more effectively over time for our customers.”