Biden Administration Emphasizes Five Cyber-Enabled Technologies for Energy Transition

The Biden administration on Aug. 9 highlighted five key cyber enabled technologies that it will prioritize to enhance the digital ecosystem for a secure energy future. In line with the National Cybersecurity Strategy’s pledge to the cyber enabled foundations of the energy transition, the administration is committed to ensuring that the digital ecosystem remains equipped for the upcoming challenges.

The five technologies, which are considered vital to the near-term energy transition, are: batteries and battery management systems; inverter controls and power conversion equipment; distributed control systems; creating energy management systems; and electric vehicles and related supply equipment.

Batteries are vital to the energy transition since they provide the electricity network with flexibility and strengthen the grid’s resilience. Energy stored during daytime hours when demand is low can be dispatched during periods when demand is higher, this also assists with affordability.

Modern smart inverters, equipped with advanced computing and networking capabilities, can support more complex grid services when combined with robust cybersecurity. This in turn promotes greater resilience and reduces operating costs across the diverse energy assets of the future energy landscape.

Cloud based distributed control systems, in an increasingly complex network will allow sophisticated aggregation, coordination and management at a large scale. Robust design software will permit greater operation and organization of thousands of distributed energy assets, community microgrids, virtual power plants and other innovative energy systems, while at the same time incorporating advanced cybersecurity control technologies.

The creation of energy management systems will allow for greater optimization of heating, ventilation and cooling systems, as well as lighting systems. This will also facilitate the integration of behind the meter distributed energy resources, such as generators, on site batteries and rooftop solar panels.

Electric vehicles and related equipment provide benefits such as cleaner, cheaper and more flexible forms of electrified transportation. Driven by secure and sophisticated distributed energy control systems, digitally-managed electric vehicle supply equiment can facilitate smart charging, allowing EV charging schedules that can help optimize grid load, reduce energy costs, or maximize alignment with clean energy sources. Additionally, EV batteries can be harnessed as local backup power sources or as citywide virtual power plants, enhancing systemic resilience.

The Biden administration aims to equip U.S. infrastructure with modern and secure technology. In order for them to do this, a robust community across the private and public sectors is essential to promote strategic alignment, common goals and coordinated information flows.