ConnectWerx, a Partnership Intermediary of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE), has opened an initial funding opportunity in collaboration with the Grid Deployment Office (GDO) for up to $30 million available to accelerate the interconnection process for new energy generation through the introduction of artificial intelligence techniques. The new Artificial Intelligence for Interconnection (AI4IX) program will develop partnerships between software developers, grid operators (including Regional Transmission Operators (RTOs) and Power Marketing Administrations), and energy project developers to modernize the interconnection application process and significantly reduce the time required to review, approve, and commission new generation interconnections across the country.

Complete the online application and upload the appropriate project information and supporting documentation in the application link below for PPO-CWX-010-GDO.

Submissions are due no later than Friday, January 10, 2025 at 1 PM ET.

Submissions must include the following files as indicated in the below chart using the required templates.

Submission Requirements

Responses shall be submitted by the date and time specified above.

Files shall be submitted in Microsoft Office or Adobe Acrobat format, and not be larger than 5MB. ZIP files and other application formats are not acceptable. All files shall be print-capable, without a password. Filenames must contain the appropriate extension and shall not contain special characters*. Appropriate files extensions are:

Late submissions will not be accepted. Submissions can be made in advance of the deadline and updated (or files replaced) up to the deadline.

This opportunity seeks to apply existing AI algorithms to the interconnection application process to more quickly identify deficient applications and rapidly notify applicants for resolution. (Note: the size of the region can be a single utility territory or encompass an area served by multiple Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs). For example, AI software trained on a library of accurate documentation and application materials can review interconnection applications for the required site control documentation and flag errors within submitted supporting documents. Documenting site control for interconnection is a particularly challenging issue for project developers due to the different stakeholders, property laws, and grid facility access requirements for each generator project. After identifying application errors, the software would then notify the applicant that their documentation is not sufficient and why, enabling them to quickly respond to the specific issues. By deploying AI, the precision and speed in identifying documentation issues and providing specific reasons to enable timely resolutions or correction can improve over time.

How to Participate

1. Review details on eligibility, evaluation criteria, and how to apply.
2. Watch the informational Webinar/Objective Strategic Session from December 5, 2024 at 2 PM ET.
3. Watch the Office Hours from December 17, 2024 at 2 PM ET.
4. Watch the additional 30-minute Office Hours from January 6, 2025 at 2 PM ET.
5. Download the Project Narrative template.
6. Complete the Submission Form & upload Completed Project Narrative in the application link for PPO-CWX-010-GDO. Submissions are due no later than Friday, January 10, 2025 at 1 PM ET.

Friday, January 10, 2025 at 1 PM ET

Interconnection queues are long and growing. Interconnection requests can take up to seven years to realize the projects, and the 2024 edition of LBNL’s “All Queued Up” report indicates interconnection queues have continued to increase over the past year.

Technology providers are currently working on accelerating the processes around cluster identification and model preparation, model computation, and model interpretation and reanalysis. This aligns with the objectives of FERC Order 2023. One area that is not being addressed, and the purpose of this opportunity announcement is the application submittal process and number of deficiencies reported which delays the initiation of any analysis. For example, certain RTOs have indicated that over 90% of the interconnection applications they receive are deemed “deficient,” and it is the labor associated with getting applications to acceptability that most heavily delays the development and analysis of models.

The Grid Deployment Office will fund multiple regional-focused consortium of utility companies, for-profit and not-for-profit organizations and RTOs over an initial two-year performance period. The grant funds are intended to support the implementation of models, tools and methodologies that would address deficiency reporting in the application process for interconnection studies.

Alignment with Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange (i2x)

To address the interconnection challenges, DOE launched i2X in 2022. The i2X program partners with utilities, grid operators, state and local governments, clean energy industry, energy justice groups, nonprofits, and others to focus on four key elements: stakeholder engagement, data collection and analysis, strategic roadmap development, and technical assistance.

In 2024, the i2X team published the draft DOE transmission interconnection roadmap. This roadmap highlighted solutions for stakeholders seeking to collaboratively improve interconnection processes in the short, medium, and long term. To address these challenges, organized under four goals, these solutions aim to deploy clean resources rapidly, equitably, and reliably. The four roadmap goals are as follows:

• Goal 1: Increase data access and transparency, centering on improving data availability that informs interconnection decision-making and monitoring of queue reform outcomes.
• Goal 2: Improve process and timing, focusing on the process of interconnection itself and providing solutions to streamline interconnections as the number of applications remains high.
• Goal 3: Promote economic efficiency, seeking to improve interconnection outcomes that meet market and policy objectives at lower costs to ratepayers, with fair allocation between producers and consumers and among states and Tribes.
• Goal 4: Maintain a reliable grid, focusing on prevention of unnecessary system disturbance and

This funding opportunity solicits proposals for projects to expedite future interconnections of clean energy systems into the transmission system while preserving data security and system reliability. Awardees under this opportunity will develop tools and methods that specifically address the following DOE transmission interconnection roadmap goals:

• Increasing data access and transparency, centering on improving data availability that informs interconnection decision-making and monitoring of queue reform outcomes. (Goal 1: Solutions 1.1 and 1.3)
• Improve process and timing, focusing on the process of interconnection itself and providing solutions to streamline interconnections as the number of applications remains high. (Goal 2: Solution 2.3 and 2.7)

Topic Areas for consideration

Proposed projects should leverage existing software platforms, including through model tuning, and may consider tasks including but not limited to:

• Application intake automation: development and demonstration of tools and solutions that automate the application process. Over the past two decades, transmission providers have made important strides in automating interconnection processing, through the creation of online portals to handle interconnection requests and the development of software for managing interconnection queues. Continued and targeted automation of interconnection processes could enable transmission providers to handle larger volumes of interconnection requests in the future, by enabling them to process more requests without necessarily scaling up staff or resources.
• Tools to demonstrate site control: Verifying site control for applications tends to be a major driver of deficiency notifications and increased labor burden for staff. The inconsistencies across state, county, locality, utility, and RTO requirements for permitting and site control create a paradigm in which it is extremely difficult to satisfactorily address permit and site control requirements without the back-and-forth instruction from the RTO and/or utility/asset owner.
• Data transparency: Expanding and harmonizing tools across transmission providers could help reduce speculative interconnection requests by providing easy to use tools to resource developers and enhance equity and competition by reducing the transaction costs of uncovering and interpreting information for smaller and less established resource developers. (Interconnection roadmap)
• Outreach: Proposals should include tasks for outreach to pull stakeholders together to discuss solution pathways for accelerating the interconnection process through AI.

Objective Strategic Sessions/Informational Webinar was held on December 5, 2024 at 2 PM ET.

• Watch the Webinar (Video)
• View Presentation (PDF)
• Read the Transcript (PDF)

Informational Office Hours was held on December 17, 2024 at 2 PM ET.

• GDO Office Hours – December 17, 2024
  • Watch the Webinar (Video)
  • View Presentation (PDF)
  • Read the Transcript (PDF)

Final Office Hours (30-minute) was held on January 6, 2025 at 2 PM ET.

• GDO Office Hours – January 6, 2025
  • Watch the Webinar (Video)
  • View Presentation (PDF)

• November 25, 2024: Project Application Period Open: DOE begins accepting applications.
• December 5, 2024: ConnectWerx & DOE to conduct Objective Strategy Session (OSS) with interested regional consortium performers.
• December 17, 2024 and January 6, 2025: Office Hours for potential applicants.
• January 10, 2025: Application period closes.
• February 2025: Government review and selection of regional focus and selection of consortium performers to receive grant funding.
• February-March 2025: Finalized list of selected regional consortium performers.
• February-March 2025: Selected consortium performers meet with GDO to finalize milestones and begin work.

1. Applicant is a non-profit organization with a valid 501(c)3 status under the under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3).
2. Applicant is a U.S. for-profit organization that has expertise in artificial intelligence, interconnection processes or project development that does not involve foreign partnerships to conduct the proposed work.
3. Applicant must qualify as a domestic entity[1].
4. Applicant must certify it is not owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of government of Country of Risk[2].

[1] To qualify as a domestic entity, the entity must be organized, chartered or incorporated (or otherwise formed) under the laws of a particular state or territory of the United States; have majority domestic ownership and control; and have a physical place of business in the United States

[2] DOE defines Country of Risk to include China, Russia, North Korea and Iran. This list is subject to change.

Prioritization criteria:

Applications in this initial round of funding will be evaluated and prioritized using the following criteria:

Impact and Feasibility (60%)

• The degree to which the proposed approach addresses key bottlenecks in the interconnection process.
• The ability to demonstrate significant impact in reducing the interconnection process timeline and a pathway that builds confidence in the solution and approaches.
• The approach provides a data management plan that ensures the ability to incorporate the requisite datasets and models. Harmonizing data inputs, assumptions, and processes across different ISOs and utilities is critical for the successful implementation of AI solutions. Ensuring data is comprehensive, standardized, and secure.
• The adequacy of the proposed project management plan, including the clarity of project scope, cost, workplan, and key milestones to ensure project objectives are met.
• The ability to assist state energy offices, public utility commissions and utilities in accelerating the interconnection process.

Applicant qualifications and resources (20%)

• Expertise and experience of the project team to address all aspects of the proposed project with a high probability of success. The appropriate team members to demonstrate automation or AI solutions in a utility, RTO or multiple utilities/RTOs.
• Resources available within the organization to provide a cost-effective approach to the proposed project with a high probability of success.
• Whether the applicant has been a prior recipient of DOE grant funding within the last 2 years.
• Whether the applicant is a Minority Owned Business[1], Woman Owned Business, or Veteran Owned Business, or the degree to which the applicant demonstrates concrete plans to work with those businesses as vendors or contractors in the implementation of the funded project(s)

Impact on quantifying Community Benefits (20%)

The degree to which the modeling tool, and methodology supports measurable impacts to community benefits based on analysis or scenarios of grid resilience implementation

The approach will assist with states, tribes, and territories to better define community benefits and impacts.

In addition, DOE may consider portfolio-wide program policy factors in determining which full applications to select for awards, including:

• The degree to which the proposed project optimizes the use of available DOE funding to achieve programmatic objectives.
• The degree to which the proposed project, or group of projects, represent a desired geographic distribution (considering past awards and current applications).

The degree to which the proposed project supports complementary efforts or projects, which, when taken together, will best achieve the statute’s goals, objectives, and direction.

[1] Minority owned business is defined as a business of which not less than 51% is owned by one or more individuals who are: (A) citizens of the U.S.; and (B) Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, African American, Hispanic, Puerto Rican, Native American, or Alaska Native.

ConnectWerx has established an online Teaming Partner List where organizations can express interest in partnering with others and share contact information. If you are interested in being added to the teaming partner list and having your information shared with others, please complete this form.

‍By submitting a request to be included on the Teaming Partner List, the requesting organization consents to the publication of its contact information. By enabling and publishing the Teaming Partner List, GDO is not endorsing, sponsoring, or otherwise evaluating the qualifications of the individuals and organizations that are identifying themselves for placement on this Teaming Partner List. GDO will not pay for the provision of any information, nor will it compensate any applicants or requesting organizations for the development of such information.

• What is a PIA and why is DOE/GDO pursuing this approach?
  • Partnership Intermediary Agreements (PIAs) are agreements between the Federal government and non- Federal partners (partnership intermediaries or PIs) designed to increase outreach to and engagement with small business firms, institutes of higher education, and non-traditional partners.  PIAs are complementary to traditional mechanisms, specifically supporting outreach and engagement with, providing additional flexibility, and reducing barriers to entry for small business firms, institutes of higher education, and non-traditional partners. Through this approach, DOE’s Grid Deployment Office seeks to accelerate technical assistance to states, tribes, territories and industry.
• Does an applicant need to form its own consortium?
  • It is preferred that project teams are formed as part of the proposal. The team should include software tool developers, project developers and should be guided by Independent System Operators (ISO), Regional Transmission Organizations (RTO), Power Marketing Administrations (PMA), or utilities who manage interconnection queues and plan to adopt the tool once mature.
• Is the total funding for an entire consortium or just one entity? 
  • The total funding available for this initial PIA is $30M and it is anticipated that DOE will select multiple projects that addresses the application intake process of the interconnection study.
• Where can I read more from the GDO program office about the recent announcement?
  • The Grid Deployment Office (GDO) Accelerating Interconnection Through AI (AI4AX) launched on November 25, 2024.  Please click here for announcement article for more information.
• Can the period of performance extend beyond one year?
  • GDO is seeking up to two year project proposals. All projects will be structured with an initial performance year and up to an optional 12-month extension.
• What is the maximum number of entities that could be funded as part of the collaborative?
  • DOE encourages proposals of various size and scale and will fund projects accordingly within the program budget.
• Is my organization eligible to apply?
  • DOE or ConnectWerx will not make eligibility determinations for potential applicants prior to the date on which applications to this opportunity must be submitted. The decision whether to apply in response to this opportunity lies solely with the applicant.
• Can the DOE GDO office share more information on the Workshop that was held in Minnesota for Accelerating Interconnection Through AI. What key takeaways are relevant to those submitting a proposal?
  • The workshop brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to define challenges within the interconnection process and opportunities where AI software tools can be leveraged to expedite the interconnection process.
    The workshop included plenary sessions followed by a series of breakout sessions for to gain insight from stakeholders. The input and feedback received during the workshop has been used in shaping the development of the AI4IX program. Click here to read more on the key take-aways.