Systems integration research in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) supports technologies and solutions that enable solar grid integration while ensuring the reliability, resilience, and security of the electric power system. These research, development, and demonstration activities address the key technical challenges in power system planning and operations, solar forecasting and variability management, control optimization, system protection and stabilities, energy storage integration, power electronics, real-time situational awareness, and cybersecurity. In addition, SETO supports the development of industry standards and best practices on interconnection requirements, testing, and validation for solar systems on the bulk power grid as well as the distribution grid. Learn more about how solar energy integrates with our nation’s electric grid.
In September 2021, DOE released the Solar Futures Study, a report that explores the role of solar energy in achieving these goals as part of a decarbonized U.S. electric grid. Learn more about SETO’s goals.
Within SETO’s systems integration research area, efforts are focused on several topics. Learn more about them below.
Research Topics
SETO funding for systems integration research helps to develop new opportunities for solar to not only supply electricity generation, but also provide grid services and real-time control responses that are essential for safe and reliable grid operations, and can even help to restart segments of the distribution system if the grid goes down. Projects in this research area are managed by the systems integration team. Learn more about SETO’s funding programs and current funding opportunities. Reports resulting from research projects can be found on the Office of Science and Technical Information (OSTI) website.
Systems Integration Initiatives
Systems Integration Basics
Workshops & Events
Industry workshops help SETO obtain a wide range of stakeholder feedback to guide our mission. Learn more about the workshops that have identified barriers and opportunities to greater solar deployment.
- 2023: Power Electronics Grid Interface Industry Workshop
- 2023: Securing Solar for the Grid Workshop (PDF)
- 2023: Secure Monitoring and Control of Solar Power Distribution System Through Dynamic Watermarking (PDF)
- 2023: Recent Advancements in Experiments and Modeling of Grid-Forming Systems (PDF)
- 2023: Mechanism Analysis of Dynamic Phenomena in Power Grids with High Penetrations of Inverter-Based Resources (PDF)
- 2022: Cybersecurity Considerations for Distributed Energy Resources on the U.S. Electric Grid Briefing
- 2022: Addressing Solar Data Challenges for Utilities and Power Systems