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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This white paper summarizes key insights and important recommendations derived from the workshop “Lessons Learned from GRIP Round One” held during gridCONNEXT 2023. The discussion was designed to inform utilities, technology vendors, consultants, and other stakeholders interested in submitting proposals for the Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program in the next round.

The session included an overview presentation delivered by Ariel Horowitz, Deputy Director from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Grid Deployment Office. Horowitz outlined objective refinements around desired project emphasis areas, updated scoring approaches, as well as specifics on critical dates or award sizing adapted from the inaugural funding round. The session then included vendor and utility perspectives on lessons learned from GRIP Round 1 as well as recommendations for GRIP Round 2 applications.

Utilities or vendors who applied to GRIP Round 1 as well as new applicants will find the insights in this paper useful. For electric utilities, it provides pertinent observations from peer implementers on budget/timeline realities plus technology expectations and partnership models. For vendors, similar insights are available and may help with clearer customer and partner selection, and an enhanced understanding of DOE’s objectives with GRIP Round 2.