Systems Integration

Systems integration research in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) supports the advancement of reliable, resilient, secure, and affordable integration of solar energy onto the U.S. electric grid. Learn more about how solar energy integrates with our nation’s electric grid.

The systems integration research and development activities funded by SETO support innovations that advance a modernized grid—one that integrates solar energy and other generation and energy-storage resources while ensuring reliable power, that utilizes cutting-edge digital technologies to monitor and control system components, that is economic and scalable, and that provides strong protection against physical and cyber risks. This includes studying the integration of solar with energy storage, load control and other distributed energy resources. Learn more about SETO’s goals.

Within SETO’s systems integration research area, efforts are focused on four major topics. Learn more about them below.

Research Topics

Resilient Distribution Systems Powered by Solar Energy

A resilient distribution system utilizes local resources such as customer-owned solar PV and battery storage to quickly reconfigure power flows.

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Long-Term System Planning for Solar Integration

Long-term system planning refers to the activities conducted regularly by utilities to inform investment decisions on generation and transmission.

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Integrating Solar into Day-to-Day System Operations

This research refers to the ability of utilities to have real-time information about the amount of solar generation at any given moment.

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Solar Power Electronic Devices

Power electronic devices, such as photovoltaic inverters and battery chargers ordischargers, are used to convert electricity from one form to another.

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Solar Cybersecurity

Solar cybersecurity addresses vulnerabilities in the grid that hackers can exploit to ensure the safe and consistent delivery of renewable power.

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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.

More Systems Integration Information

Fact Sheet: Systems Integration

Solar Systems Integration Basics

Solar Integration: Solar Energy and Storage Basics

Solar Cybersecurity

Solar Integration: Inverters and Grid Services Basics

Solar Integration: Distributed Energy Resources and Microgrids

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.