CX-100963 Low-cost wireless voltage & current monitoring of the distribution grid

Award Number: DE-EE0008139CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.6Solar Energy Technologies OfficeLocation(s): MDOffice(s): Golden Field Office

Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance

August 14, 2017
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Low-cost wireless voltage & current monitoring of the distribution grid
Award Number: DE-EE0008139
CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.6
Solar Energy Technologies Office
Location(s): MD
Office(s): Golden Field Office

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to provide federal funding to SenSanna Incorporated to develop a working prototype of the surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor-tag-based wireless voltage and current distribution grid power line monitoring system developed in-lab through the SunShot initiative.

Proposed project activities would include the computer-aided design and simulation of the system, sensor system design and prototyping, and electrical characterization and testing of system components and modules. Computer-aided design and simulations, sensor system assembly and testing, and medium voltage testing would be conducted at SenSanna's facilities in Arnold, MD and Hanover, MD. Wafer fabrication and dicing of preliminary devices would be completed at the University of Maryland, College Park FabLab clean room facility. Electronic printed circuit board fabrication and assembly, antenna production, packaging/enclosure production, and ingress protection testing would be completed by commercial vendors. The facilities in which this work would occur are purpose-built for the type of activities being proposed; therefore, no adverse impacts to sensitive resources are expected as a result of the proposed project. No change in the use, mission or operation of existing facilities would arise out of this effort.