$1.9 Billion in Funding Available for Grid Reliability, Capacity Expansion, and Advanced Transmission Technologies
SUMMARY
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Electricity has announced approximately $1.9 billion in competitive funding under the SPARK (Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades) initiative.
Funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) as the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships Program (GRIP), SPARK aims to rapidly upgrade the nation’s existing transmission system, leveraging reconductoring and other Advanced Transmission Technologies (ATTs) to expand transfer capability, strengthen reliability, improve resource adequacy, and reduce consumer costs while staying within existing rights of way.
DOE will prioritize projects that can be implemented quickly, delivering measurable capacity increases, dynamic operational improvements, and durable physical upgrades to the grid.
This may apply to you if…
You are a domestic entity – such as a utility, transmission owner/operator, generator, distribution provider, state, tribe, or other eligible organization – and you are interested in projects involving:
- Reconductoring with advanced conductors to boost line capacity
- Advanced Transmission Technologies (DLR, power flow control, topology optimization, flexible transformers, etc.)
- Smart grid systems enhancing monitoring, control, and operational flexibility
- Large-scale, cross-regional transmission upgrades
- Coordinated, multi-jurisdictional planning efforts
- Projects achieving ≥50% increase in physical transfer capability or ≥25% via operational/digital upgrades
Action Items & Timeline
- Immediately: Begin preparing for DOE’s three SPARK topic areas:
- Grid Resilience: Reconductoring + ATTs to expand transfer capability and reduce the likelihood/consequences of disruptive events
- Smart Grid: Intelligent grid technologies enabling real-time optimization and operational flexibility
- Grid Innovation: Large-scale, cross-regional, multi-state projects addressing major constraints and supporting new large loads
- April 2, 2026: Concept Papers Due (required to proceed to full application stage)
- May 20, 2026: Full Applications Due
- August 2026: DOE Anticipated Selection Notifications
- October 2026 – January 2027: Estimated Award Dates
