Terms of Reference

Background

Deploying grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) is critical to unlocking additional capacity to meet the urgent surging electricity demands of this decade and beyond. GETs are hardware and software technologies that can reduce congestion costs, improve renewables integration, and increase capacity and reliability. By maximizing the capacity of the current infrastructure, GETs can defer or reduce the need for significant investment in new infrastructure projects and increase renewables use. They can also be a bridge to unlock capacity as new circuits are being built. The maturity and experience across GETs differ significantly. EPRI’s Grid-Enhancing Technologies for a Smart Energy Transition (GET SET) Initiative aims to support the planning, integration, acquisition, operation, and implementation of Dynamic Line Ratings (DLR), Advanced Conductors, Advanced Power Flow Controllers (APFC), and Topology Optimization.

Engagement in GET SET is primarily distinguished between ‘funding members’ and ‘affinity group participants.’ An advisory structure has been established to facilitate the perspectives and input of funding members to inform the applicability of the overall effort, while affinity group participants will regularly engage to provide their specialized expertise on the initiative’s tasks and deliverables.

Overview of the GET SET Affinity Group

The GET SET Affinity Group (GSAG) is a network of collaborators, consisting of industry stakeholders, such as government agencies, research organizations, universities, consultants, and technology providers, that contribute their expertise and experiences to guide to research priorities and inform methods to assess the reliability, benefits and integration of GETs in the power system.

There is no cost to participate in the GSAG. Affinity Group participants will participate at their own expense and shall receive no compensation or reimbursement of expenses incurred through its participation unless otherwise agreed upon in writing.

GSAG Participant Roles

Engagement in the GSAG is at an organization’s discretion; an organization does not have to participate in all engagement opportunities. GSAG Participants may choose to engage with EPRI by:

  • Attending EPRI’s annual GET SET in-person workshop and other invited webcasts (anticipated at least 2 per year);
  • Helping identify and inform areas of research and potential solutions related to integrating grid enhancing technologies;
  • Providing feedback on results and materials presented by EPRI upon request. GSAG will be provided access with only materials where funding participants agree to provide the results free to the public or have requested affinity group input. Materials can be shared within the advisor’s organization, but must request EPRI permission if you wish to share beyond your organization;
  • Guiding the EPRI team by highlighting emerging issues that should be addressed;
  • Becoming aware of progress of EPRI GET SET and providing feedback on how to improve outcomes; and/or
  • Sharing issues and experiences with other GSAG members and their own organizations.

Recognition

GSAG participants will be identified as a participant of the GET SET Affinity Group. Participants are requested to provide a high-quality electronic logo of their organization, which EPRI may use to identify participants (such as on the EPRI website or in other GET SET materials). The participants in the affinity group will be acknowledged in reports from EPRI, if they agree, but it will be noted that their participation does not indicate endorsement of the approaches or results.

Term

Participation in the affinity group will be effective upon email confirmation that an organization agrees to the terms of reference and will continue until the conclusion of the GET SET initiative, anticipated December 31, 2028.