The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has made significant progress in clean energy cybersecurity through the Clean Energy Cybersecurity Accelerator (CECA) program.
This program, in collaboration with the DOE's Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) and various utilities, aims to improve cybersecurity measures in the electric sector.
CECA has launched a second round focused on industrial control systems (ICS) and the associated risks.
A summary report has been released, highlighting the evaluation of Asimily's risk management platform, which was tested by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
This platform enhances device visibility and improves capabilities in device inventories, vulnerability mitigation, risk modeling, threat detection, and incident response.
In another initiative, the DOE's Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) has announced the winners of Phase 2 in the Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC) Round 3.
This funding opportunity aims to support energy innovation ecosystems, boost local clean energy business productivity, and enhance the success of energy tech startups.
The DOE has also allocated $2 million to 19 teams as part of the Community Energy Innovation Prize.
This prize aims to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development in underrepresented communities in clean energy funding.
Each team received a minimum of $10,000, with the most impactful teams receiving up to $310,000.
The funding is intended to empower these communities to develop innovative solutions for their energy challenges and promote economic growth.
The overall distribution of $7.5 million through the Community Energy Innovation Prize demonstrates the DOE's commitment to creating a more equitable clean energy landscape.