Leading Research Laboratories and Technology Companies Are Developing
Solutions for Cybersecurity, Sustainability, and Enhanced Grid Communications
WOODLAND PARK, N.J., March 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Anterix (NASDAQ: ATEX) today announced its participation in a broad alliance among energy industry leaders that are supporting the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) national laboratories' efforts to help modernize the energy grid.
Anterix is joining Idaho National Laboratories, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), ABB, Amazon, Avista Utilities, EPRI, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Nokia, and Survalent to support the Assessment of Communication Architectures for Energy Systems (ACAES).
ACAES is one of nine projects, led by national laboratories and public- and private-sector entities, that are components of the DOE's 2023 Grid Modernization Initiative (GMI), announced in September 2023. GMI represents a $39-million investment in projects that will support the development and deployment of concepts, tools, and technologies needed to measure, analyze, predict, protect, and control the grid of the future while incorporating equity and the best available climate science.
The ACAES team, led by PNNL, is conducting a sophisticated analysis to identify and suggest ways to mitigate gaps in technology, standards, and processes for communications across the grid. The team will also create a large library of potential cyber-attack scenarios, including their operational consequences, to support and advance future cybersecurity training and planning. Lastly, the ACAES team will use this information to provide recommendations for new and improved technology, standards, and practices to address potential risks and help ensure that a grid with high distributed energy resources penetration is secure.
"Today's announcement demonstrates Anterix's deep commitment to—and our expertise in—helping our utility customers keep the grid secure," commented Rob Schwartz, President & CEO of Anterix. "High-speed, high-capacity, secure grid communications are more vital than ever as threats to the energy grid increase. I am proud that Anterix, in conjunction with our six customers driving 900 MHz private wireless broadband across 15 states, combined with our Security Collective and our broader Ecosystem, are pursuing solutions to make the grid more secure and more advanced. Projects like ACAES will be vital to utilities' efforts to keep the grid secure."
"Electrification and high penetration of distributed energy resources (DERs) and EVs, properly planned and coordinated in a secure grid architecture, will bring important benefits in sustainability, equity, reliability, and resilience to the utility industry. Grid communications systems will be key to realizing that future," said Jim Ogle, Chief Energy Systems Engineer in PNNL's Electricity Infrastructure Group. "With expert input from industry advisors, the ACAES project will help define secure architectures for the critical grid communications systems upon which the modern grid will depend."
"DERs introduce a variety of changes to the grid and associated communications systems. These include new telecommunications technologies, inclusion of behind-the-meter resources, and an increased role of third-party aggregators in both bulk and distribution system operations," said Ben Ealey, EPRI Technical Lead of DER Data and Connectivity. "Projects like ACAES are beneficial to helping the energy sector understand the changes each introduces and how best to maintain grid security, as part of a reliable, affordable, and equitable clean energy future," he added.
Anterix's participation in ACAES is aligned with ongoing industry collaboration, including the insights and coordination provided by Anterix's Utility Strategic Advisory Board, that are reflected in EPRI's white paper, "Empowering Tomorrow's Grid: The Vital Role of Telecommunications in Enabling Decarbonization, Electrification, and Resilience." This study, released at DISTRIBUTECH 2024 in Orlando on February 28, provides important perspectives and lessons learned to date on advancing resilient clean energy via modern communications technologies.
Shareholder Contact
Natasha Vecchiarelli
Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
Anterix
973-531-4397
nvecchiarelli@anterix.com
Media Contact
Paul Gaige
Vice President
Hill+Knowlton Strategies
504-957-1434
Paul.Gaige@hillandknowlton.com
About Anterix
At Anterix, we engage with leading utilities and technology companies to harness the power of 900 MHz broadband for modernized grid solutions. Leading an ecosystem of more than 100 members, we offer utility-first solutions to modernize the grid and solve the challenges that utilities are facing today. As the largest holder of licensed spectrum in the 900 MHz band (896-901/935-940 MHz) throughout the contiguous United States, plus Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, we are uniquely positioned to enable private wireless broadband solutions that support cutting-edge advanced communications capabilities for a cleaner, safer, and more secure energy future. To learn more and join the 900 MHz movement, please visit www.anterix.com.
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