Financial incentives and targeted sector strengthening: The US path tot he AES

The US government is setting the course to upgrade and modernize energy supply infrastructures in order to meet rising energy demand. In doing so, it is accelerating the country's path towards the All Electric Society. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act are legislation passed to help achieve this.

These extensive financial resources deployed are aimed at network resilience and the expansion of transmission capacities. The objective is to improve the reliability, efficiency and sustainability of supply projects. Federal funding programs are playing a decisive role in the United States in order to support the transformation. It is only through such programs that projects ranging from grid modernization to the integration of renewable energies can be driven forward.

The sheer dimensions involved in promoting the transformation in the United States are impressive: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Act (also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) alone is investing a hefty $660 billion over five years in critical transport infrastructure projects. The program aims to create 700,000 jobs in supporting sectors, including construction, manufacturing and transport among others.

In addition to funding, industry players are particularly relevant. This is due to the fact that they are the key drivers of the projects, as they understand the requirements and processes needed to modernize the infrastructure. Utility companies and infrastructure providers are only some of the stakeholders involved here. Especially the suppliers of equipment and materials and technology companies in particular, which includes HARTING, are setting the pace. Their components are part of the larger ecosystem, while their expertise helps to better identify synergies, avoid potential conflicts and utilize the collective expertise. The relevant federal funding programs such as Grid Resilience Grants, the Transmission Facilitation Program or Transmission Facility Financing are managed by the US Department of Energy. The funding programs have specific requirements criteria, making the funding process at time complex. The effort, however, makes sense in view of supporting of the larger aims and objectives.

Cooperation with regulatory authorities and committees is necessary. This enables transparent project organization and secures realistic requirements and standards. Members of HARTING's US team are involved in the committees responsible for setting and commenting on such standards, thereby contributing their knowledge and expertise to the industry. In this way they are helping to shape the course to the US-based All Electric Society at a practical level.

In the course of the shifting demands made on the electricity grid, utility companies are undergoing significant technological upheavals. This includes the implementation of advanced grid management systems, smart metering systems and distributed energy resources to optimise grid operations and manage the increasing penetration of renewable energy.

Among other things, the rapid installation of transformer substations is playing a decisive role in the seamless integration of renewable energy sources into the grid infrastructure. Given that renewable energy generation is growing exponentially, the need for a robust substation infrastructure is becoming increasingly vital in enabling the efficient and reliable transmission and distribution of electricity.

The support of infrastructure for clean technologies and the development of a charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EV) represents another key focus. The reliability and standardization of the charging infrastructure also present challenges. These aspects, however, are the best way to convince consumers of the benefits of electrification over the long term. Manufacturers, however, must also keep a keen eye on the sustainability of the electrical grid.

The US charging infrastructure is currently undergoing a transformation from the Type 1 connector to the Tesla-like connector known as the North American Charging Standard (NACS). Almost all of the major car manufacturers have committed to integrating the new connection style into their electric vehicles in the USA by the year 2025. The US government is also stepping up with a comprehensive budget for standardisation: a total of 8 billion US dollars have been earmarked for the charging infrastructure over the next five years.

High-quality adapters and connectors are minimizing the potential risks. However, poorly made adapters risk having improper contact at their terminals. The Charging Interface Initiative (CharIN) e. V. recommends ensuring that an adapter has been approved as safe by the EV OEM before being used for charging.

However, it is not just the mere updating of physical connector types that providers are now involved with. Far more, they are shaping and designing a major step towards a more unified and accessible charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. As standardization is thought through across brands, this is promoting interoperability between vehicles and charging stations and creating a collaborative environment in which technical innovations will enjoy better growth conditions.

The US is making greater strides than ever in accelerating the path to more reliable and cleaner energy. This applies to the entire energy chain - from how power is generated and delivered to how consumers use that energy.

As a key component of the interconnection between all these levels of the energy chain, HARTING is well positioned to power this revolution with its world-trusted, industry leaving connectivity solutions.