UC San Diego has received a $39 million grant from the National Science Foundation to develop DERConnect, a first-of-its-kind national testbed for integrating distributed energy resources (DERs) into the power grid. The initiative will simulate the entire California power grid on campus, providing real-time testing capabilities for solar panels, EV batteries, smart buildings, and more—helping accelerate grid decarbonization, cybersecurity, and energy resilience.

Led by Professor Jan Kleissl, DERConnect will enable researchers, utilities, and industry leaders to validate advanced control algorithms, protocols, and technologies in real-world conditions. The testbed will include 2,500 DERs, a new energy storage testing facility, and advanced controls for HVAC, lighting, and EV charging across multiple buildings.

The project builds on UC San Diego’s prior work through the NODES grant and involves a multidisciplinary team from engineering, data science, energy research, and public policy. It will serve as a national hub for collaboration, education, and outreach, including K–12 programming, tribal microgrid workshops, and utility training.

Set to open to external researchers by 2025, DERConnect positions UC San Diego at the forefront of clean energy innovation and smart grid transformation.

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https://today.ucsd.edu/story/39-million-grant-to-better-integrate-renewables-into-power-grid