The U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) has granted Virginia Tech a significant funding boost of $2,840,000. This financial support will go toward developing a new type of power electronics converter that promises better performance than the standard models currently in use. This initiative is part of ARPA-E’s Disruptive Direct Current Converters for Grid Resilient Infrastructure to Deliver Secure Energy (DC-GRIDS) program.
In light of this announcement, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith, a Republican from Virginia, expressed his enthusiasm. He stated, “Virginia Tech is working on projects that can revolutionize our electric grid and provide more reliable power to communities across America. These efforts are crucial, especially as our electric grid faces ongoing challenges. We need to create a robust energy system that serves our localities better. This award of over $2.8 million will assist Virginia Tech in exploring advanced technologies that enhance the security of our electric grid.”
Virginia Tech’s project is one of twelve selected under the DC-GRIDS program, aimed at creating high voltage direct current (HVDC) technologies. These innovations could redefine traditional alternating current (AC) systems, paving the way for more reliable and cost-effective energy transmission in the future.
In March 2026, Congressman Griffith also announced a previous ARPA-E funding of $2.5 million for another Virginia Tech initiative related to the DC-GRIDS program. This recent funding announcement comes as ARPA-E launches a broader $35 million initiative to enhance the U.S. transmission capacity.
