The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy
Reliability (OE) is conducting research and development (R&D) on next-generation
electricity delivery equipment including fault current limiters (FCLs). Prototype FCL
devices are undergoing testing with the aim of market-ready devices making their debut
in the transmission and distribution (T&D) system in the next five years. As these
devices move through the research, development, and demonstration process, there
are questions about whether or not the capabilities of commercial T&D equipment
testing facilities are adequate to meet technology- and market-readiness goals.