$2,840,000 ARPA-E Award to Virginia Tech Project

The U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) has awarded Virginia Tech, based in Blacksburg, Virginia, a $2,840,000 award. The funding will support design development of a novel power electronics converter that delivers superior power compared to traditional converters. The funding is supported by the agency’s Disruptive Direct Current Converters for Grid Resilient Infrastructure to Deliver Secure energy (DC-GRIDS) program.

In response to this news, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“Virginia Tech leads projects that can transform our electric grid and deliver more reliable energy to American communities.

“Such projects are necessary when challenges to our electric grid persist. We must build a resilient energy system to better serve Virginia communities.

“This more than $2.8 million award helps Virginia Tech research advanced technologies that secure the U.S. electric grid.”

BACKGROUND

Virginia Tech’s project is one of 12 selected to support the DC-GRIDS program.

ARPA-E notes that the DC-GRIDS awarded projects will focus on developing high voltage direct current (HVDC) technologies that transform conventional alternating current (AC) infrastructure. The Virginia Tech project can potentially enable more resilient and cost-effective energy transmission for the future.

In March 2026, Congressman Griffith announced a $2.5 million ARPA-E award to Virginia Tech for the DC-GRIDS campaign.

This comes as ARPA-E launches a $35 million campaign to triple U.S. transmission capacity.