The New York Power Authority’s (NYPA) Advanced Grid Innovation Laboratory for Energy (AGILe) has been added to the U.S. Electric Grid Test Bed Inventory managed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
The designation recognizes AGILe as the only test bed nationwide with full system-level functionality that hosts models and digital twins of multi-regional large-scale electric power grids.
The unique assets at AGILe are available to assist transmission and distribution technology developers, integrators, electric utilities, grid operators, and other industry stakeholders in assessing promising new technologies that will help modernize the electric grid, NYPA noted.
“This recognition is a testament to NYPA’s foresight and the hard work of the AGILe team, and other staff who have worked on the AGILe effort,” said Daniella Piper, NYPA EVP and chief innovation officer. “It also validates our vision of AGILe as a tool for derisking emerging grid technology and increasing speed to market.”
AGILe officially opened in Albany in 2024 as a state-of-the-art power system laboratory that simulates a real-world power grid environment to test and model new electric grid technologies before they are deployed in the field. The laboratory is creating the first-ever digital twin of the New York State electric grid, a revolutionary tool that will help overcome the challenges of the clean energy transition.
The initiative is divided into more than a dozen concurrently running projects and is on track for delivery by mid-2026.
Over the past two years, NYPA engaged in discussions with DOE to increase their awareness of AGILe’s capabilities. Test beds included in the inventory were selected by DOE Office of Electricity subject matter experts.
According to the DOE, there is a pressing need to test and evaluate the functionality and performance of innovative grid technologies to assess their ability to meet emerging demands and new requirements. Test beds are vital tools in the technology development process, providing capabilities to assess new technologies in controlled environments prior to deployment in operational environments to mitigate risks and increase confidence in their safety, security, and reliability, NYPA noted.
AGILe received the prestigious Innovation Award for Grid Project of the Year at the DTECH Northeast Conference in November for its work in developing a "digital twin" of New York's electric grid.
The DTECH Grid Changer Awards shine a spotlight on exceptional achievements within the electric utility industry, with a special focus in 2025 on the U.S.’s Northeast region.
