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The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Secure Pathways for Resilient Communications (SPaRC) program leads grid communications research and development using a virtual testbed to design, evaluate, and benchmark next-generation secure communications architectures and technologies.
Securing this end-to-end communications pathway—which is essential for reliable grid operations—involves:
By engaging with SPaRC’s utility communication testbed, energy providers can enhance the security and reliability of their communication systems, which are vital for efficient grid management and response to emergencies.
SPaRC acts as both a sandbox and a bridge—a place where vendors can innovate safely while connecting with the broader ecosystem of utilities and federal agencies.
SPaRC offers DOE-backed research for regulatory frameworks, giving policymakers the tools, research, and insights they need to make informed, future-proof decisions about grid communication security, reliability, and resilience.
SPaRC’s initial team consists of:
These partners bring communications expertise and testing capabilities.
Contact us Learn moreGrid Communications Testbed: A multi-laboratory platform to test and validate communications technologies in real-world grid environments.
Next-Generation Communications Experiments: Conducting experiments to evaluate new and existing communications technologies, protocols, and topologies for electric grid applications.
Education & Technical Assistance: Providing training, white papers, and technical reports.
