C A L I F O R N I A E N E R G Y C O M M I S S I O N

Advancing California’s Energy Innovation

Ecosystem

Erik Stokes

UC Solar Research Symposium

San Francisco, CA

October 16, 2015

C A L I F O R N I A E N E R G Y C O M M I S S I O N

Electric Program

Investment Charge

~$115 M/yr

Natural Gas

RD&D

~$24 M/yr

Significantly Reduce Energy Use in Buildings, Agriculture & Industries

Encourage Clean, Local Renewable Energy & Advanced Generation

Dramatically Reduce Environmental Impacts of Energy Technologies

Improve Transmission & Distribution for Safe, Smarter Power

Improve Electric and Natural Gas Infrastructure

Sustainably Integrate Transportation Systems into Energy Infrastructure

Rate Payer Benefits

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C A L I F O R N I A E N E R G Y C O M M I S S I O N

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State Policy Drives RD&D Investments

C A L I F O R N I A E N E R G Y C O M M I S S I O N

RD&D is Still Needed to Overcome Barriers to

Achieving the State’s Energy Goals

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C A L I F O R N I A E N E R G Y C O M M I S S I O N

Improving Solar & Load Forecasts: Reducing

Resource Scheduling Uncertainty

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Collaboration between Itron, Inc. and Clean

Power Research to improve solar PV and net

load forecasts to reduce operational

uncertainty for CAISO and resource-

scheduling utilities

Solar forecast improvements use metered

irradiance and PV generation data for accurate

conditions.

Solar and net load forecasts tuned and

improved according to historical and real time

data

Itron will coordinate with CAISO and utilities

to implement new forecast methodologies as

they are developed

Top: False color image taken on campus by the UCSD Sky

Imager Advanced Visible Wavelength Cloud Remote Sensing

sky camera system used for solar forecasting ; Above: a

forecasting model using Ground-Based Cloud Imaging

EPIC Funding: $998,926

Match Funding: $450,000

C A L I F O R N I A E N E R G Y C O M M I S S I O N

Smart Inverter Interoperability Standards

and Open Testing Framework to Support

High-Penetration PV & Storage

• Inverters interact autonomously with the

local grid and provide prompt response

to control signals from grid operators.

• SunSpec Alliance will collect smart

inverters from seven different

manufacturers.

• Inverters will be tested for their ability to

respond to utility signals and provide

volt/var support & other functions

• Also test for compliance with Phase II

communication recommendations of

SIWG

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A SunSpec certified smart inverter with open

communication interface

EPIC Funding: $2,000,000

Match Funding: $2,066,875

C A L I F O R N I A E N E R G Y C O M M I S S I O N

Modification of Geothermal Facilities for

Flexible Operation And Heightened

Responsiveness to Changing Loads

• Geysers Power Company, LLC (GPC) will

develop an integrated computer-based model

to simulate different levels of generation and

their impact on pipelines, power plants,

wells, and reservoirs.

• GPC will perform a pilot test at cross-tied

locations near The Geysers geothermal field,

testing equipment and controls at various

flexible generation scenarios to validate the

model.

• GPC will use results from modeling and

pilot testing to identify methods needed for

optimum operation of its geothermal

facilities.

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A power plant on The Geysers geothermal field complex

EPIC Funding: $3M

Match Funding: $3M

C A L I F O R N I A E N E R G Y C O M M I S S I O N

Borrego Springs 2.0- Largest Utility Operated Microgrid

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• Demonstrating the viability

of a utility owned

community-scale microgrid

to manage up to 100% of

renewable energy to meet the

community load while

avoiding adverse grid

impacts, through the use of a

microgrid controller

management system.

C A L I F O R N I A E N E R G Y C O M M I S S I O N

Investments Will Fill Key Funding Gaps

Within the Innovation Pipeline

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Energy Innovation Pipeline

C A L I F O R N I A E N E R G Y C O M M I S S I O N

Advancing California’s Energy

Innovation Ecosystem

• On September 2nd the Energy

Commission released three solicitations:

– Sustainable Energy Entrepreneur

Development (SEED) Initiative

– Regional Energy Innovation

Clusters

– Connecting Emerging Energy

Technologies to Market Needs

and Opportunities

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Advances California Energy

Policy

Commercially Viable

Technically Feasible

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SEED Initiative

Los Angeles Cluster

Central Valley Cluster

San Diego Cluster

Bay Area

Cluster

Industry Needs and

Market Opportunities

Technology Solutions

Connecting

to Market

Opport.

Recipients Will Provide a Coordinated

Approach to Improve Path-to-Market

C A L I F O R N I A E N E R G Y C O M M I S S I O N

• Participants can join the “California Energy

Commission Networking Hub” by:

• Searching for the “California Energy

Commission Networking Hub” group; or

• Entering this link into your

browser:(bit.ly/CalEnergyNetwork)

• Once there, find and join the desired solicitation

subgroup.

Find Partners via LinkedIn

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The Energy Commission has created a user-driven LinkedIn group page to

help potential applicants connect, collaborate and partner on proposals for

funding opportunities.

C A L I F O R N I A E N E R G Y C O M M I S S I O N

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