ET23SWE0001 - Scanning & Screening - Q1 2023
The Program Team has established a robust Scanning and Screening process guided by the published TPMs, to develop a high-quality project pipeline for electric emerging technology projects. The approach includes broad outreach to a wide range of stakeholders to provide structured guidance and encourage a wide range of high-quality idea submissions aligned with the IOU EE portfolios' needs. This includes communicating Program priorities, application processes and scoring criteria to support their participation in the program. The Program provides two paths to submit ideas:
1. The Idea submission path is for solution ideas that are not ready to be implemented projects. Once submitted, the Program Team can help determine whether this idea is a good candidate for the CalNEXT Program, provide feedback, and/or pair the submitter with a partner for developing the idea into a Project submission that can be implemented.
2. The Project submission path is for solutions that are fully defined projects that are ready to be implemented. Once submitted, the Program Team will review and suggest improvements as appropriate. Projects have a scope of work and business justification with an idea of how the project will be delivered (i.e., the type of research or study that is needed), who will do the work and for how long, and how much it will cost.
The CalNEXT Program Team will review and select project submissions on a monthly basis to maintain a robust set of projects in the pipeline.
The CalNEXT Program uses a Scanning and Screening process which leverages the existing Technology Priority Maps (TPMs). The process engages with the market ecosystem to solicit ideas to develop a robust project pipeline for electric emerging technology (ET) projects. The two types of projects that are evaluated within the Scanning and Screening process are Technology Development Research (TDR) projects and Technology Support Research (TSR) projects. The approach includes broad outreach to a wide range of stakeholders with structured guidance on the Program and encourages a wide range of high-quality idea submissions aligned with the utility energy efficiency (EE) portfolios’ needs and statewide energy goals. The process includes communicating Program priorities, application processes, and scoring criteria to support and encourage broad participation in the Program.
In Q1 of 2023, the CalNEXT Program received three rounds of project submissions. The first round of project submissions came from internal Program partners, the second round of submissions from public submitters, and the final round was comprised of resubmissions of projects from the first two rounds that the evaluation team determined needed to be edited before being accepted into the Program. With each submission round, the evaluation team prioritized projects to add to the Program’s portfolio that meet 2023 targets and maintain portfolio balance in terms of technology areas and research types. CalNEXT will leverage the 2022 TPMs to solicit and evaluate electric ET idea submissions and project submissions; the scope for Q1 2023 includes all TPM technology areas.