ET24SWE0001 - Scanning & Screening - Q1 2024
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 solutions 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 and 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 every quarter to maintain a robust set of projects in the portfolio funnel and meet Program goals.
The CalNEXT Program utilizes the Scanning and Screening process to engage with energy efficiency market stakeholders, solicit research project ideas, and develop a robust project portfolio for electric emerging technology projects. The two Project types that are evaluated within the Scanning and Screening process are the Technology Development Research (TDR) and Technology Support Research (TSR) projects.
The Quarter 1 (Q1) 2024 Scanning and Screening Project covers the period from January 1, 2024, through March 31, 2024. The project submissions for this period came from the program team (Energy Solutions and the five subcontractors – AESC, TRC, UC Davis, Ortiz Group, and VEIC) and from the public via the Idea or Project Intake Form. With each submission round, the evaluation team is prioritizing projects to add to the Program’s portfolio that meet 2024 targets and maintain portfolio balance in terms of technology areas and research types. CalNEXT will leverage the 2023 TPMs to solicit and evaluate electric ET idea submissions and project submissions; the scope for Q1 2024 includes all TPM technology areas.
In Q1 2024, 30 new project submissions were received and 50 project submissions were scored. This was split up into three rounds of Scanning and Screening along with two Fast Track Project reviews. Projects submitted in Q1 represent all six of the TPM Technology Areas including six in HVAC, eight in Water Heating, nine in Process Load, two in Whole Building, three in Lighting, and two in Plug Load and Appliances. They are split between six program tactics, including ten field demonstrations, one lab demonstration, seven market characterization studies, six measure developments, one scaled field deployment, and five tool developments. Evaluation scores among partner submissions ranged from 54.1 to 90.1. Out of the 30 Project Submissions this quarter, five were public submissions and 25 were partner submissions. Two of the public submissions were received at the end of Q1 2024 and were deferred April 2024. Five projects were selected through the Fast Track process based on input from CalTF and SCE.