1. Work Group #2 Emerging Solutions and Technologies
Susan Hermenet, Director Business Services, Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Robert Balzar, Director, Conservation Resources
Seattle City Light
Northwest Energy Efficiency Taskforce
Friday, October 3, 2008
4/4/2019

2. Emerging Solutions and Technologies The Team
4/4/2019

3. Emerging Solutions and Technologies The Team
4/4/2019

4. Emerging Solutions and Technologies
Challenges
Who is doing what in the region?
What is not being done?
Define “Sandbox”
What technologies are we talking about?
How does this effort overlap with existing agencies, universities and private industry?
If a regional entity is established, how would this entity relate to others?
How and who would set direction?
How and who would fund?
How would it define success?
4/4/2019

5. Emerging Solutions and Technologies Process
Initial Meeting- July 31
Several Conference Calls
Initial survey of regional capabilities/”do-ers”
Define the “Sandbox”
Three Subgroups
Inventory of effort-
(110 +/- technologies/solutions)
Selection criteria
“Who should do it”
4/4/2019

6. Emerging Solutions and Technologies Survey Results
Questions designed to capture who is doing what in the region regarding “Research, Development and Demonstration” of emerging energy efficiency technologies and solutions.
82 respondents representing 63 organizations
65% have dedicated role in RDD
74% have no dedicated budget for RDD
94% believe there is a role for a regional solution
4/4/2019

7. Emerging Solutions and Technologies Criteria/Definition
The innovation is an emerging technology or solution that promises a quantifiable increase in efficiency of energy use, production, or distribution as seen by end-use customers in the Region.
Specifically, excludes “Smart Grid”, AMI, Transmission and Distribution Efficiencies
4/4/2019

8. Emerging Solutions and Technologies The Three Screens
The Innovation has Technical Promise
Magnitude, Shape and Measure Life can be identified, predictable and quantifiable
The Innovation has Regional Promise
Significant energy savings across the region
Good demographic and geographic distribution
The Innovation has Market Promise
Advantage to end users and trade allies
Energy and non-energy benefits (climate/quality of life)
Eventually cost-effective, but some potential of some risk (does not pass traditional cost effectiveness tests) in the short term
4/4/2019

9. Emerging Solutions and Technologies “Who Should Do It”
What
Track emerging technologies/solutions/ideas
Prioritize, identify and select opportunities based on criteria
Participate in project in support/mgmt role
Primary execution to others
Disseminate results
Who
Regional entity with small staff that is responsive to market and technology movement
Dedicated and permanent funding sources
Oversight board from “funders” and market experts
4/4/2019

10. Emerging Solutions and Technologies Recommendations to Exec. Committee
“Keeping the Pipeline Full”
Identify (or create) regional entity to be designated a regional lead
There must be permanent and dedicated funding source identified and secured
Long Term Focus
Long term view and commitment with eye towards long term cost effectiveness balanced with short term risk
Advocacy and Policy for this effort needs a home
We felt that this was beyond our scope, but want Task Force to consider further direction
4/4/2019

11. Emerging Solutions and Technologies Next Steps
1) Additional work to identify the top 3-6 technologies to be “put through” the selection process described above-
2) Make sure coordination of this workgroups efforts with groups working on marketing, cost-effectiveness, and best practices
4/4/2019