The purpose of this solicitation is to fund emerging power electronics technologies that improve affordability and simplify the complexity and time required for installing and integrating zero-emission backup power systems for powering critical loads during grid outages. This solicitation supports the Electric Program Investment Charge 2021-2025 Investment Plan’s (EPIC 4 Investment Plan) strategic objective to “Increase the Value Proposition of Distributed Energy Resources to Customers and the Grid.”
Climate change is causing more extreme weather events, such as storms, flooding, wildfires, and heatwaves, leading to more power outages and Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). Energy resiliency is crucial for Californians’ well-being during weather-related outages as critical services, such as heating, cooling, refrigeration, air purification, and communication, depend on electricity. Due to the increased frequency, intensity, and duration of power outages caused by extreme weather events, the demand for home backup power systems has significantly grown. Reliance on fossil fuel-based backup generators as the prevailing affordable option contributes to adverse health effects due to poor air quality and undermines California's legislative goals of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Although cleaner, zero-emission backup power options exist, their market adoption and customer base remain limited primarily due to higher costs that make them unaffordable to many Californians. Furthermore, ensuring clean, affordable backup power solutions is imperative to meet California’s environmental justice goals as power outages disproportionately impact low-income, rural, and disadvantaged communities.
This solicitation aims to lower the cost and reduce the time to install zero-emission behind-the-meter (BTM) backup power systems in existing residential buildings such as homes and multifamily dwellings. Current zero-emission BTM backup power options are expensive not only due to high up-front costs of the generation or storage source, but also the balance-of-system (BOS) costs incurred when altering an existing building to accommodate the new backup power system. BOS costs encompass all the components and activities required to support and integrate the backup power system, excluding the actual power generation and storage devices. Examples of BOS costs include wiring, control systems, and other equipment, as well as installation labor, permits, and engineering design. The current process of choosing and hard-wiring critical loads for backup power in existing residential units is a time-consuming task, requiring physical selection and permanent wiring of circuits that limit the flexibility for residents to adapt their power usage during outages. Since there is no “one-size fits all” solution to existing homes due to their wide variety of sizes, layouts, and structural designs, electricians often spend considerable time customizing the systems.
This Grant Funding Opportunity (GFO) will fund research on power electronic technologies that can simplify the materials needed, streamline the interconnection process, and reduce BOS costs associated with installation of zero-emission backup power systems in existing residential buildings. Examples of applicable emerging power electronic technologies include smart electric panels, transfer switches, multi-mode inverters, meter collar adaptors, and other related electrical isolation devices. These technologies can prevent electrical back-feeding onto the utility line and have the potential to offer simplified solutions for integrating zero-emission BTM backup power systems, commonly solar photovoltaic (PV) paired with battery energy storage systems. Many zero-emission BTM backup power systems may also use electric vehicles as an energy storage source (i.e., vehicle-to-building or V2B). This solicitation will fund project demonstrations of these streamlined technology solutions with an emphasis on cost-efficiency, scalability, and replicability across a wide range of existing residential use cases. Awardees under this GFO are expected to leverage their power electronic technology as a key part of integrating zero-emission BTM backup power systems to make clean options more affordable and ultimately market competitive against fossil-fuel based options.
This GFO will be scored in two phases: a technical abstract screening phase and a full application evaluation phase. Phase 1 will require three items: 1) an abstract outlining of the proposed project and technology, 2) a comparison table of market alternatives, and 3) pictures or diagrams of the technology. Applicants who pass Phase 1 will be invited to submit a full application to Phase 2.
Minimum Project Requirements:
· Projects must be sited in a Low-income or Disadvantaged Community or located within a California Native American Tribal territory (Tribe), since these communities are disproportionally impacted by power outages and stand to benefit the most from clean, affordable backup power solutions.
· Integration of the BTM backup power system does not trigger a utility service upgrade.
· Backup energy generation source must be zero-emission (onsite/direct emissions). If a storage system is used, this must be charged at off-peak hours if charged from grid power. The size and other specifications of the backup power system should be appropriate for the purpose of validating the research project’s conclusions.
· Automatic safe islanding during grid outages and reconnection when grid power resumes, ensuring continuous power to critical loads and preventing backflow onto the grid as defined by CPUC interconnection Rule 21.
· Modular design that is replicable and can be rapidly deployed, or “plug-and-play ready,” in a variety of residential use cases that require minimal alterations and customizations needed from electricians and other contractors.
· The research project begins at technology readiness level (TRL) 6-8 and advances the TRL of the technology by at least one level.
· Allows the customer to prioritize critical loads for backup.
· Must have interoperability to enable communication between the customer’s system and the grid, as well as the various system components.
· Must comply with all codes, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certifications, and other standards such as: California electric code, National Electric Code, local and state fire marshal codes. Must acquire all necessary permits and perform load calculations to ensure system is safely installed.
There is up to $6,000,000 available for grants awarded under this solicitation. The minimum funding amount for each project is $1,500,000. The maximum funding amount is $2,000,000.
Available funding | Minimum award amount | Maximum award amount | Minimum match funding (% of EPIC Funds Requested) |
$6,000,000 | $1,500,000 | $2,000,000 | 20% |
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