California Energy Product Evaluation Hub
The Regents of the University of California, on behalf of the Davis Campus
Recipient
Davis, CA
Recipient Location
3rd
Senate District
4th
Assembly District
$8,158,622
Amount Spent
Active
Project Status
Project Update
As of the end of 2023, the California Energy Product Evaluation (Cal-EPE) Hub website now contains information on 13 product categories. The latest additions include advanced thermostats, high-efficiency motors, building automation systems, fault detection & diagnostics systems, behind-the-meter energy storage, and networked lighting controls. Product testing and populating the website with information will continue through mid-2025. Dissemination efforts have been ramping up and will continue through 2025. The Product Evaluation webpage is available at: https://energyproductevaluations.org/
The Issue
Large customers responsible for procurement contracting are often times overwhelmed by the many choices and uncertainties surrounding advanced distributed energy resource (DER) technologies. New technologies entering the marketplace often lack rigorous, real-world evaluations that prioritize customer needs, leaving customers without pertinent details required to make better, more informed purchase decisions. This can add significant time and costs to the procurement process and deter customers from pursuing advanced DER solutions.
Project Innovation
This project will develop the California Energy Product Evaluation (Cal-EPE) Hub to conduct and disseminate evaluations of advanced DER products relevant to large commercial and institutional customers through a web-based buyer's guide. To accomplish this, the recipient will: (1) determine Cal-EPE Hub user (i.e. large commercial and institutional customers) needs; (2) develop a list of product categories to evaluate based on user needs; (3) develop evaluation guidelines and methodologies; (4) acquire (through purchase or donation) and evaluate products from product categories; and (5) develop a web-based Buyer's Guide, which will contain the results of product evaluations and related information and documentation.
Project Goals
Project Benefits
The California Energy Product Evaluation (Cal-EPE) Hub will increase the adoption of advanced DER technology products in the marketplace by disseminating reliable and independent product evaluations to large commercial and institutional customers, through a web-based buyer's guide, which will help these customers more confidently select the DER technology they require with their procurement process.
Consumer Appeal
The California Energy Product Evaluation (Cal-EPE) Hub will increase consumer confidence that the DER technology solutions they are procuring are "best-in-class".
Affordability
The California Energy Product Evaluation (Cal-EPE) Hub will reduce vendor noise that can add significant time and cost to procurement of DER solutions.
Key Project Members
Rob Kamisky
Subrecipients
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
The Regents of the University of California, on behalf of the Berkeley Campus
Sheet Metal Workers 104 & Bay Area Industry Training Fund
Collaborative for High Performance Schools
Local Government Commission
Cohen Ventures, Inc. dba Energy Solutions
Logical Inc.
Match Partners
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
The Regents of the University of California, on behalf of the Berkeley Campus
Western Cooling Efficiency Center - UC Davis
Sheet Metal Workers 104 &
Bay Area Industry Training Fund
Collaborative for High Performance Schools
Local Government Commission
Cohen Ventures, Inc. dba Energy Solutions
