The California Energy Commission and the Advanced Research Projects Agency � Energy (ARPA-E) provide millions in funding to advance energy research and innovations. The two government agencies want to identify commercialization pathways for new and transformative energy innovations and discuss approaches to leverage and improve current funding processes. Both entities will hear from co-funded project teams about the successes, challenges and opportunities for transitioning their innovations into the market.
The Energy Commission signed the first ever Memorandum of Understanding three years ago with ARPA-E to collaborate on promising energy innovations that reduce energy costs, enhance electric service reliability and minimize environmental impacts related to the production, delivery, and use of energy.
Since then, both agencies have co-funded more than half a dozen innovation projects including a small low-cost natural gas storage tank for light-duty vehicles and a molten salt-based storage process that could reduce the cost to capture and distribute electricity generated from concentrated solar electric technologies.
Energy Commission Chair Robert Weisenmiller and ARPA-E Director Ellen Williams are among the presenters at the full-day meeting. Topics during the technical breakout sessions include electric systems integration, clean electric generation and storage, and opportunities to bring innovations to market.
The collaboration continues in Washington, D.C. next month when Chair Weisenmiller joins a roundtable discussion on state-based resources and policy trends driving clean energy at the seventh annual ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit.
The summit, which is scheduled to run from February 29 to March 2, is one of the largest energy, technology, research and development events in the nation. Scheduled summit speakers include U.S. Energy Secretary Dr. Ernest Moniz and General Electric Vice Chair Beth Comstock.
