CEC research confirms clean energy advances in California

April 8, 2013 | By Barbara Vergetis Lundin

The California Energy Commission (CEC) has just released the results of its Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program highlighting the state's advances in clean energy designed to improve the reliability of the state's electricity supply, boost energy efficiency of buildings and appliances, and increase renewable sources of power.

In 2012, PIER invested $28 million across 30 research projects with matching funds of $19.6 million from private and federal entities, such as the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. Between 1999 and 2008, PIER invested $27.6 million in 17 efficiency projects that led to building and appliance code changes projected to save California $10 billion in energy costs by 2025. Customer savings from PIER's advancements in data center cooling, demand response, and building energy measurement technologies are estimated to be in the millions of dollars each year by 2020, according to the research.

Research addressing the variability of solar energy generation demonstrated forecasting technologies that predict solar plant production for as much as two days ahead, which the California Independent System Operator will use in its planning process for solar PV generation.

Advanced batteries showed the potential for grid-level energy storage and managing intermittent renewable energy sources. Synchrophasors were deemed to be able to save California an estimated $210 million to $360 million annually by 2020 by improving system reliability and reducing the risk of outages.

For more:
- see the report

http://www.fierceenergy.com/story/cec-research-confirms-clean-energy-advances-california/2013-04-08