The Demand and Energy Technology Research Consortium adopts a research agenda each year that meets the members' needs. The recent projects address energy efficiency (EE) and demand response (DR) programs and distributed generation (DG) activities.

 

Non-member energy utilities interested in a research project may complete the DETech Contact Us form to request a copy of the relevant Statement of Work. Opportunities for participation by non-members are considered on their merit on a case-by-case basis.

 

The value of carbon reduction is important to sustainable business operations, and has become a major issue in the evaluation of EE and DR programs. The approaches for evaluating the value of supply-side carbon reduction are well established; however, a preferred approach has yet to emerge on what approaches should be applied to the value of carbon reductions in EE and DR programs. The initiative will examine how the integration of carbon reduction will change the landscape for EE and DR programs.

 

 

The utility sector is changing, as are the needs and expectations of utility customers. Energy utilities are increasing the funding for EE and DR programs; however, we know that consumers do not always fully understand or connect with the terminology used in program ads and brochures. Traditional customer satisfaction studies are no longer acceptable, and we need to investigate the entire customer relationship. This initiative will assess the customer purchase decision with respect to EE and DR programs and services.

 

The M&V methodologies inventory project will identify, tabulate and analyze the processes and metrics used to measure and verify the impacts of energy efficiency and demand response programs in the United States. The initiative will assess differences between the M&V techniques employed by utilities and energy service companies (ESCO) and the implications for adopting best M&V practices.

 

 

The internal case for action initiative is a strategic effort to define a case for continued utility investment in EE programs, DR programs and DG. The project will examine how to best integrate EE, DR and DG into the energy infrastructure in a manner that is sustainable and supported by the utility for business reasons. 

 

"Profiting from Socially Beneficial Green Investment in an Era of Global Warming," appeared in The Electricity Journal, August-September 2007. (Read Online.)

 

The business model assessment project developed a high level framework for assessing how EE, DR and DG options can be integrated into the utility decision process using a value chain approach. Value chain analysis focuses on how value is added to the energy product and delivered to the retail customer at each stage of transformation, from energy production to delivery and after sales support.

 

 

 

The emerging solutions inventory is a catalogue of new and emerging programs and technologies nationwide. The focus is on innovations such as advanced metering, switches, sensors, voltage regulation, communication platforms and others that recently have been launched or are in the pipeline toward real-world application in the next one to three years.