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GFO-24-302 – Enabling Electric Vehicles as Distributed Energy Resources

Grantor:
CA Energy Commission
Departmental Grant ID:
GFO-24-302
Portal ID:
80867
Status:
Closed
Opportunity Type:
  • Grant
Last Updated:
Categories:

Details

Purpose:

The purpose of this solicitation is to fund studies and applied research and development (R&D) projects that support the approved Electric Program Investment Charge 2021–2025 (EPIC 4) Investment Plan’s strategic objective to increase the value proposition of distributed energy resources to customers and the grid. This solicitation’s research topics fall under the EPIC 4 Transportation Electrification Initiative.

Description:

Transportation electrification is a key strategy to achieving California’s climate and air quality goals. With over 1 million electric vehicles (EVs) registered in California today and over 15 million EVs expected on the road by 2035, EVs can quickly become one of California’s largest distributed energy resources (DERs) as deployment accelerates if their significant battery capacity is leveraged. Fully realizing the benefits of EVs as DERs will require advancements in key enabling technologies and development and implementation of vehicle-grid integration (VGI) strategies at scale. Failure to optimize the full potential for EVs as DERs could result in significant increases in peak load growth and drive the need for otherwise avoidable grid upgrades.

VGI largely comprises technologies and strategies that allow users to alter the charging behavior of EVs in a manner that benefits the electricity grid and ratepayers while ensuring driver mobility needs are met. VGI can encompass a portfolio of approaches ranging from simple timers to the alignment of charging with utility time-of-use rates to more complex technologies for automated charging management that can be responsive to grid conditions or enable co-optimization with other local DERs. Various VGI technologies and applications have been researched and demonstrated in California over the past decade, including use of managed and bidirectional charging to reduce customer electricity bills, reduce site peak demand, and increase usage of renewable electricity. Further advances in a host of enabling technologies could reduce the cost of VGI solutions, improve customer usability, and support additional functionalities.

CEC’s Second AB 2127 Report[2] identified five broad areas in need of advancement to attain widespread VGI: 1) compensation structures, 2) customer products and services, 3) site-level electrical readiness, 4) EV and grid planning processes, and 5) customer ease, confidence, and enrollment. This solicitation intends to fund research and innovation that complements and supports actions that automakers, charging providers, utilities, automation service providers, regulators, and other stakeholders are taking to advance VGI in these broad areas. Specifically, the solicitation will seek projects to address VGI knowledge gaps; high costs of V2X or bidirectional charging equipment, as compared to unidirectional charging; and the lack of access to cost-effective, accurate, and flexible submetering solutions. Projects that address disadvantaged and/or low-income community needs with strong community engagement and support will be prioritized. Projects must fall within one of the following project groups:

·       Group 1: Addressing VGI Knowledge Gaps

·       Group 2: Cost Reduction of V2X Enabling Technology

·       Group 3: Submetering Solutions to Facilitate VGI

 

 

 

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Applicants:

  • Business
  • Individual
  • Nonprofit
  • Other Legal Entity
  • Public Agency
  • Tribal Government

This solicitation is open to all public and private entities with the exception of local publicly owned electric utilities. 

Eligible Geographies:

No local publicly owned electric utilities. 

Matching Funding Requirement:

Match funding is not required for Group 1. 

Applications must include a minimum 10 percent in match share of the total project budget for Group 2 and 3.  

Important Dates

The date (and time, where applicable) by which all applications must be submitted to the grantmaker. Time listed as “00:00” equates to midnight.
The date on which the grantor expects to announce the recipient(s) of the grant.
Week of 04/21/2025
The length of time during which the grant money must be utilized.
Until funds expire

Funding Details

The total projected dollar amount of the grant.
$12,600,000
A single grant opportunity may represent one or many awards. Some grantors may know in advance the exact number of awards to be given. Others may indicate a range. Some may wish to and wait until the application period closes before determining how many awards to offer; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.
Dependent
Grant opportunities representing multiple awards may offer awards in the same amount or in varied amounts. Some may wish to wait until the application period closes before determining per-award amounts; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.
Dependent
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) provide a letter of intent.
No
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) be able to fully or partially match the grant award amount with another funding source.
10%
The funding source allocated to fund the grant. It may be either State or Federal (or a combination of both), and be tied to a specific piece of legislation, a proposition, or a bond number.
  • State

Funding Source Notes:

EPIC Program

The manner in which the grant funding will be delivered to the awardee. Funding methods include reimbursements (where the recipient spends out-of-pocket and is reimbursed by the grantor) and advances (where the recipient spends received grant funds directly).
  • Reimbursement(s)

Funding Method Notes:

Reimbursement(s)

How to Apply

State agencies/departments recommend you read the full grant guidelines before applying.

Resources

For questions about this grant, contact:
Kevyn Piper, 1-916-827-9241, Kevyn.Piper@energy.ca.gov

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