Industrial FlexHub: Advancing Demand Load Flexible Technologies in Industrial, Agriculture, and Water
Project Update
The IAW FlexHub currently has four approved demonstration projects, covering three IAW sectors, sited in two California investor-owned utilities (IOUs), spanning three climate zones and include a range of model-predictive controls, load management applications, and optimization algorithms. The Hub is positioned to advance a diverse set of projects that serve current and anticipated grid and customer needs and will provide critical data to inform the next generation of policy and innovative rate structures. Additionally, the Hub has established pathways for continuous stakeholder engagement and an iterative process for adding new demonstration projects to continue to adapt the Hub’s research direction dynamically over the duration of the project term.
The Issue
The IAW FlexHub currently has four approved demonstration projects, covering three IAW sectors, sited in two California investor-owned utilities (IOUs), spanning three climate zones and include a range of model-predictive controls, load management applications, and optimization algorithms. The Hub is positioned to advance a diverse set of projects that serve current and anticipated grid and customer needs and will provide critical data to inform the next generation of policy and innovative rate structures. Additionally, the Hub has established pathways for continuous stakeholder engagement and an iterative process for adding new demonstration projects to continue to adapt the Hub’s research direction dynamically over the duration of the project term.
Project Innovation
Under the umbrella of the Hub, a multidisciplinary research team of California’s experts are developing, demonstrating, and deploying advanced demand flexibility technologies specifically designed for the IAW sectors. When fully commercialized at scale, the technologies will enable system-wide benefits towards energy cost-savings and a reliable grid. Uncovering and addressing multi-sector gaps in knowledge and technology, shared across internal research teams and external stakeholders is a key innovation of this unique EPIC project. A comprehensive, strategic, and systemic approach to technology and knowledge transfer, also a key element of the Hub, will maximize the impact of this project beyond the scope of the demonstration projects. The Hub's dynamic approach to research will also aid in responding to potential changes in markets and technology development, among other factors, allowing for meaningful contributions to California's statutory energy and decarbonization goals.
Project Goals
Project Benefits
Advanced load management reduces costs by shifting energy use to offpeak periods, lowering customer bills and improving systemwide efficiency as electrification grows. Enabling broader adoption of load flexibility technologies at large load sites also supports grid reliability by increasing available loadshifting capacity during peak demand and grid stress. The demonstration projects further emphasize advanced automation and cybersecurity within the IAW subsectors to protect critical systems and processes, ultimately enhancing worker safety.
Affordability
Lower costs by shifting, shimmying, shaping, and shedding energy usage to off-peak periods or adjusting loads in response to real-time pricing signals which can reduce operational and infrastructure costs for businesses and utilities. Advanced load management may also decrease costs for non-participating ratepayers by reducing system-wide resource adequacy needs and grid congestion.
Environmental Sustainability
Strengthens the resilience of critical infrastructure during emergencies and reducing reliance on fossil fuel peaker plants, which helps improve air quality and reduce associated health risks.
Reliability
Greater reliability through demand response and load management during periods of peak demand and grid stress, and as electrification continues to grow and place new demands on the grid.
Key Project Members
Subrecipients
Match Partners
