Registration is OPEN for the CalFlexHub Annual Symposium and more

Registration is now open for the 2023 CalFlexHub Annual Symposium, happening November 3rd from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with optional tours of Berkeley Lab’s advanced  FLEXLAB^® testbed facility on November 2nd starting at 4 p.m. This year’s symposium is a hybrid event, offering in-person attendance at Berkeley Lab and remote participation via Zoom Events.

• On November 2nd, join us for an afternoon tour of the world’s most advanced, integrated building and grid technologies testbed, FLEXLAB. Be sure to select your preferred onsite touring time during registration.
• On November 3rd, join us for the main event, featuring keynote speakers from the California Energy Commission, the U.S. Department of Energy and beyond, and an opportunity to meet leading innovators on building and EV charging price-response automation technologies.

Since its launch, CalFlexHub has been at the forefront of assessing research pathways, developing metrics, and accelerating the commercial adoption of load flexible technologies. This Symposium aims to showcase the program’s achievements, offer updates on CalFlexHub’s portfolio of projects; foster discussions on the latest policies, research, and technological developments in load flexibility; and facilitate presentations from sector leaders. To support and accelerate the commercial adoption of load flexible technologies, the symposium focuses on solution-centered conversations designed to address the various barriers to scaled adoption, emphasizing advancing these technologies and standards equitably.

The event is intended for utility and industry leaders, government representatives, workforce development professionals, community-based organizations, and researchers. We invite you to join a unique opportunity to learn, engage with, and contribute to advancing the future of California’s energy system.

The fifth version of the Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC 5) is in development now. This is a critical process to gather stakeholder input that will help inform how new Strategic Goals should be articulated and established by the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) in its next guidance Decision for the EPIC 5 funding cycle, which covers the program period of 2026 to 2030.

Input here can result in vigorous public-interest funding for the priorities that matter to CalFlexHub members and the sector at large. CalFlexHub is an EPIC-funded project. Don’t miss the opportunity to engage!

The UC San Diego (UCSD) team is demonstrating how an electric vehicle fleet can cohesively respond to pricing and greenhouse gas (GHG) signals, both independently and in conjunction with a battery energy storage system.

The project, sited at the UCSD, deployed 69 PowerFlex electric vehicle charging stations equipped with Adaptive Load Management. Working alongside these stations is a 1.5 MW/ 2.5 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS). The system employs a predictive control algorithm that optimally dispatches energy from either, or both, the BESS and EV storage in response to system constraints and dynamic electricity price signals.

During field tests, UCSD has successfully integrated the price signals from CalFlexHub’s price server. The project showcased promising results around financial feasibility and energy efficiency. Under a fictitious two-peak style price signal, the BESS generated $831 in revenue by meeting morning and evening peak demand periods in winter and spring tests. EV charging was strategically shifted to low-price periods, with 74% of EV charging costing less than $0.10 per kWh. This is a significant improvement over the baseline case, where only 28% of the charging happened during these financially advantageous periods.

The project offers a promising glimpse into the near future of energy management and EV integration. By harnessing adaptive algorithms and advanced energy storage systems, the project not only demonstrated financial viability but also showcased effective energy use, contributing to more sustainable and efficient electric vehicle operations. This project exemplifies the innovative strides being made at the intersection of technology and sustainability.

The CEC is hosting the annual EPIC Symposium on October 3 and 4, and registration is open now. Learn more and register.