Closed
California state funding opportunity
GFO-20-310 – Mobile Renewable Backup Generation (MORBUGs)
CA Energy Commission
- Portal ID5632
- Grant IDGFO-20-310
- StatusClosed
Competitive proposals usually start 6+ weeks out.
Program summary
Synopsis
This solicitation will fund projects to advance clean energy mobile backup systems or Mobile Renewable Backup Generation Systems (MORBUGs) that increase the resiliency of the electricity system to climate change and extreme weather events.
The purpose of this solicitation is to provide $8 million of Technology Demonstration and Deployment (TD&D) and $6 million of Applied Research and Development (AR&D) funding to support the 2018-2020 EPIC Investment Plan Strategic Initiative S7.2.3 to Integrate Climate Readiness into Electricity System Operations, Tools, and Models. This solicitation will fund projects to advance clean energy mobile backup systems or Mobile Renewable Backup Generation Systems (MORBUGs) that increase the resiliency of the electricity system to climate change and extreme weather events. With efficiency improvements and cost reductions in renewable generation and the development of more energy-dense storage technologies, primarily for electric vehicles, it is now possible to create a clean energy mobile backup system. Some technologies are currently coming on the market to provide services such as providing power for charging phones or other electronic devices, usually in a public space, such as a campus, or to provide vehicle charging in remote locations. However, they have not been demonstrated in environments requiring greater capacity and reliability, such as during grid outages in emergency response. The lack of data on performance of these systems during critical needs, such as in power outages, is impeding their broader deployment. Demonstrations of system performance in different applications is needed to build confidence for their applications in emergencies. Due to these reasons, these newer systems can only supplement mobile fossil backup generation but cannot fully replace a mobile fossil backup generator. Applied research is needed to design and pilot systems that can provide sufficient power and duration to fully replace a mobile fossil-fueled system.
Timeline
Key dates
-
March 5, 2021
Opportunity posted to California Grants Portal -
April 9, 2021
Applications close -
April 30, 2021
Expected award date
Who may apply
Eligibility
Eligible applicant types as published by the awarding agency:
- Nonprofit
- Public Agency
- Additional info on eligibility
- This solicitation is open to all public and private entities with the exception of local publicly owned electric utilities.
- Geography
- At least 25% of available EPIC technology demonstration and deployment funding must be allocated to project sites located in, and benefiting, disadvantaged communities; and an additional minimum 10% of funds must be allocated to projects sites located in and benefiting low-income communities.
Awarding agency
Additional information
- Agency name
- CA Energy Commission
- Full announcement
- View the full announcement ↗
- Grantor contact
-
Tonya Heron
1-916-827-8343
tonya.heron@energy.ca.gov
Funding
Funding source
- Source
- State
- Funding method
- Reimbursement(s)
- Notes
- This solicitation will award projects funded by the EPIC, an electricity ratepayer surcharge established by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in December 2011. The purpose of the EPIC program is to benefit the ratepayers of three investor-owned utilities (IOUs), including Pacific Gas and Electric Co., San Diego Gas and Electric Co., and Southern California Edison Co.
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