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Summary

Efficient and flexible building loads provide options to increase electricity system reliability and energy affordability, while also supporting a portfolio of generation options in grid modernization. To date, savings resulting from flexible building loads have been primarily achieved through traditional energy efficiency and demand management programs. However, advanced controls, sensors and data analytics developed over the last decade provide new ways to optimize building energy savings and energy use, by autonomously managing a variety of distributed energy resources (DER) including on-site solar panels, energy storage, electric vehicles, and various demand-side assets, while maintaining – and even improving – comfort to occupants, and contributing to a reliable, affordable grid. Substantial research and development (R&D) related to advanced controls, sensors and data analytics is underway, and additional progress is anticipated. Through this RFI, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Building Technologies Office (BTO) seeks input from industry to better understand where flexible building loads research goals can be refined to reflect market needs and inform related R&D activities.

Request for Information Categories:

Category 1: Building Technologies R&D and Integration Needs for Increased Load Flexibility

Category 2: Controls and Communication to Enhance Building-to-Grid Interactions

Category 3: Building Energy Modeling for Load Flexibility

Category 4: The Value of Flexible Building Loads

How to Submit

Responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically to RFI_GEB2019@ee.doe.gov no later than 5:00 pm (ET) on March 1st, 2019. Responses must be provided as attachments to an email. It is recommended that attachments with file sizes exceeding 25MB be compressed (i.e., zipped) to ensure message delivery. Responses must be provided as a Microsoft Word (.docx) attachment to the email, and no more than five (5) pages in length per category of questions, 12 point font, 1 inch margins. Only electronic responses will be accepted.

For more information please visit the EERE Funding Opportunity Exchange Website