PIER Renewable Energy Technologies Program: Research Development and Demonstration Roadmap

Publication Number:    CEC-500-2007-035

Abstract:
This report is a roadmap for the Public Interest Energy Research program in renewable energy at the California Energy Commission. The objective of this roadmap is to identify key areas of focus (called milestones) for future research, development, and demonstration for PIER Renewable group that will help achieve the state renewable energy policy goals. The vision for the roadmap is to provide at least 33 percent of the electricity in the California energy system by 2020, providing consumers and energy providers with affordable, reliable, secure, and diverse clean energy services.The roadmap was developed through extensive input from both internal and external stakeholders. It includes the following state renewable energy policy goals: the Renewable Portfolio Standard, the California Solar Initiative, and the Bioenergy Action Plan for California. In addition, the greenhouse gas reduction targets specified by Governor Schwarzenegger were considered to be an important element for renewable energy policies in future.The roadmap includes the following renewable energy resources and technologies: shared renewables, utility scale wind, geothermal, biopower, biofuels, solar photovoltaic, concentrated solar power, small hydro, ocean/wave/tidal, distributed generation wind, and natural gas displacement with renewable energy. PIER Renewable Group will use the detailed roadmaps to prioritize where PIER investments will produce maximum benefit for the state.

The Roadmap consists of five key elements: policy goals, vision, platforms, strategic objective, and milestones. Four platforms, each with strategic objectives, were defined to organize the research activities. These are: production resources and technology, grid integration, end use, and market transformation. production technology will support commercialization of renewable technologies, grid integration will enable integrating the renewable energy resources into the California electricity grid, end use will support adoption of renewable energy by end users, and market transformation will support appropriate market mechanisms and policies that enable sustainable growth of renewable energy.Key words: Roadmap, renewables, platform, milestones, production technology, grid integration, end use, market transformation, wind, geothermal, biopower, biofuels, solar photovoltaic, CSP, hydro

Author(s):  Elaine Sison-Lebrilla, Golam Kibyra, Valentino Tiangco, Dora Yen, Prab Sethi, Michael Kane

Commission Division:    Technology Systems Division - R&D, PIER (500)

Office/Program:    PIER: Public Interest Energy Research

PIER Program Area:    Renewable Energy Technologies

Date Report Completed:    August 2007

Date On Line:    08/08/2007

Acrobat PDF File Size: 45 pages, 475 kilobytes