Energy Research and Development Division

The Energy Commission’s Energy Research and Development Division helps California meet its energy and greenhouse gas reduction goals by investing in cutting-edge research that:

• Improves the energy efficiency of buildings.
• Advances the state’s electric vehicle infrastructure.
• Improves water and energy management.
• Supports new clean energy innovations.
• Reduces environmental pollutants. 
• Makes the state’s electrical and natural gas infrastructure safer, more reliable, and more efficient.
• Improves the resiliency of the energy system to the impacts of climate change.

The division manages two research funding programs that receive funds from the investor-owned gas and electricity utilities, as well as several other research initiatives that are supported by either the state’s general fund or the California Air Resources Board’s greenhouse gas reduction fund monies.:

The Electric Program Investment Charge program awards about $130 million annually for clean energy innovations and strategies that benefit the ratepayers of California’s three largest electric investor-owned utilities – Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric.

The Gas Research and Development Program supports projects and technologies that advance clean, diverse, and environmentally sound energy systems or prioritize the integrity and safety of the state’s natural gas infrastructure.

The Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) program provides grants to projects pursuing longer duration energy storage projects to improve reliability and resiliency in under-resourced communities and tribes. The program focuses on non-lithium technologies.

The Carbon Removal Innovation Support Program (CRISP) will provide financial incentives with the goal of advance technologies for direct air capture of atmospheric carbon in California.

The Clean Hydrogen Program provides financial incentives to demonstrate or scale-up clean hydrogen production, processing, delivery, storage, or end use.

The Climate Innovation Program will support early development and scale-up of breakthrough clean energy and climate change tech.

The Community Energy Resilience Investment (CERI) Program will fund projects across California that increase community energy resilience and grid reliability.

The Industrial Decarbonization and Improvement of Grid Operations (INDIGO) will provide incentives for industrial projects that provide benefits to the electric grid, reduce emissions and local air pollution.

The Food Production Investment Program (FPIP) supports research to help food producers save energy, save money, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The division also manages initiatives and collaborative efforts like the Distributed Energy Resources Integration Research Roadmap and the Utility-Scale Renewable Energy Generation Technology Roadmap.

Broader Participation Equals Greater Innovation

California’s continuing transition to a low-carbon energy future includes a strong focus on equality to ensure benefits are realized by all Californians, especially those in the most vulnerable communities.

Through EPIC and other programs, the Energy Commission is addressing barriers preventing all communities from accessing clean energy services and funding opportunities. Efforts include:

• Funding clean energy technologies and solutions that benefit low-income customers.
• Requiring targeted technology demonstrations in disadvantaged communities.
• Encouraging disadvantaged and underrepresented enterprises – including disabled veteran-, women-, LGBT-, and minority-owned and small businesses – to apply for EPIC grants as a primary or subcontractor.

As California continues to pursue aggressive energy and greenhouse gas reduction targets, new ideas and additional research will be needed to meet those goals.

Learn more about how the Energy Commission is investing in innovation through its energy research and development programs.