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The Electric Power Research Institute and its members collaborate on research and development to improve the efficiency and integration of electricity delivery systems and the end-use equipment in homes, offices, and factories. When energy efficiency is augmented with demand response and load management it is one of the most cost effective means of addressing higher fuel costs, growing demand, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Fortunately this requires no major scientific breakthroughs, but it does require the accelerated deployment of technology and a “smart” utility infrastructure.
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Energy efficient technologies linked to smart communications and control networks allow consumer participation in expanded utility services, and a prices-to-devices SM approach that enables end-use equipment to respond to price or emergency signals from a utility, based on consumer preferences on cost, comfort, convenience, carbon footprint, and other variables.
Such dynamic energy management systems also support use of thermal and electrical storage systems, distributed energy resources such as solar photovoltaic arrays, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
EPRI-led work includes collaboration between utilities and manufacturers to:
- Demonstrate and increase deployment of the most cost effective and efficient end-use equipment
- Develop reliable analytics to guide utility investment decisions, including the extent to which demand-side resources can defer or reduce need for new transmission, distribution and generation
- Design infrastructure and guidelines for advanced metering and dynamic energy management systems
- Reduce transmission and distribution electricity losses
- Estimate CO2 emission impacts of energy efficiency and demand response measures
- Assess advantages of plug-in electric-drive vehicles to address greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality and assure energy independence
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