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ET Summit 2021: Wednesday, November 17

8:45 to 10:15 a.m. – Technology Advancements to Enable Low-Carbon Food Processing

​Food Production Investment Program Overview

Moderator: Kevin Uy, PE | Supervisor | California Energy Commission

This presentation will provide an overview of the CEC’s Food Production Investment Program (FPIP). FPIP is an innovative program which provides large grants for drop-in and emerging energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies in order to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in California’s food-processing sector.

These projects were funded by the California Energy Commission’s Food Production Investment Program (FPIP).

Advanced High-Temperature Heat Pump for the Efficient Recovery of Low-Grade Industrial Waste Heat

Speaker: Ammi Amarnath | Senior Technical Executive, Electrification & Customer Solutions Research Area | Electric Power Research Institute

This presentation will inform the audience about the development of advanced high-temperature heat pumps that can recover waste heat from industrial process and produce high-quality useful steam. Though this development is happening around the world, the focus will be on the development and testing of a unique heat pump in California with a high coefficient of performance (COP >=3.4) while utilizing a low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant. Upon commercialization, steam produced from such a heat pump can be readily used in food processing and other applications, such as bread making, cooking, sterilization, and chemical processing.

This project was funded by the California Energy Commission’s Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC).

Solar Steam for Deep Decarbonization of Almond Processing

Speaker: Philip Gleckman | CEO | Sunvapor, Inc.

Pasteurization of almonds without the use of chemicals requires steam year-round. The energetic demand for steam far exceeds electricity demand at the facility. This presentation introduces a deep decarbonization solution that uses solar thermal energy to generate steam for the facility’s steam supply network, offsetting 50 percent of the annual gas usage with a corresponding reduction in greenhouse gases and criteria pollutants. The platform has broad applicability to the decarbonization of California industries.

This project was funded by the California Energy Commission’s Food Production Investment Program (FPIP).

Reducing Global Warming Potential in the Food Processing Market

Speaker: Jay Madden, PE | Senior Engineer, Emerging Products & Technologies | Southern California Edison

Greenhouse gas reduction is taking center stage in SCE’s programs. Rather than concentrating on electrical savings only, our Emerging Technologies focus is on Total Systems Benefits. These benefits include reducing natural gas combustion and replacing high global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants. Current projects include cold storage warehouses using very low GWP refrigerants, replacing gas-fired boilers with heat pumps, and plug-in loading docks for truck refrigeration units.

This project was funded by SCE's Emerging Technologies Program.

Industrial Agriculture and Water Program: An Overview

Speaker: Michael Lozano | Senior Mechanical Engineer | California Energy Commission

This presentation will provide an overview of the CEC’s Industrial, Agriculture and Water (IAW) program. IAW is an almost-20-year-old program which has provided large grants for energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies in California’s IAW sectors. This overview will highlight CEC efforts in California’s agricultural and water sectors.

These projects were funded by the California Energy Commission’s Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) and Natural Gas Research Programs.

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – New Refrigerants Are A-Comin’

Moderator: Ryan Fedie | Engineering Manager | Bonneville Power Administration

California: HFC Policy and Regulations

Speaker: Aanchal Kohli | Air Resources Engineer | California Air Resources Board

This presentation will discuss the HFC policy landscape in California and provide information about California’s climate mandates as well as existing and proposed measures to reduce HFC emissions.

Food Retail Refrigeration Trends and Opportunities

Speaker: Danielle Wright | Executive Director | North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council

Regulations and corporate climate targets in the food retail sector are driving a large-scale transition away from super-polluting HFC refrigerants towards climate-friendly alternatives such as natural refrigerants. This presentation will provide an overview of the regulatory landscape, emerging technology solutions with low global warming potential, and opportunities to maximize both indirect and direct GHG emissions.

A Tale of Two Natural Refrigerant Systems: Interim Findings from a Comparative Study in Sacramento

Speakers:

  • Kathleen Ave | Senior Climate Program Manager | Sacramento Municipal Utility District
  • Daniel J. “DJ” Chapman | Senior Mechanical Engineer | ADM Associates Inc.

​This presentation will provide an overview of SMUD’s Pilot Natural Refrigerant Incentive Program origins and objectives. Two natural refrigerant systems in two separate grocery store chains have received the incentive thus far and are still being monitored. Interim system performance findings from the first year following installation will be shared.

This project was funded by SMUD and the American Public Power Association’s Demonstration of Energy & Efficiency Developments (DEED) grant program.

Refrigerant Update: The Next Transition Has Begun

Speaker: Steve Kujak | Director, Next Generation Refrigerant Research | Trane Technologies

Regulatory actions to control climate change has resulted in the development of lower global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants. This presentation will cover the various low GWP refrigerant technology options available today for the commercial air-conditioning applications and future options that will be placed in the market place by 2024.

  • Pacific Gas & Electric Company logo
  • Southern California Edison Company logo
  • Southern California Gas Company logo
  • San Diego Gas & Electric Company logo
  • Sacramento Municipal Utility District logo
  • Los Angeles Department of Water and Power logo
  • CEC logo

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The ETCC is funded in part by ratepayer dollars and the California Statewide Emerging Technologies Program under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. The municipal portion of this program is funded and administered by Sacramento Municipal Utility District and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.