Abstract

Since 1996 the California Energy Commission has managed a Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program. Achieving public policy objectives by enhancing industrial energy efficiency through research, development and demonstration (RD&D) projects is one of the major objectives of this program. To date the program has invested $35 million in RD&D projects that provide improved energy efficiency, cost savings and reliability for California industries. This paper discusses the program’s rationale and structure, the regulatory background and the funding mechanisms for the program. The paper also analyzes the criteria for developing the RD&D portfolio, reviews the challenges faced in implementation of the program, and presents a sample of projects from the portfolio that have resulted in varying degrees of success.

Paper

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Panels of

Panel 1. Industrial Energy Efficiency Measures and Technologies

Panel 2. Industrial Fuel Diversity

Panel 3. Leadership and Management Practices in Industrial Energy

Panel 4. Industrial Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Issues

Panel 6. Data, Analysis, and Modeling of Industrial Energy Efficiency

Panel 5. Role of Government and Programs in Industrial Energy Efficiency