Pacific Gas and Electric completed 14 technology demonstration projects in 2016 through EPIC
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) completed 14 advanced technology demonstration projects in 2016 as part of its Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) program, which is intended to assess and validate technologies that PG&E may use to help reach key goals.
These goals include integrating more distributed resources, modernizing the electric grid and improving reliability, safety and affordability of PG&E’s services. The company outlined 2016’s projects in its
recently filed EPIC Annual Report.
“What we’re learning from these EPIC projects will directly benefit our customers in terms of saving money, improving reliability and advancing grid efficiency,” Kevin Dasso, vice president of Electric Asset Management at PG&E, said. “The results will both be used operationally by a number of our teams here at PG&E, as well as by other energy companies, technology companies, and other stakeholders who will benefit from these results.”
The projects closed in 2016 cover a wide array of technologies, including Direct Current Fast Charge (DCFC) Mapping, which identifies optimal locations for electric vehicle charging stations. Another project, titled Energy Storage for Market Operations, tested large-scale battery systems. For the Close Proximity Switching project, PG&E collaborated with robotic tool vendors to design and demonstrate devices that allow workers to remotely and more safely operate underground equipment.
PG&E has launched 34 EPIC projects, including the 14 that were completed in 2016.
