Resources

Project submissions will be scored by the CalNEXT Team based on the following criteria:

• Technology Priority – Project aligns with the priorities described in the CalNEXT Technology Priority Maps (TPMs). The project directly and effectively addresses one or more research initiative topics within a CalNEXT technology area, targeting one or more sub-areas of the topic(s). If a project does not align, the project must have clear reasoning as to why it should be approved. Research conducted through this project will address opportunities and/or barriers that are highlighted in the TPM Research Priorities, initiatives, or narrative sections.
  
  
• TPM Research Initiative Priority – Projects objectively align with Technology Priority Map research initiatives and address opportunities and/or barriers described in the TPM. The submission should not solely target an area of a research initiative that is marked as “High Understanding” or “Research in Progress” but can overlap with these areas in addition to ones that are a higher priority. Research Initiatives that are noted as “Immediate Needs” in the TPM are the highest priority. Research initiatives that are filling in gaps in “Research in Progress” are second priority, and research initiatives noted as “future research need” are third priority. Note that a project may align with multiple different Research Initiative types in the research initiative table and will be evaluated based on where most of the project work is expected. When defining your project scope, consider questions like:
  • Would this project result in the creation or refinement of test procedures and data-logging methods?
  • Would this project provide an accurate characterization of the current market as it relates to the technology involved?
    
    
• Technology Transfer – The project establishes a market and/or a direction for utilities and program implementers to support or develop the technology, for program integration and customer adoption. The project exhibits real potential for impact savings and has enough technical or market maturity to fit utility programs. The project demonstrates understanding of how the market might be engaged to ensure technology adoption. The project research can be delivered to EE portfolio programs. When describing the Technology Transfer potential of your project, consider questions like:
  • Would there be any anticipated changes or updates to an existing eTRM deemed measure such as supporting an existing workpaper or measure package revision?
  • Would this research help to develop a new eTRM deemed measure by updating or contributing new workpaper content that would ultimately create a new measure package?
  • Would this research support a new or existing custom measure development or tool by way of providing existing or new custom measure recommendations?
  • Would this research help case study development by focusing on a particular use case for an Integrated Demand Side Management (IDSM) measure: a subset of the possible building types, customer types, equipment types, program delivery options?
  • Would this research support an existing measure by making recommendations regarding technology market penetration, cost, standard practice, market or supply chain practices, suggested offerings, changes in efficiency or capacity, or other supply chain developments?
  • Would this research support an existing utility program by reporting on a potential technology or delivery method for Integrated Demand Side Management (IDSM)?
  • Could this research support future CalNEXT projects or Focused Pilots by scoping major barriers in adoption or market intervention?
    
    

• Efficiency Program Alignment — Project has defined clear benefits to efficiency portfolios, load flexibility, and/or grid decarbonization. Project has emphasis on Total System Benefits (TSB), kWh and kW savings, Total Resource Cost (TRC), and lifecycle kWh savings and ET measures are expected to meet the delivery design and cost-effectiveness criteria of current portfolio programs. If your project directly benefits an existing or emerging utility program, this should be called out.
  
  

• Hard to Reach (HTR) Community and Disadvantaged Community (DAC) Benefits – While not every project will have HTR Community or DAC benefits, projects that have these benefits can earn higher scores. Benefits that will be evaluated include:

• • Physical location of the project in a DAC Enviro Screen 3.0 designation area, or the impact on HTR households (e.g., rural communities)
  • Project invests in the DAC/HTR workforce, by hiring contractors that serve DAC/HTR communities, have DAC/HTR labor bases, or work with local training programs that support DAC/HTR community members
  • Project engages with DAC/HTR communities or community advocates with accessible outreach materials, interviews, or meetings, incorporates feedback into research findings, and shares the results with the engaged individuals, organizations, or communities
  • Project documents benefits of research outcomes for DAC/HTR communities, specifically, demonstrating how increased investment in clean energy resources benefiting DAC/HTR communities to improve local air quality, public health, and reduce energy burden
    
    

• Project Innovation/Justification – Identify differentiators from incumbent technology and/or research, including how the subject technology or technology deployment tool/method are different from current technologies, technology deployment tools/methods, including why this project is different from any past and present research on the technology. The submission should provide energy, carbon, or demand reduction estimates, with explanations or references for calculations and data. Submission targets a Research Initiative topic that is listed as an “Immediate Need” in the relevant TPM.
  
  

• Project Execution – A high quality project submission explains how the project will be successfully completed by meeting time, scope, and budget requirements.
  • Define the project scope and expected outcomes, including how it will be researched, substantiated, or achieved
  • Explain how the project will be executed, including identifying critical partners and describing a clear path to completing the project and deliverables within the estimated budget and timeframe
  • Explain who the relevant program, market, or technology stakeholders are for this project and how the project will engage with these stakeholders, including mention of specific EE programs or implementers. Describe the stakeholders expected or perceived barriers to adoption of the technology or deployment strategy
  • Outline a timeline that is reasonable given the research objectives and associated tasks. If the research is seasonally sensitive, please explain
  • Estimate a budget that is reasonable given the research objectives and associated tasks and partners
    
    
• Portfolio Fit — CalNEXT has annual budget restrictions, annual project completion targets, and aims to have a balanced portfolio that delivers on technology transfer now and in the future. Projects that meet the above criteria may not be a good fit for the portfolio depending on the status of the portfolio. For the best chance of being selected for the portfolio, the budget is recommended to not exceed $300,000 and not exceed 18 months in duration.
  
  

It is important that you answer the Project intake form questions completely to ensure it can be evaluated fairly. We recognize the research project may be conducting research to answer some of these questions, in this case, please indicate this in the submission responses.

Idea submissions will be evaluated based on their likelihood to be developed into a Project by meeting the above criteria.