Request for Ideas

Each quarter we will be identifying technologies that could use additional focus. We will issue a Request for Ideas and share why we are prioritizing these technologies, as well as the opportunities and considerations.

Q2 2023

Plug Loads & Appliances – Dryers

CalNEXT is looking for Idea Submissions and Project Submissions for Residential Heat Pump Clothes Dryers or Commercial Clothes Dryers (CCDs). The deadline to submit is May 25, 2023. This aligns with the Decarbonizing Household Appliances technology research area within the Plug Loads & Appliances Technology Priority Map.

Opportunity

In the residential clothes dryer market, heat pump dryers continue to emerge as a high efficiency alternative to traditional electric dryers but need additional market validation. Meanwhile, CCDs lag their residential counterparts as previous analysis by the California utilities found 20 to 50 percent savings opportunities using readily available technologies,1 but there is not currently a standard or test procedure. CCDs are also disproportionately used by renters and other low-income households which total about 20 percent of all households without access to in-unit laundry.2

Considerations

Some types of valuable research include studying barriers to deploying higher efficiency alternatives, demonstrations of emerging technologies and non-technology solutions to these barriers for, foundational test procedures and ratings, testing and/or demonstrating efficiencies and greenhouse gas reductions associated with this technology, and more. CalNEXT is interested in projects that can connect their research to current and future Energy Efficiency Programs, Decarbonization Programs, Market Transformation Programs, low-income programs like Energy Savings Assistance (ESA), Codes and Standards updates, or development and updates to measure packages.

Please reference the program eligibility criteria and review criteria for additional guidance.

Join us for our webinar on April 24 to find out more.

How to Participate

If you are interested in submitting you can compile your submission information utilizing the Idea Submission Form or Project Submission Form questions, and then input your responses in the appropriate webform located here.

Dates & Deadlines

Request for Ideas issuedMarch 27, 2023
WebinarApril 24, 2023, 2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. PT
Deadline for Idea and Project SubmissionsMay 25, 2023
Initial Submission ReviewJune 1, 2023
Submission Refinement w/CalNEXT PartnerJune 1 – June 29, 2023
Deadline for Project ResubmissionsJune 29, 2023
Project Evaluations & Selection CompleteJuly 21, 2023