Emerging Technology Program (ETP)

The Emerging Technology Program (ETP) is a statewide 3rd party implemented program (as directed in D.18-01-004) that evaluates emerging and underutilized energy efficiency (EE) technologies for possible inclusion into the portfolio. ETP’s goal is to serve as a pipeline to deliver emerging technologies (ETs) to ratepayer-funded EE Programs to meet the state’s energy reduction needs. ETP is split into an Electric Program and Gas Program.

Important Electric ETP Websites:

• CalNEXT Technology Priority Maps (TPMs) - CalNEXT’s research priorities across six technology categories and 46 technology families
• Statewide Electric Emerging Technology Program (SWEET P) - Implemented by Energy Solutions (aka CalNEXT) with SCE as the Program Admin, the electric side of the Emerging Technology Program

Important Gas ETP Websites:

• Gas Emerging Technology (GET) - Implemented by ICF with So Cal Gas as the Program Admin, the gas side of the Emerging Technology Program. 
• GET Technology Priority Maps (TPMs) - Gas ET Programs TPMs includes the summary list, end use, sector, and technology sums, technology readiness levels (TRL) and opportunities

Important ETP Documents:

• Emerging Technologies Program Technology to Portfolio Evaluation - A study conducted and released by Opinion Dynamics in 2021 that analyzed the effectiveness of ETP from 2009 to 2017
• Emerging Technologies Program Handoff Process Evaluation - A study conducted and released by Opinion Dynamics in 2021 that analyzed the effectiveness of the handed off of ET’s across California’s ET market, Emerging Technology Program, and the investor-owned utility (IOU) programs
• Emerging Technologies Program Technology to Portfolio Evaluation Addendum - An appended study from the original analysis released in 2021.  Opinion Dynamics conducted and released this study in the 2024 that analyzed the effectiveness of ETP from 2009 to 2022
• Emerging Technology Program Adoption Driver Study - A study that analyzed the characteristics and market adoption practices that drive the success or failure of technologies that recently emerged from ETP and entered into the portfolio of Investor-Owner Utilities (IOUs) resource acquisition programs
• Emerging Technology Program Process and Effectiveness Evaluation - A process evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the statewide ETP and the 3P implementation program design since the transition in 2016 when Decision 16-08-019 required the program to be implemented by a third-party (3P) organization on behalf of the IOUs

SWEET P Request for Ideas (RFI):

Each quarter, CalNEXT will be identifying technologies that could use additional focus, visit the RFI page here.

Other Resources:

• Emerging Technologies Coordinating Council (ETCC) – Provides a collaborative forum to exchange information on opportunities and results from Emerging Technologies activities
• Statewide ET Program – Contains a list of all active and past ETP projects along with final reports
• Demand Response Emerging Technologies (DRET) - A forum for the sharing of information and facilitating technology transfer of the market assessments and pilot research designed to accelerate the market adoption of emerging demand response enabling technologies in all customer sectors to meet California’s electric reliability and climate goals