Nine organizations will receive $23 million in federal funding from the United States Department of Energy’s Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office to accelerate the industrial sector’s integration and deployment of onsite clean energy technologies. The organizations – eight regional and one national – will form a network of Technical Assistance Partnerships (TAPs) and provide technical assistance to industrial facilities to drive U.S. decarbonization, productivity, and competitiveness.
The onsite clean energy technologies include battery storage, fuel cells, geothermal, renewable fuels, solar photovoltaics, thermal storage, and wind power. The nine TAPs selectees will help industrial facilities nationwide integrate these technologies by conducting initial onsite screenings, identifying onsite energy opportunities, and supporting project installation.
The eight regional selectees each represent a multi-state region and will serve as the primary point of contact for end-users and other stakeholders. The selectees include the University of Illinois Chicago, Washington State University, and the Houston Advanced Research Center. The national selectee, the University of Connecticut, will serve as the Onsite Energy Technical Analysis and Support Center and will coordinate the TAPs’ onsite energy activities.
All TAPs selectees will engage policymakers, utilities, and key stakeholders to accelerate the integration of onsite clean energy technologies. They will also develop tools and resources, share best practices, and build partnerships that advance U.S. industrial decarbonization.
Currently, the industrial sector is responsible for one-third of all U.S. energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and decarbonizing this sector will help tackle the climate crisis. Onsite clean energy technologies help facilities reduce their GHG emissions and dependence on fossil fuels. These solutions also save energy, reduce operating costs, and increase facility efficiency.
