ARPA-E, Energy Commission Sign Agreement for Energy Research Projects

SACRAMENTO -- The California Energy Commission and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on energy research projects. The MOU was formally adopted at an Energy Commission business meeting today.

Energy Commission Chair Robert B. Weisenmiller and Deputy Director of ARPA-E Dr. Cheryl Martin signed the first-ever MOU between ARPA-E and a state agency. The MOU establishes a framework for collaboration on ARPA-E and state energy research and demonstration programs and projects.

“This historic MOU between the Energy Commission and ARPA-E will maximize investments in innovative technologies to help meet the energy, economic and environmental goals of California and the nation,” said Energy Commission Chair Robert B. Weisenmiller. “The Commission is eager to join ARPA-E in supporting the development of a clean energy future.”

“Collaborating with states like California that foster innovation and support breakthrough technologies is critical in developing energy options for America’s future,” says ARPA-E Deputy Director Cheryl Martin.  “We look forward to working closely with the California Energy Commission to encourage innovative research and development, help move technologies to their next step and grow the local, state, and national energy innovation community.”

 The MOU focuses on maximizing the effectiveness of government research and development funding that will reduce energy costs, enhance electricity reliability and minimize environmental impacts related to the production, delivery and use of energy.

Officials at the Energy Commission and ARPA-E will collaborate to identify research related to cutting-edge energy technologies. The collaboration may include coordinated solicitation funding and technical information sharing through meetings, workshops and webcasts. 

ARPA-E was launched in 2009 to seek out transformational, breakthrough technologies that show fundamental technical promise but are too early for private-sector investment. These projects have the potential to produce game-changing breakthroughs in energy technology, form the foundation for entirely new industries, and have large commercial impacts. To date, ARPA-E has funded approximately 285 projects, across 33 states, with $770 million in funding.

The MOU also establishes a framework that may led to ARPA-E award recipients deploying and testing technologies at the sites and facilities of the Energy Commission and/or Energy Commission stakeholders. For technologies that are mature and have a high probability of market deployment, the Energy Commission may provide additional support for projects impacting the state of California.