June 2020 EFFICIENT ELECTRIFICATION
The recent months have been unprecedented as the world continues to deal with the impacts of COVID-19. The EPRI team remains committed to the health and safety of our employees and members, and to providing the R&D and information needed to support the generation, transmission, and delivery of safe, reliable, affordable, and environmentally responsible electric power in the U.S. and beyond.
Meanwhile, we continue to share results from electrification research and in-the-field electrification applications. In this issue of Efficient Electrification, you can learn about:
• Research by EPRI and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on the use of ultraviolet light from light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for disinfection. FEATURED VIDEO
• Barriers to building electrification (such as product design, high Recognizing Those Who Keep The Lights On costs, and customer preferences) and how EPRI and others are As electric utilities around the world work around the clock to creatively addressing them. meet customers’ needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, EPRI
• A program at Southern California Edison to lend induction recognizes the unwavering commitment of the hard-working cooktops to customers so they can experience (and quantify) men and women who keep the lights on every day. the benefits. • How electrified process heating can help make industrial IN THIS ISSUE facilities more efficient and productive. • ELECTRIFICATION IN ACTION • How power companies across the U.S. are using test kitchens SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SPOTLIGHT to demonstrate the benefits of replacing natural gas equipment • with electric equipment to restaurants and other commercial • FEATURE customers. • ELECTRIFICATION INNOVATION Stay safe, stay healthy, and thank you for your continued • ELECTRIFICATION IN THE NEWS collaboration. Top News | Other News | Upcoming Events EPRI Resources | EPRI in the News ELECTRIFICATION IN ACTION How to Overcome Barriers to Building Electrification
Your natural gas water heater breaks on Friday morning, and you see in hotels.” need to replace it before your weekend visitors arrive Saturday. What “Swamp coolers are essentially fans that blow water, so we to do? There’s no time to research products and shop around for a were just using the power for a fan and repurposing it,” added more efficient heater, such as an electric heat pump water heater, Narayanamurthy. “That’s pretty innovative because normally heat especially when many products must be special-ordered by your pumps require a lot more power.” local home improvement store. Identify Creative Ways to Address Customer Needs Such emergency replacements are common and are one of numerous barriers to equipping existing or new buildings with Customer preferences can hinder building electrification. electric appliances as part of efforts to improve energy efficiency. “Homeowners may prefer cooking with natural gas stoves,” said Narayanamurthy. “Or they like how natural gas heat warms their EPRI Technical Executive Ram Narayanamurthy has encountered house quickly. Some people may need time to get used to the these barriers during his field research on building electrification slow, steady heat of electric heat pumps. For consumers switching and advanced energy communities that integrate multiple customer from natural gas heating to electric heat pumps, installing better resources, such as energy efficiency, demand response, connected insulation could reduce the need for the instant heat that natural gas devices, energy storage, solar or other on-site generation, electric provides. And for the utility, insulating homes can reduce or avoid vehicles, and other electrification technologies. The communities are spikes in power demand from electric resistance elements included intended to advance social and utility goals such as decarbonization, in heat pumps.” grid hardening, and grid support while enabling comfort, convenience, and affordability for customers. EPRI is assisting in the technical aspects of numerous advanced energy communities in California and beyond. Design Customer-Friendly Products EPRI brings Another barrier to building electrification is product design. “New products may not fit in old spaces or may be difficult to install,” said Narayanamurthy. “Manufacturers could support outreach a wealth of R&D and education for consumers. They can also design easy-to-install devices.” and technical Old buildings, especially those designed to run on natural gas, may not have enough breakers in the electrical panel to accommodate new loads from water heaters, electric vehicle charging, and HVAC expertise to the systems. Adding the necessary amperage can cost $2,500 or more.
“If the electrical panel in your house has 200 amperes, then you have a pretty good shot at electrifying,” said Narayanamurthy. “If it has table 100, you may need to upgrade.” Andrew Brooks As part of efforts to inform better product design, Narayanamurthy’s Association for Energy Affordability team developed guidance for manufacturing heat pump water heaters that can plug into standard 120-volt outlets. Most heat pumps and heat pump water heaters need 240-volt outlets, which may require electrical panel upgrades. The team also is investigating ways to heat and cool homes with low power-draw systems. Address High Costs
In a low-income community in Fresno, California, EPRI replaced Capital and installation costs of new electric technologies can be swamp coolers (units that cool air by evaporative cooling) with more high—and out of reach for middle- and low-income customers. efficient 110-volt heat pumps made in Italy. “At first, we had to train Early adopters tend to have disposable income for these purchases. local contractors on how to install them,” said Narayanamurthy. “But According to Narayanamurthy, one long-term solution would be to now contractors are telling us that it’s actually easier to install than update state building codes so that they require new buildings to be standard HVAC units, especially for multi-family housing. Standard electrification-ready. A short-term solution for existing buildings: heat pumps are split-system units where you have one piece inside, explore direct-install programs for affordable housing residents who one piece outside, and ducts running around the home. Our new can’t afford the upgrades. strategy eliminates having to add ducts and multiple elements inside The Association for Energy Affordability (AEA) helps owners of and outside. Instead, you have a single package similar to what you multi-family housing in low-income communities implement energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The nonprofit “Some electricity rate structures charge more per unit at higher organization’s team of engineers, architects, and other experts use levels. In these cases, the power industry could consider conduct energy audits, model the energy savings and other benefits ways to make electricity more affordable for customers,” said of various electrification retrofits, and present building owners with Narayanamurthy. “In one of their affordable housing projects in a list of options. Incentives may cover anywhere from 30% to 90% of Ontario, California, AEA found that they could reduce electric bills the project cost, with the balance covered by the owners. even after electrification by adding insulation, replacing windows, and replacing old air conditioners with today’s efficient heat pumps.” Each project has unique needs and solutions. In one case, the building owner wanted to replace all the natural gas water heaters EPRI and AEA plan to collaborate on advanced energy communities, with electric heat pump water heaters, but the building did not have with EPRI facilitating connections with local utilities. Topics for sufficient electrical capacity. The team worked with the contractors investigation include air quality impacts of electrification and large- to develop a hybrid system that used heat pump water heaters scale electrification in low-income communities. roughly 90% of the time and then switched to the natural gas water “EPRI brings a wealth of R&D and technical expertise to the table,” heater only during times of peak water use. said Brooks. “They will be taking the lessons and best practices from Depending on local rate structures, transitioning from natural gas our projects and sharing them with the utility industry and other to electricity could increase tenants’ utility bills. To prevent this, stakeholders.” AEA always combines electrification work with other measures such “Brooks and the AEA are doing valuable work,” Narayanamurthy as energy efficiency and solar. In one project, lighting and other said. “Usually the latest electric technologies go into the high-end electrical energy efficiency measures decreased the building’s markets and then trickle down. What they’re trying to do is flip that electric load (and costs) while switching from a natural gas water on its head.” heater to an electric water heater boosted load. Before the changes were implemented, modeling confirmed that they would not increase The partners recently received a large award from the California bills. Energy Commission to study, deploy, and scale innovative water heating strategies in multifamily communities. “We only move forward with the work when we are sure that tenant bills are not going to be negatively impacted,” said Andrew Brooks, To learn more about addressing barriers to building electrification, who directs west coast operations for AEA. contact EPRI’s Ram Narayanamurthy ([email protected], 650-855-2419). SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SPOTLIGHT Southern California Edison Shares the Benefits of Induction Cooking with Its Customers
There is much to be seen, smelled, and tasted during a visit to 7 Leaves Café. With 26 locations in California, Nevada, and Texas, the coffee and tea retailer uses fresh, colorful ingredients such as pandan leaves, mung beans, taro root, and passion fruit in its extensive beverage menu.
What may not be noticed by many customers is the unique kitchen equipment used to make many drinks. With help from Southern California Edison (SCE), 7 Leaves piloted the use of induction cooktops in one store. Based on the positive experience, the retailer decided to deploy them at 65% of its stores. Specialty beverage retailers typically use natural gas stoves.
“Before they approached us, they were using natural gas ranges to boil water and cook boba—the chewy tapioca balls that go into many drinks,” said Andre Saldivar, senior advisor at SCE’s Foodservice Technology Center. A demonstration of electric cooking equipment at Southern Induction cooktops are aligned with 7 Leaves Café’s sustainability California Edison’s Foodservice Technology Center in commitment because they are twice as energy efficient as natural Irwindale. Photo courtesy of Southern California Edison. gas stoves. But there were also practical considerations that made pilot lights to ignite a mixture of natural gas and air, creating a blue induction cooking a smart choice. flame. Electric resistance stoves use electric current to heat metal In smaller stores, there wasn’t room for a full-sized natural gas coils, which transfer heat to the stove’s surface. range, and the smaller, portable induction cooktops could maintain Electric induction stoves generate a high-frequency alternating temperatures with a precision not possible with natural gas—a big current in a coil, creating a magnetic field at the cooktop’s surface. plus for a restaurant chain that aims to make drinks of the same high When a pot or pan containing magnetic material (such as a ferrous quality at every location. metal) is placed on the cooktop, heat is transferred to the bottom “They don’t have to worry about burning their boba or other and sides of the cookware. ingredients,” said Saldivar. The direct heat transfer makes induction cooktops highly efficient: Try Before You Buy Around 85% of the energy used is transferred to the cookware. In contrast, natural gas burners are only about 30% efficient because so 7 Leaves Tea was a participant in SCE’s Table Top Induction Range much of the heat radiates into the surrounding air. The efficient heat Lending Program, which the utility launched in 2019 to give transfer also enables cooks to maintain precise temperatures. Other restaurant owners and home chefs an opportunity to experience benefits of induction cooking include: the benefits of the technology. Participants can borrow induction cooktops along with other tools (such as digital electric meters, • Speed and responsiveness: In a test conducted for Sacramento data loggers, and temperature sensors) that can help quantify the Municipal Utility District last year, researchers from the benefits. consultancy Frontier Energy found that induction cooktops heated a 12-pound pot of water from 70°F to 200°F faster than There is a widespread belief that natural gas cooking is superior to electric resistance and natural gas cooktops and was the best at electric alternatives, including induction. adjusting temperature. “For customers to adopt induction technology, we need education • Safety: Unlike natural gas and resistance electric ranges, and demonstration,” said Saldivar. “Producing videos and passing induction cooktops immediately stop consuming energy when out brochures are not going to work. You really have to get these a pot or pan is removed, eliminating the risk of kitchen fires or units in front of people.” injuries caused by touching a hot range. More widespread electrification in the commercial and residential • Comfort: Because most heat generated by induction cooktops sectors is an important part of SCE’s Pathway 2045 plan to achieve flows into pots and pans rather than the air, kitchens don’t carbon neutrality. overheat, reducing the need for air conditioning. How Induction Cooking Works Induction cooking technology is not new, with patents dating back to The purpose of all cooktop technologies—be it natural gas, electric the early 1900s. Because of the compact size of induction cooktops, resistance, or electric induction—is to transfer heat to the pots and they have long been popular in European and Asian homes, where pans that simmer, sauté, or boil ingredients. Natural gas stoves use kitchens and living spaces are typically smaller than in America. One reason for limited U.S. adoption has been the need for special magnetic pots and pans. In recent years, cookware compatible with any cooktop technology have become widely available, eliminating that barrier.
Sharing the Recipe for Electrification
SCE has loaned 29 cooktops to residential and commercial customers and held about 50 demonstrations at its Foodservice Technology Center in Irwindale, California and at special events throughout the utility’s service area. Thousands have attended. The utility provides commercial customers with guidance about potential induction cooking solutions and how to integrate them. In addition, SCE conducts audits for commercial kitchens to identify ways to improve energy efficiency, which can include installing induction cooktops.
About 80% of the customers who borrowed induction cooktops reported that they were easier to use than natural gas cooktops. Success stories include a charter school and an Italian restaurant who not only converted to induction cooking but also went completely electric on all of their cooking equipment. Saldivar expects the program to continue. SCE also is developing a residential rebate program for induction cooktops and ranges, which cost between $700 and $2,000.
EPRI Senior Technical Leader Rick Ranhotra says that SCE has set an example that other utilities can follow. “They have been a pioneer in foodservice electrification and have shown that offering customers hands-on experiences with electric technologies does work,” he said.
A 7 Leaves Tea employee using an induction cooktop. Photo courtesy of Southern California Edison. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SPOTLIGHT How Electrified Process Heating Can Make Factories More Efficient and Productive
There was a time when a certain production line in Tyler Union Historically, natural gas has dominated industrial process heating, Foundry had to be monitored by technicians 24 hours a day, 7 days though manufacturers are switching as they discover the benefits a week. Located in Anniston, Alabama, the foundry manufactures of electric process heating. According to EPRI’s Electrotechnology valves, pipes, fire hydrants, and fittings for water infrastructure. The Reference Guide, just under 8% of process heating was fueled by production line had a continuously burning open flame on a natural electricity in 1998. In 2014, 13% was electric. gas burner used to dry coatings on pipe fittings. Driving the growth is the superior efficiency of electric process “Because of the potential fire hazard and related insurance heating technologies, such as IR heating. In natural gas process requirements, the foundry couldn’t leave an open flame heating, burners heat the air in an oven, and parts to be painted or unattended,” said Baskar Vairamohan, principal technical leader in cured are placed inside. EPRI’s Electrification program. “If you turn off the natural gas oven, “The heat from the burners is transferred to the air molecules, and it can take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes to return to the required the heat from the air molecules is then transferred to the parts heating temperature. That’s why they never turn it off.” via convection,” said Vairamohan. “This is a roundabout way to The foundry’s use of natural gas burners for process heating (thermal heat objects, which explains why the technology has such a low energy used in manufacturing to prepare or treat materials) had efficiency—in the 30% to 50% range.” other downsides. They required production shutdowns every 7 to With electric IR process heating, IR energy directly heats objects 10 days for cleaning and maintenance. The foundry’s ventilation rather than the surrounding air, resulting in an efficiency as high system had difficulty removing smoke and fumes from the burners, as 90%. Many household toasters use IR heating technology. The challenging compliance with Occupational Health and Safety glowing elements do not need to heat the air to toast bagels or Administration (OSHA) regulations. bread. When a problem with a natural gas burner resulted in an extended A potential limitation of the technology: it works best if the object production shutdown, the foundry reached out to Alabama Power for being heated is in the line of sight of the elements generating IR help, and the utility loaned them some electric infrared (IR) heaters energy. Objects made of shiny materials such as aluminum can to replace the natural gas burners. IR energy is electromagnetic reflect the IR energy and significantly reduce heat absorption. At the radiation outside the red end of the visible light spectrum with Tyler Union Foundry, the parts being treated are made of iron coated wavelengths between 800 nanometers and 1 millimeter. with black paint, which absorbs IR energy well. “The infrared heaters got them back up and running again quickly,” Identifying Solutions for Alabama Power Customers said Scott Bishop, team leader for Alabama Power Company’s Technology Applications Center. Scott Bishop at Alabama Power’s Technology Applications Center has spent the past 13 years working with the utility’s industrial The foundry operators quickly discovered numerous benefits. The customers to identify ways to improve the productivity, efficiency, electric IR heaters required less maintenance because they have and safety of their manufacturing processes. fewer parts and did not require weekly production shutdowns for cleaning. They also didn’t emit any smoke or fumes, erasing concerns about worker health and regulatory compliance. And they eliminated the need for continuous monitoring by plant personnel.
“With the flip of a switch, the IR heater comes up to operating temperature within 1 to 2 minutes,” said Vairamohan.
Based on the positive experience, the foundry spent $10,000 on 8 electric infrared heaters and the associated controls, replacing its natural gas units. (The upfront capital costs of electric and natural gas process heating are roughly comparable.) As a result of all the operational benefits, the new system had a payback of less than one year.
Direct Heating, Better Efficiency
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, about one-third of all energy in America is consumed in factories and other industrial facilities. Process heating accounts for an average of about Infrared heaters dry coatings on a pipe fitting at Tyler Union 22% of the energy used in industrial manufacturing. Foundry. Photo courtesy of Tyler Union Foundry. “We are a free resource for industrial customers,” said Bishop. “We provide customers with access to electric equipment and conduct lab and field tests to investigate how technologies can improve their operations.”
Each year, Bishop and three colleagues average between 150 and 175 customer site visits. One of the many things they look for during these visits is the use of open flames for process heating. Bishop meets with customers, evaluates their manufacturing process, and proposes potential solutions. This may involve testing equipment at the Technology Applications Center or onsite at the industrial facility.
“If the tests are a success, we put them in touch with vendors who can then help them deploy the solution,” said Bishop, who has observed that small manufacturers tend to be more open to new process heating solutions.
A compelling business case is not always sufficient for some customers, who may be hesitant to change a process that works, even if it’s not as efficient or cost-effective as the electric alternative. A hybrid system may be acceptable to such customers. For example, a facility could add IR process heating to a production line before parts enter a natural gas oven.
“This hybrid approach can reduce the amount of time a part spends in the oven because it is already heated when it goes inside,” said Vairamohan. “This means less consumption of natural gas and faster production. Electric and natural gas can coexist nicely.”
To learn more about electric process heating, contact EPRI’s Baskar Vairamohan ([email protected], 865-218-8189).
A pipe fitting dried by infrared heaters. Photo courtesy of Tyler Union Foundry. FEATURE Utility Test Kitchens Help Restaurants, School Foodservice Go Electric
Demonstration kitchens are no longer just for The Great American Baking Show, Hell’s Kitchen, Top Chef, and other television cooking shows. Electric utilities are getting into the game. Companies such as Alabama Power, Georgia Power, and Southern California Edison use test kitchens to demonstrate to restaurants and other commercial customers the benefits of replacing natural gas equipment with electric—and of upgrading existing electric equipment with more efficient models.
Why Electrify Commercial Kitchens?
According to EPRI Senior Technical Leader Rick Ranhotra, the efficiency of natural gas cooking equipment ranges from 25% to 50% while electric cooking equipment is 60%–90% efficient. Because electric equipment is more efficient, less heat is released into the kitchen. Cooks can be Georgia Power’s test kitchen has an area for training. Photo courtesy of more productive in a cooler kitchen. Relative to Georgia Power. natural gas griddles, electric griddles have less the tires, so to speak, until they feel comfortable with the advantages temperature variation across the cooking surface, enabling users to of electric equipment. Sometimes, they decide to switch to electric cook food more evenly. Electric fryers can maintain temperatures cooking.” more precisely and recover more quickly after adding cold food, so that restaurants can cook more food and serve more customers. Oil “Many business owners have a belief that successful commercial consumption is reduced because food absorbs less oil when cooked kitchens must have natural gas,” said Nick Hartmann, a food service at the proper temperature. Electric warmers that keep food at the specialist at Alabama Power. “But it’s a myth that natural gas is correct temperature also can reduce waste. cheaper and faster. Once we get customers in the test kitchen and give them a hands-on experience with electric options, they become “The benefits of electrifying commercial kitchens go beyond energy believers.” efficiency,” said EPRI’s Ranhotra. “Energy is only about 3% of a typical fast food restaurant’s operating costs. The more significant In the 1990s, Alabama Power established the Electric Foodservice benefits include a cooler kitchen, greater equipment productivity, Council, a partnership of utilities, foodservice manufacturers, and reduced labor and raw materials, and an improved food product. other industry stakeholders to advance the use of electric power in The idea that natural gas has an across-the-board advantage over the foodservice industry. EPRI and many other utilities participate in electric for cooking is simply not true.” the council’s activities.
Well-Equipped Kitchens for Real Chefs “Members of the council share best practices and insights from their experiences with electrifying food service,” said EPRI’s Ranhotra. Georgia Power’s Customer Resource Center, Southern California Edison’s Foodservice Technology Center, and Alabama Power’s From Natural Gas to Electric Fryers Technology Applications Center have state-of-the-art commercial About the size of a residential dishwasher, deep fryers are appliances kitchens with electric cooking equipment such as ovens, fryers, with rectangular vats of oil into which baskets of food are dropped. convection steamers, induction cooktops (these use magnetic fields Electric fryers heat oil more efficiently than natural gas fryers. to induce currents in pots and pans, causing them to heat up), and Additionally, some natural gas fryers heat oil from below—a setup other induction technologies. Restaurant chefs, school cooking staff, that tends to scorch the oil. Electric fryers typically immerse heating and other visitors can use their own ingredients in a prep area and elements in the oil, preventing scorching. test their recipes on the cooking equipment. Mike Cothrane, owner of several Popeyes franchises, asked Alabama Alabama Power’s Kip Hogue uses the utility’s test kitchen to provide Power for help in converting the natural gas fryers in one of his fried technical assistance and education for commercial customers. chicken restaurants to electric fryers. The utility monitored energy “Restaurants and other commercial kitchens come to us for help,” and oil use in the kitchen for 30 days, then installed the electric fryers said Hogue. “Sometimes, we visit their location, listen to their and monitored the same parameters for another 30 days. concerns, and talk about how we can address the concerns with They found that energy use declined slightly and oil use dropped electric cooking. In other cases, they want to see it to believe it, and dramatically, translating into potential annual savings of $10,000. that’s where the test kitchen comes in. They can experiment and kick Because the electric fryers produced less heat, less air conditioning of the next school year. The district reported that reduced oil use was needed to keep employees comfortable, though Alabama Power yielded annual savings of $1,400 for each oven. Labor costs dropped did not quantify the resulting energy savings. because they didn’t have to clean fryers every day and filter the oil. After the district replaced 124 ovens, total annual savings were about Based on the results, Cothrane decided to make the switch. “He has $175,000. already converted a second store and built an all-electric store as well,” said Alabama Power’s Hogue. For more details on electrification of commercial kitchens, contact EPRI’s Rick Ranhotra ([email protected], 404-884-4324). Inducing Energy and Labor Savings
In southern California, Panda Express approached Southern California Edison to explore better ways to keep food hot. The restaurant chain typically cooks large batches of entrees and places them in holding wells. The food rests above containers of water that are fed by water lines, and electric coils continuously heat the water, creating steam that keeps the food hot. Every night, the containers must be cleaned, which is labor-intensive.
As an alternative, the utility and restaurant tested induction-based holding wells, which transfer heat directly to the food without the use of water or steam. Electronic sensors in the wells monitor temperature, turning up the heat if the food is too cold and turning down the heat if the food is too hot. With an efficiency of 85%, this proven electric technology is just now catching on in the United States. Electric coils are about half as efficient delivering energy to food. Induction wells can potentially save on installation costs because the water lines are eliminated.
At one restaurant location, the team replaced 25 conventional wells with induction wells and found that they cut electricity use by more than half during a six-week period, indicating a payback of less than 2.5 years. Because the technology was more effective at keeping a consistent temperature, it resulted in longer-lasting food and less food waste. It saved about 40 gallons of water a day and $6,500 in labor costs for cleaning.
Taking Fryers Out of Schools
In 2014, schools in Cobb County in suburban Atlanta turned to Georgia Power to help eliminate fried food from school lunches.
“Many schools in the Atlanta metropolitan area were trying to find a way to make chicken tenders and French fries crispy without frying them,” said Mickey Craddock of Georgia Power.
Representatives from Cobb County School District, South Eastern Manufacturers’ Agents (a trade group that markets electrical equipment), and food manufacturers convened at Georgia Power’s demonstration kitchen and tested an electric oven that can thaw prepackaged food as well as roast and bake. Before cooking, they infused the fries with a small amount of oil so they would crisp up when baked. Over three days, the team simulated cooking activities for a typical school lunch: During two-hour periods, they cooked between 60 to 75 pounds of French fries in 5-pound batches. They performed a similar experiment with chicken tenders. Georgia Power monitored the oven’s electricity use.
When they confirmed that the system could produce enough crispy fries and chicken for a full school lunch, they tested the food at the schools, and it was popular among students. The school district initially invested in a few ovens and replaced all its fryers by the start ELECTRIFICATION INNOVATION Can Municipal Water Treatment Using LED-Produced Ultraviolet Light Go Mainstream?
The adverse effects of ultraviolet (UV) light on human skin are require special disposal and care to avoid contaminating water with well-known. Because UV light damages DNA, exposure to UV light mercury. in sunlight can increase the risk of skin cancer. UV light’s effect on Health and safety concerns about mercury along with rapid price DNA also has beneficial applications for disinfecting water: it can declines in LED lights that produce UV-C are driving greater interest penetrate the cells of viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens in water, in the use of LEDs for municipal water treatment. Historically, the destroying their DNA so that they are unable to replicate. Indeed, cost of UV-C LED water disinfection systems has been between two companies such as Acuva Technologies and AquiSense Technologies and four times that of mercury lamp alternatives. In recent years, the manufacture electric light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that use UV-C growing use of LED technology in lighting has reduced costs. (ultraviolet light with wavelengths between 200 and 280 nanometers) to disinfect water for faucets, sinks, and showers in homes, boats, At an EPA facility in Cincinnati, Ohio, EPA and EPRI researchers airplanes, and RVs. Such small-scale applications of UV water tested two AquiSense-made UV-C LED units capable of treating 10 treatment have been proven effective. gallons of water per minute—a volume much greater than residential applications though much less than what would be required in a Can the same technology work for large-scale water treatment municipal facility. They compared the ability of the LED units and by municipal agencies? Tests by EPRI and the U.S. Environmental mercury lamps to remove various pathogens from wastewater and Protection Agency (EPA) point to a preliminary “yes.” Washington drinking water samples. The objective was to assess performance University in Saint Louis, Applied Energy Group, Black & Veatch, for moderate water volumes and use the results to identify needs for and AquiSense also collaborated on the study. Southern Company, larger-scale applications. Tennessee Valley Authority, and Southern California Edison funded the research because they are interested in the state of “We found that the LEDs can be scaled up to a higher flow rate and the technology and its potential for water treatment. As efforts work as effectively as mercury-based UV systems,” said Vairamohan. to demonstrate the technology at larger scales show promise, “One caveat was that effectiveness declined when water was turbid other utilities are expected to support additional research and or cloudy as a result of sediments. We need to study whether a filter development. mechanism is required for UV-C LED water treatment.”
“For water treatment systems at municipalities, we are talking about According to Vairamohan, there are a number of additional 40, 50, or 100 million gallons per day,” said Baskar Vairamohan, technology developments that may be needed to enable the larger principal technical leader in EPRI’s electrification program. “Our capacity required by municipalities: goal was to look at the performance of a scaled-up version of the • Improved hydraulics that can increase water flow without residential unit.” compromising treatment effectiveness
According to a 2017 survey by the American Water Works Association • Increased LED light intensity (AWWA), more than 70% of water treatment plants in the United • Improved methods to cool LEDs to reduce degradation States use chlorination to remove bacteria, algae, and viruses. EPRI is planning field tests at municipal water treatment facilities to “Water treatment facilities add chlorine at the beginning of the assess the technology’s effectiveness at a much larger scale. About a treatment process and then remove most of it before the water is dozen companies make UV-C LED systems, so side-by-side analyses transported to users,” said Vairamohan. of their performance can illustrate which configurations work best While chlorination is economical, easy-to-use, and effective against and which can be most easily scaled. waterborne bacterial and viral pathogens, it has drawbacks. For drinking water disinfection, EPRI estimates that UV-C LED Chlorine is not effective against the harmful parasites giardia and systems require between 50 and 200 kilowatt-hours of electricity cryptosporidium, and facilities have to follow stringent state and per 1 million gallons of treated water. A preliminary EPRI estimate federal regulations because exposure to even low concentrations can puts potential UV-related electricity demand by wastewater and be lethal. drinking water treatment facilities in the U.S. at between 3.1 and 3.7 Municipal water agencies are increasingly considering UV light terawatt-hours annually. For reference, the U.S. Energy Information as an alternative to chlorination, in part because it can destroy Administration reports that in 2018 total retail electricity sales in the giardia and cryptosporidium. UV use is growing, particularly for U.S. were 3,860 terawatt-hours. disinfecting municipal wastewater. According to a survey by the For more details on the research on UV-based water treatment, Water Environment Federation, nearly 40% of municipal wastewater contact EPRI’s Baskar Vairamohan ([email protected], 865-218- facilities in the U.S. used UV in 2017, up from just 13% in 1996. 8189). Mercury arc lamps have traditionally been used to provide UV light for water treatment. The lamps generate UV light by sending electrons through ionized mercury vapor. The lamps are fragile and ELECTRIFICATION IN THE NEWS Top News
What are the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for EVs? On one hand, a Wood Mackenzie report predicts that global EV sales will drop by 43% this year. On the other hand, the New York Times reports that while the pandemic could lead to auto factory closures and mergers, it could also help the EV market. Actions by manufacturers indicate possible long-term gains for electric transportation. Renault announced that it would stop making and selling gas-powered cars in China, and the Mercedes CEO reaffirmed his company’s long-term EV commitment. Volvo’s CEO said that the pandemic will accelerate the shift to EVs. In mid-May, factory reopenings were announced, including Tesla and GM. CNBC reported that China is making its EV plans a priority in its pandemic recovery.
Other News BYD announced a partnership with Toyota to make electric commercial vehicles.
Daimler and Volvo are collaborating on hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle technology.
Colorado Public Radio reported that the state of Colorado released an ambitious plan to electrify transportation, adding that the pandemic may cast uncertainty on the plan’s future.
Popular Mechanics reported on emerging peer-to-peer EV charging technology that would enable cars with excess energy to share power with cars low on energy.
Upcoming Events Note: Check the event websites for the latest updates on rescheduling due to COVID-19.
Electrification 2020 International Conference & Exposition has been postponed as a result of the coronavirus. EPRI expects to reschedule the event for early 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The 33rd World Electric Symposium and Exposition (EVS33), originally scheduled for June 14-17, has been canceled. The organizer is planning a virtual event for the fall.
Grid Edge Innovation Summit has been rescheduled for December 1-2 in Denver, Colorado.
IEEE Transportation and Electrification Conference and Expo announced that it would not be moving forward with the event originally scheduled for June 24-26, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. It is planning a virtual conference in the near future.
Future Mobility Detroit has been rescheduled for September 9-10, 2020, Dearborn, Michigan.
Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo, September 15-17, 2020, Novi, Michigan.
EPRI Resources EPRI COVID-19 Research and Support: Characterization of Two UV-C Sanitizers for Controlled Area & Surface Disinfection, May 2020.
Technology Overview: EV Wireless Charging, May 2020.
Consumer Guide to Electric Vehicles, April 2020.
National Electric Transportation Infrastructure Working Council: 2019 Annual Report, April 2020.
Program on Technology Innovation: Retrofit Ready Heat Pump Water Heaters: Specifications and Customer Consideration, March 2020.
Program on Technology Innovation: State of the Art Assessment of UV-C LED Water Treatment Technology, January 2020.
Identifying Likely Electric Vehicle Adopters, December 2019.
Electrification Considerations for Premise Service Sizing in Residential Applications, December 2019.
Commercial Electric Foodservice Equipment Guidebook: Direction for the Utility Marketing Representative, November 2019.
Commercial and Industrial Report for Electric Transportation, November 2019.
Consumer Guide to Electric Vehicle Charging, November 2019. EPRI in the News Phoneweek and Green Car Congress covered the memorandum of understanding between EPRI and the U.S. Department of Energy on electric transportation. Business and Industry Connection also mentioned the memorandum.
Utility Dive covered EPRI’s analysis of energy demand in Italy after the COVID-19-related shelter-in-place order was issued.
Ars Technica gives readers a look at the new electric Volkswagon bus. Volkswagon will build the buses in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The choice of this manufacturing location is “fitting,” according to the article, because “in the late 1970s, EPRI and TVA built ‘the Elektrobus,’” a prototype used in a two-year demonstration project in Chattanooga.
A POWER Magazine article on electrification quoted EPRI CEO Mike Howard: “In moving electrification beyond the basic (and binary) question of haves and have-nots, [efficient electrification] looks to an [integrated energy network] to help achieve the most efficient use of energy, the cleanest production, delivery and use of that energy, and measurable benefits to consumers, workers, drivers, and others.”
As EV batteries “leap forward,” The Driven asks if charging infrastructure is ready for these improved resources. The article references the $3.2 million U.S. Department of Energy–funded EPRI project to develop extremely fast EV chargers that can connect directly to a medium-voltage grid.
POLITCO’s New York State energy newsletter mentioned EPRI’s recently published electrification assessment for the state. The Pragmatic Environmentalist blog provides an in-depth review of the assessment.
GM announced a new smartphone app to provide drivers with intelligence on the charging network. “I suspect that as drivers first start, they will rely on this a lot,” EPRI EV charging expert John Halliwell told E&E News. “Being an EV driver, if you haven’t done it before, it’s intimidating because we don’t have a lot of infrastructure in a lot of parts of the country. It’s all about confidence, so now you can tell if the station is occupied or if it has a problem. You have more confidence to use the infrastructure that’s out there.”
Two articles in the Charlotte Observer—one about Charlotte Convention Center and COVID-19 and a second about the Republican National Convention—mention EPRI’s decision to postpone Electrification 2020.
About EPRI’s Efficient Electrification Initiative “Electrification” describes the adoption of electric end-use technologies. EPRI’s Efficient Electrification Initiative explores electrification in the context of the global energy system, analyzing the customer value–lower cost, lower energy use, reduced emissions, improved indoor environment, and increased productivity–provided by advanced, end-use technologies that efficiently amplify the benefits of cleaner power generation portfolios. Coupling EPRI’s modeling capabilities with extensive research on end-use technologies and grid operations, the initiative also will assess interdependencies among increased adoption of efficient electric technologies, their potential to provide enhanced control and flexibility, and their impact on grid operations and planning.
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