The purpose of this solicitation is to fund applied research to increase California’s hydropower generation through precipitation enhancement (cloud seeding).
Donor Name: California Energy Commission (CEC)
State: California
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/03/2024
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Research funded by this solicitation will foster cost-effective, robust approaches to manage anticipated needs for zero-carbon, fast-ramping resources in the context of a rapidly evolving energy system and climate change.
Project Focus
Group 1: Advancing Precipitation Enhancement
Research funded by this solicitation will advance the scientific basis and operational practice of glaciogenic seeding of orographic clouds (precipitation enhancement or cloud seeding) for augmenting hydropower generation in California. Specifically, CEC seeks to fund research that contributes to more effective cloud-seeding practices in a changing climate and that demonstrates how cloud seeding operations can be improved by applying the proposed scientific approach.
Research supported by this solicitation aims to improve the efficacy of cloud seeding efforts in California to benefit hydropower generation. Successful applicants must demonstrate:
- A clearly articulated and scientifically justified approach that describes the proposed research and how it will directly improve cloud seeding operations in California.
- An explicit description regarding how proposed research will be supported by empirical evidence from cloud seeding campaigns.
- A detailed understanding of cloud seeding operations that benefit hydropower generation in California.
- Description of how proposed research will enhance the current state-of-the-art of cloud-seeding operations in California.
- Description of the cloud seeding and weather modification expertise within the research team.
- A clearly articulated plan for coordination and outreach efforts with relevant stakeholders.
Preference will be given to teams that include team members who are involved with and knowledgeable of cloud seeding operations in California.
Specific research projects may include:
- Improving the observation and measurement of cloud ice production from cloud seeding operations in California in view of advances in identifying natural ice nucleation processes.
- Assessing ice formation from cloud seeding operations in the context of background aerosols.
- Assessing (new) seeding and transport agents, especially those that are effective at higher temperatures (caused, for example, by climate change); such an assessment must consider toxicological and ecological impacts.
- Developing new strategies and tools to forecast, detect, and recognize seeding opportunities in real time.
- Developing new tools to improve targeting and transport modeling, especially for ground-based seeding efforts.
Funding Information
There is up to $ 2,500,000 available for grants awarded under this solicitation.
Group 1: Advancing Precipitation Enhancement in California
- Available CEC Funding: $2,500,000.
- Minimum CEC award: $1,800,000.
- Maximum CEC award: $2,500,000.
Eligibility Criteria
This solicitation is open to all public and private entities with the exception of local publicly owned electric utilities. In accordance with CPUC Decision 12-05-037, funds administered by the CEC may not be used for any purposes associated with local publicly owned electric utility activities.
For more information, visit CEC.
