The purpose of this solicitation is to fund applied research to advance strategies for managing California’s hydropower resources for optimal contribution to grid operations.
Donor Name: California Energy Commission (CEC)
State: California
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/10/2023
Size of the Grant: $1,500,000 – $2,000,000
Details:
The proposed energy-related environmental research contributes to implementation of the Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) 2021-2025 Investment Plan and responds to the strategic objective: “Inform California’s Transition to an Equitable, Zero-Carbon Energy System that is Climate-Resilient and Meets Environmental Goals” (Chapter 7). Specifically, this solicitation supports the following initiatives:
- Initiative 44, “Integrating Climate Resilience in Electricity System Planning” and
- Initiative 45, “Advancing the Environmental Sustainability of Energy Deployments”.
Projects must fall within the following project groups:
Group 1: Advancing Precipitation Enhancement Strategies
Research supported by this group will support advancement of the science and practice of precipitation enhancement (cloud seeding) for augmenting hydropower generation, reducing electricity consumption associated with groundwater pumping, and enhancing water resources for California’s electricity sector more broadly as the state contends with drought and other climate-driven impacts on water availability. Specifically, research will contribute to more effective cloud-seeding practices in a changing climate by helping improve understanding of the efficacy and benefits of cloud seeding in California and may provide insights to help tailor cloud seeding strategies.
Research supported by this solicitation aims to improve the efficacy of cloud seeding efforts in California. Successful applicants must demonstrate:
- A clearly articulated and scientifically justified approach that describes how the research will lead to enhanced validation of the efficacy of specific cloud seeding efforts;
- A well-articulated approach to the assessment of benefits of cloud seeding using meaningful metrics (e.g., $/acre-foot) and including, but not limited to, hydropower generation and water resources relevant to the electricity sector; and
- Expertise in coordinating with relevant precipitation enhancement and electricity sector experts and stakeholders, including descriptions of coordination efforts in a clearly articulated approach.
Specific research projects may include:
- Assessment of the effects of background aerosols on precipitation enhancement strategies;
- Assessment of precipitation enhancement strategies in the context of higher temperatures due to climate change;
- Assessment of new seeding and transport agents, especially those that are effective at higher temperatures;
- Identification of optimal concentrations of seeding agents; Development of new strategies and tools to forecast, detect, and recognize seeding opportunities in real time; or
- Development of new tools to improve targeting and transport modeling, especially for ground-based seeding efforts.
Group 2: Research to Inform the FERC Hydropower Relicensing Process
Hydropower plays a critical role in supporting the state’s electricity grid, and its provision of fast-ramping, zero-carbon electricity generation will be critical as California transitions toward a zero-carbon grid. However, there is substantial evidence that hydropower is a significant contributor to the decline of California’s freshwater fish, amphibians, and other species. In addition, more than 70 percent of California’s native freshwater fish populations are extinct or in decline (Quiñones and Moyle 2015, Leidy and Moyle 2021).
The research must address aquatic ecosystems, including both biotic and abiotic components. It could advance research on topics such as, but not limited to, the following:
- Innovative approaches to instream flow determinations, including demonstrations;
- Water releases for managing downstream biotic and abiotic factors;
- Ways to manage sediment accumulation downstream and upstream of dams;
- The thermal tolerance of native fish and amphibian species and how they use thermal refugia;
- How thermal refugia are affected by different instream flow levels;
- Improved accuracy of water year determinations; and
- New or improved innovative environmental assessment and monitoring tools and techniques.
Funding Information
There is up to $3,500,000 available for grants awarded under this solicitation.
Group 1: Advancing Precipitation Enhancement in California
- Available Funding: $2,000,000
Group 2: Research to Inform the FERC Hydropower Relicensing Process
- Available Funding: $1,500,000
Eligible Applicants
This solicitation is open to all public and private entities with the exception of local publicly owned electric utilities.
For more information, visit CEC.
