The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) strengthened cooperation for research, development and deployment of energy technologies aimed at promoting increased energy efficiency. DOE and EPRI last week signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing a framework for close coordination to advance the common goal of satisfying the nation’s growing electricity needs by improving energy efficiency and promoting the widespread adoption of electric energy demand response programs in an effort to curtail energy use during peak periods.

“Through ongoing collaboration, the Department of Energy is pleased to provide its technical expertise and capabilities to promote clean and efficient energy technologies. This MOU will help ensure America continues to lead the way in cutting-edge energy research, development and commercialization projects to enhance our national, energy and economic security,” DOE’s Assistant Secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Alexander A. Karnser said.

“This coordination will draw on each organization’s strengths to better utilize a wide range of technologies and methods for energy efficiency, demand response, and smart grid technologies aimed at helping meet the nation’s rapidly growing demand for electricity,” Kevin M. Kolevar, DOE’s Assistant Secretary for Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability said.

The MOU states that DOE and EPRI intend to coordinate future activities to accomplish several goals, including research demand response and energy efficiency in buildings, industrial processes, and appliances; development of guidelines and methods that enable utilities to calculate emission, such as carbon dioxide, reductions resulting from these efforts; promotion of digital communication between the electric grid and buildings; testing to develop digital devices that can function as the communicator in energy management systems and smart-grid applications; and analysis of utilities’ catalogues of energy efficient technologies.

Assistant Secretaries Karsner and Kolevar were joined at the signing by EPRI Senior Vice President of Research and Development Michael W. Howard and Vice President of Power Delivery and Utilization Arsha Mansoor.

“EPRI is pleased to partner with the Department of Energy in this effort which will facilitate the development of energy efficiency technologies needed to help slow, stop and ultimately reverse the nation’s carbon footprint,” EPRI Senior Vice President Michael W. Howard said. “This is a major step forward that will help the electric sector meet an ever growing demand for electricity while addressing the environmental challenges associated with climate change.”