Honolulu-based energy technology company Shifted Energy is taking its grid demand response talents to Arizona.
Shifted Energy, which installs devices on electric water heaters to create virtual power plants, was recently selected as one of 20 startup companies among an international pool of 250 for the Incubatenergy Labs 2021 Cohort, run by national nonprofit Electric Power Research Institute.
The company will work with Tucson Electric Power through October to install intelligent load control switches on residential water heaters. The concept is that the utility will re-route excess energy into water heaters, and make use of machine learning for improved load forecasting.
"This Arizona project is really important to us, showing the value of machine learning to make smarter and more accurate forecasting and distribution of grid edge assets like water heaters," CEO Forest Frizzell told Pacific Business News.
Results of the cohort will be presented during Incubatenergy Labs Demo Days on Oct. 19 and 20. The overall program is meant to accelerate decarbonization, electrification, and grid modernization.
“This program advances our ongoing effort to provide our customers with tools to make smart energy choices,” said Ted Burhans, director of emerging technologies and innovation at Tucson Electric Power, in a statement. “By making slight adjustments to shift their usage away from peak times, they can save money and make the most of our renewable energy resources, while helping us keep our service reliable and affordable.”
Shifted Energy has had plenty of experience, both locally and in other states and countries, retrofitting existing electric water heaters into grid-interactive devices.
It has active pilots in Europe, Canada, Australia, and seven U.S. states.
"We have one active commercial contract with [Hawaiian Electric Co.]," Frizzell said. "Expanding beyond Hawaii has always been important for us. We want to scale our impact around the world. I think about it as exporting world class energy solutions from a location that is leading the way in this industry."
Shifted Energy currently has a team of seven people, with two open positions.
