Commercial, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, Industrial, Microgrids, Utilities, Sourcing Renewables  -  March 15, 2019

Innovation Awards presented in Houston

Smart Energy Decisions celebrated the winners of the second annual Innovation Awards at a gala reception and dinner at the Houstonian Hotel in Houston on March 13 at the close of the Innovation Summit.

The dinner was sponsored by ENGIE North America, presenting sponsor of the Innovation Summit.

The objective of the Innovation Awards program is to recognize the individual and collective efforts of large electric power users, their suppliers, and their utilities in support of the energy transformation currently taking place. “We started the Innovation Awards to shine a spotlight on customers and utilities that were doing great work in support of the energy transition,” said John Failla, founder and editorial director of Smart Energy Decisions, at the award presentation. “Customer project awards were created to recognize outstanding projects in energy efficiency and renewable sourcing, while the utility partnership awards recognize utilities that are effectively enabling customer choice.

Winners were chosen by an independent panel of judges, who rated each nomination based on objectives of the project, how the project was executed, innovation, and results of the project against the objective. "We’re gratified at the growing industry engagement with the program and the quality of the entries across the board,” said Failla.

A variety of industry leaders were welcomed to the Awards Dinner to accept their awards. The winners of Customer Project Awards are:

• Industrial Energy Data Management: Arconic, "Arconic Builds a Single Source of Truth" 
• Commercial Energy Data Management:  AvalonBay Communities,  "AvalonBay, SmartKit AI Smart Building Software"
• Higher Ed Energy Data Management: University of Maryland, "TerpFootprints Energy Dashboard" 
• Commercial Energy Efficiency Technology: Cinemark, "Automated Scheduling Proves Major Value through Energy Savings"
• Industrial Energy Efficiency Technology: Ocean Spray Cranberries, "Making Craisins with Industrial IoT, Energy Efficient, Intelligent LED Lighting"
• Higher Ed Energy Efficiency Technology: University of Virginia, "Delta Force – Clark Hall"
• Data Center Energy Efficiency Technology: Switch, "Switch Energy Efficiency Technologies"
• Government Energy Storage & Microgrids: Atlantic County Utility Authority, "Wastewater Treatment Plant RE Battery Energy Storage"
• Data Center Energy Storage & Microgrids: Equinix, Inc., "Bloom Energy 37MW Fuel Cell Deployment"
• Commercial Energy Storage & Microgrids: Staples, Inc., "Staples Grid Edge Energy Efficiency Innovation"
• EV Charging Infrastructure: University of California/San Diego, "Innovating the Art of the Possible in EV Grid Integration"
• Commercial Offsite Renewable Energy: Intuit, "Intuit Affinity Program"
• Healthcare Offsite Renewable Energy: Kaiser Permanente, "RE100 Solar + Wind Battery Storage Project"
• Commercial Onsite Renewable Energy: Welltower, Inc., "Using a Landlord-Tenant PPA to Solve the Split Incentive Challenge"
• Government Onsite Renewable Energy: City of Yonkers, New York, "Yonkers Off-Grid City Park"
• Industrial Onsite Renewable Energy: Intel, "Greener, Better Solution: India"

The winners of Utility Partnership Awards are:

• Green Tariff Program: Puget Sound Energy, Green Direct
• Energy Efficiency Incentive Programs: PSE&G, "Hospital Efficiency Program"
• Energy Efficiency Incentive Programs: Consumers Energy, "Zero Net Energy Pilot Program"

Special recognition awards for Renewable Energy Sourcing:

• Starbucks & Constellation: "Constellation CORe"
• Microsoft & REsurety: "Volume Firming Agreement"
• Sysco & NRG Energy: "Renewable Select"

The program's judges included Ali Ahmed, principal, Green Strategies LLC; Wolfgang Bauer, distinguished professor and senior consultant, Michigan State University; Peter Kelly-Detwiler, principal, NorthBridge Energy Partners; Karl R. Rábago, executive director of the Pace Energy and Climate Center, David Reid, global energy and productivity leader, Celanese Corp., and Rowena Striff, energy manager, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.

"We want to thank our judges for their time and commitment to the selection process, reviewing all of the nominations sent in from all corners of the industry. Their extensive industry experience added greatly to the program," Failla said.

"Last, but certainly not least, we congratulate each of the winners, whose innovative projects and programs are being recognized with Innovation Awards” he added.

Smart Energy Decisions will publish a special "Insights" report with information on all Innovation Award winners in April.

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