Funded by the California Energy Commission, CalTestBed will provide $16.7M in testing vouchers to clean energy innovators to use at one of more than 70 world-class testing facilities throughout California.
Early-stage clean energy entrepreneurs face challenges in accessing testing facilities as they progress towards commercialization.
The CalTestBed Initiative is a voucher program that assists clean energy entrepreneurs in gaining access to critical testing facilities. It expedites their pathway to commercialization through connection to a network of next-level partners.
CalTestBed holds annual soliciations. Each application is reviewed for eligibility and scored by technical reviewers for the following criteria: Innovation, Scalability, Feasibility, and Market Potential.
Recommended applicants will conduct a consultation with a principal investigator, a campus representative and a neutral subject matter expert to develop a Statement of Work (SOW). The SOW will include scope, schedule and budget for the testing. Once the California Energy Commission reviews and approves the proposed SOWs, those voucher recipients will sign the contracting package and will work with their testing facility partners to schedule and begin their testing.
The CalTestBed Initiative hosts an annual symposium to bring the community together, feature voucher recipients, highlight our world-class testing facilities, and connect the innovators to next-level partners. The Initiative will also spotlight voucher recipients and their innovations through a variety of media and events throughout the year.
CalTestBed offers a wide collection of assets, facilities infrastructure, and resources to clean energy entrepreneurs. Testing capabilities can be found in the CalTestBed Facilities Directory.
Access to diverse California communities and partnerships within the California Energy Commission’s Innovation Ecosystem including the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, Bluetech Valley, Activate, and the Southern California Energy Innovation Network. Companies can also join the Empower Innovation Network, the repository for California’s clean energy community events, funding opportunities, and partners. Entrepreneurs can also connect with the global clean energy network of New Energy Nexus.
Voucher recipients will receive access to workshops, training, information about funding opportunities and will be featured in the CalTestBed Entrepreneur Directory. The companies will be highlighted at events and on social media, and will be introduced to next-level partners. The goal is to accelerate CalTestBed companies towards commercialization through pilot and demonstration projects, investment, and corporate partnerships, which will benefit California’s ratepayers.
The CalTestBed ecosystem offers more than 70 world-class TestBed facilities at 9 University of California campuses, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Download:
CalTestBed Facilities Directory 2023
Companies/Entrepreneurs must have a base of operations in California
Applicants must have a prototype and technical readiness level (TRL) between 5-7.
Clean energy focused hardware and integrated solutions. Stand-alone software is NOT eligible.
Innovations must be aligned with California Energy Commission's Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) funding priorities.