The Industrial, Agriculture, and Water Load Flexibility Hub (IAW FlexHub) was formally launched on April 17 at the UC Davis Conference Center, bringing together stakeholders from across industry, utilities, research, and policy to mark the start of a new statewide effort focused on demand flexibility.
The IAW FlexHub is designed as a platform to advance the research, demonstration, and deployment of flexible load technologies in large energy-using sectors, with a focus on translating technical work into real-world applications.
Discussions at the launch focused on the practical challenges of scaling demand flexibility, including the role of electricity rate structures, customer risk, and operational constraints. Participants emphasized the need for approaches that can respond to changing grid conditions while maintaining reliable operations, along with the importance of demonstrating clear value in practice—both in terms of cost and broader operational benefits.
The event also introduced the Hub’s initial portfolio of demonstration projects and opportunities for continued stakeholder engagement.
The call for demonstration project concepts remains open through June 19.