The APGA Research Foundation (RF) and Gas Technology Institute (GTI) held an Emerging Technology Program (ETP) workshop in conjunction with the RF Board meeting in Houston, Texas on January 27. The GTI Emerging Technology Program is a North American collaborative between 25 utility organizations including the APGA RF that helps identify the most promising products in development then leverages funding and expertise to overcome market and program barriers.
Ryan Kerr of GTI presented on the future of Gas Heat Pumps and the exciting studies that have been done showing their potential to increase energy efficiency, reliability, and customer choice. Design changes in the units and the continued affordability of natural gas means that gas heat pump units have the potential to be more adaptable in homes and businesses than ever before. Critical decisions will be made in the next 6-12 months that will determine the path from research and development (R&D) to product development with the intent to manufacture and launch.
The APGA Research Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation that serves as the “bank” for public natural gas systems to contribute and allocate voluntary dollars to R&D projects important to public natural gas customers. The RF invests in developing new and improved products, processes, practices, and knowledge to increase the operational safety of natural gas distribution infrastructure and to increase the utilization of safe and efficient natural gas end-use technologies.
By investing in projects across the innovation cycle, from Idea Generation to Product Development through Commercialization, the RF guides the development of products that benefit its member systems. The RF identifies and prioritizes research projects to invest in and ensures that project deliverables are tracked and met. Those deliverables include commercialization prospects, values and schedules.
For more information on the APGA RF or to find out how to contribute, please contact Todd Brady of APGA RF staff at
tbrady@apga.org or 202-370-6211.