2024 'Power Player' awards announced for energy innovation

(Credit: SEPA)

The Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) has shared with Renewable Energy World the winners of the 2024 SEPA Power Player Awards.

This year’s award categories are tied to SEPA’s five critical focus areas: resilience, transportation, energy storage, emerging technology, and policy, along with energy equity.

“Recognizing and celebrating the phenomenal accomplishments of our outstanding Power Player Award winners, finalists, and nominees provides our sector with boundless inspiration,” said Sheri Givens, President and CEO of SEPA. “Their steadfast commitment to advancing tangible, real-world solutions in clean energy underscores our shared journey towards a cleaner tomorrow. Each of these projects exemplifies innovation, leadership, and teamwork – fundamental elements propelling us toward a brighter future.”

SEPA’s 2024 Power Player Awards honor the contributions of utilities, corporations, regulators, policymakers, and other energy stakeholders, project teams, and/or individuals, who played a role in advancing actionable decarbonization solutions between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023.

SEPA received more than 120 nominations nationwide, and with the assistance of internal and external energy leaders, selected six award winners and 17 finalists in the six categories. The panel of judges, composed of members from SEPA’s Research Advisory Council, Program Advisory Council, and SEPA’s internal subject matter experts, participated in the evaluation process.

The winners were recognized at a Power Player Awards ceremony on April 30, 2024, in Coronado, California, in conjunction with SEPA’s inaugural Energy Evolution Summit.

The six award categories awardees include:

Resilience Power Player of the Year awardee

Vermont’s largest investor-owned utility, Green Mountain Power, is enhancing grid resiliency, safety, and equity through innovative initiatives aimed at keeping customers connected in severe weather and addressing climate change impacts. Its initiatives include Lift the Cap, Resilient Neighborhood, and Zero Outages.

Transportation electrification Power Player of the Year awardees

In New York, the nonprofit NYC School Bus Umbrella Services (NYCSBUS), partnered with Mobility House, World Resource Institute, New York League of Conservation Voters, and CALSTART on the Electrifying School Buses in the Bronx (ESBB) project. ESBB addresses the transition to electric school buses by focusing on training for drivers and mechanics, developing charging infrastructure, and creating a mobility hub, with plans to expand these efforts across NYCSBUS’ fleet and serve as a model for nationwide adoption. Both NYCSBUS and Mobility House are being honored for their innovation in progressing electric school buses and charging infrastructure.

Energy storage Power Player of the Year awardees

In Arizona, the Salt River Project, a community-based, not-for-profit organization providing water and power to more than 2 million people partnered with CMBlu Energy to launch the Desert Blume long-duration energy storage pilot at its Copper Crossing site in Florence, Arizona. CMBlu‘s non-flammable, recyclable SolidFlow battery technology aims to surpass traditional lithium-ion batteries in efficiency, life span, and recyclability.

It is set to become the world’s largest utility-scale, long-term installation of its kind, expected to power approximately 1,125 homes for 10 hours upon its operational start in December 2025. Both Salt River Project and CMBlu are being honored with an award for their contributions to long-duration energy storage.

Emerging technology Power Player of the Year awardees

In Texas, Adaptix.Grid by Sensewaves, in collaboration with AEP Texas, is enhancing grid reliability and enabling smart operations through artificial intelligence-powered analytics, overcoming challenges posed by aging infrastructure and the slow impact of advanced distribution management system technologies by integrating distributed energy resources and improving operational efficiency by up to 96%. Both Sensewaves and AEP Texas are being honored with an award for their contributions to grid modernization and efficiency improvements.

Policy Power Player of the Year awardees

In California, Edison International’s subsidiary, Southern California Edison, a utility providing electricity to 15 million people, progressed Countdown to 2045. It conducted in-house analysis and issued calls to action. As mandated by state law, Assembly Bill 1279, California seeks to achieve an 85% greenhouse gas emissions reduction and net zero by 2045. Both Edison International and Southern California Edison are being honored with an award for their continued advocacy efforts to meet California’s 2045 net zero goal.

Equity Power Player of the Year Awardee

In California, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), a community-owned utility providing electricity to 1.5 million customers, aims to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2030, the most ambitious target among large U.S. utilities. SMUD focuses on inclusivity and equity through the Sustainable Communities Resource Priorities Map and the Community Impact Plan. These resources address energy inequities and aim to improve health, create jobs, and foster resilience to climate change. Additionally, SMUD is working to develop a diverse, inclusive future workforce in clean energy and related fields.

For additional information, visit SEPA’s Power Player Awards webpage.