Demonstrations were sought of innovative technologies and approaches to improve the energy and water efficiency of buildings on military installations. The demonstrations had to be led by ESCOs that perform ESPCs or UESCs for DoD. Technologies should have been commercially available but not currently widely deployed on military installations due to a lack of available data on system life-cycle cost and performance; or due to other uncertainties that pose a barrier to implementation through performance contracts with guaranteed savings requirements. The demonstrations did not need to be integrated with current or planned ESPCs or UESCs, however the demonstration projects should have been designed to inform future ESPC/UESC proposals within the next 5 years. Solutions could include new energy/water conservation measures (ECMs), carbon emission reduction solutions, or technologies and approaches that enable more efficient development and management of ESPCs/UESCs. 

ESCOs are encouraged to consider technologies previously demonstrated by ESTCP but are welcome to propose any technology that meets the characteristics listed below. Demonstrations with the following characteristics were preferable: 

• High likelihood of adoption of the demonstrated technology in future ESPC or UESC projects or through modifications to existing ESPCs or UESCs.
• Approaches to design performance contracts to achieve deep energy savings and net-zero carbon facilities that consider separate funding sources for infrastructure or other non-energy saving systems.
  • Designs approaches should inform multiple coordinated or integrated projects that maximizes the energy savings and carbon reduction obtained through the performance contract.
  • Example non-energy saving systems include microgrids and 5th generation district heating and cooling systems (a.k.a. ambient loops, thermal microgrids) that may be funding through the Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program (ERCIP).
• Technologies that are commercially available, but not widely utilized due to lack of familiarity by ESPC stakeholders (DoD, ESCOs, utilities, financiers).
• Potential for high energy and water savings, carbon emission reductions, improved facility performance, and/or enhanced energy security. 
• Partnering with key stakeholders to enable shared learning and facilitate technology transfer.
• Cost sharing.

The Executive Order released on December 8, 2021, on Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability, requires agencies to use performance contracting, to improve efficiency and resilience of Federal facilities, deploy clean and innovative technologies, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from building operations to achieve net-zero emissions buildings. ESPCs are an important tool that allows DoD to leverage third-party financing to implement energy and water projects with guaranteed savings. ESTCP demonstration projects provide key stakeholders an opportunity to get direct experience with engineering, integration, and operations of new technologies and develop confidence in technologies’ ability to deliver the guaranteed savings in a performance contract.

DoD invests hundreds of millions of dollars annually¹ through ESPCs and UESCs to improve facilities performance and reduce energy and water related operations and maintenance costs. ESCOs are a key stakeholder in these projects and play a critical role in deployment of new technologies and solutions. The continued improvement of DoD facility and infrastructure performance is dependent on the application of new technologies and approaches to implementing projects. However new technologies and approaches present a variety of real and perceived risks that need to be mitigated and shared appropriately between the project stakeholders. Demonstration and performance validation of the technologies helps mitigate some of the risks.

Below is a list of previously demonstrated technologies that are commercially available and may be appropriate for implementation through ESPCs. More information about the technologies and project contact information can be found on the SERDP ESTCP website (www.serdp-estcp.mil) by entering the project number in the search pane. Project numbers in parenthesis are related to the project numbered above it.

The following technologies are not considered to be direct energy-savings measures, but may be helpful as enabling technologies in the development of ESPCs or other energy projects.

¹ Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment. Annual Energy Management and Resilience Report Fiscal Year 2019. https://www.acq.osd.mil/EIE/Downloads/IE/FY%202019%20AEMR.pdf