The APGA Research Foundation (RF) held its annual update call on April 13. This call was open to all APGA system members and included speakers from Energy Solutions Center (ESC) and Gas Technology Institute (GTI).
Ashley Duckman, ESC’s Executive Director, discussed areas where the RF and ESC work closely together including the Gas Heat Pump and Residential Consortium and Blue Flame Alliance. These areas focus on appliance efficiency and ESC provides useful calculators and tools for gas consumers and system operators. Other areas where the RF works with ESC include the Industrial/Major Accounts Consortium, International Builders Show, Commercial, and Multi-family Consortium.
Bob Morris, GTI’s Senior Manager of Business Development, highlighted GTI projects that the RF is involved in through the Operations Technology Development (OTD) including pipe locating, mapping and visualization, smart systems, and the pipe testing and quality audit program. Methane detection and emission mitigation tools are important ongoing projects that increase system efficiency and safety for employees and consumers.
RF funding includes various end-use, Utilization Technology Development (UTD) projects such as indoor air quality studies and foodservice technology. These important projects impact both residential and commercial customers. Industrial end-use research into processes that capture and reuse industrial waste heat and methane improves commercial and environmental efficiencies.
GTI hydrogen and renewable natural gas projects assess the compatibility of blended gas on infrastructure and appliances. It also studies the challenges related to storage and use with large-scale transportation such as locomotives. Understanding how blended gas impacts detection tools and safety protocols will continue to be a significant area of study.
Ryan Kerr, GTI’s Senior Manager of Emerging Technologies, talked about how decarbonized fuels as well as increased energy efficiency will help drive greenhouse gas emission reductions. The RF supports these efforts and is invested in high-efficiency gas heat pump (GHP) research and commercialization. Based on real-world field tests, there is potential for this technology to have a huge impact on commercial and residential markets. GHP water heaters, space heaters, and “combi” units utilizing both water and space heating, are currently in the final testing phases and expected to be available soon.
For more information about the RF or becoming a contributor please contact Todd Brady at
tbrady@apga.org.