Energy Planning & Resources Committee
of the Clean Power Alliance of Southern California
Special Meeting
Monday, December 8, 2025
3:00 p.m.
Visit CPA’s YouTube Channel to watch a Live Stream of the Meeting *There may be a streaming delay of up to 90 seconds. This is a view-only live stream.
Clean Power Alliance
Executive Conference Room
801 S. Grand Ave., Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Members of the public may also participate in this meeting remotely at the following locations:
Carson City Hall
Executive Conference Room
701 East Carson Street
Carson, CA 90745
Alhambra City Hall
Conference Room C
111 S. First St.
Alhambra, CA 91801
Arcadia City Hall
Council Chambers Conference Room
240 W. Huntington Drive
Arcadia, CA 91007
Temple City City Hall
City Hall Conference Room
9701 Las Tunas Drive
Temple City, CA 91780
West Hollywood City Hall
3rd Floor Conference Room
8300 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Sierra Madre City Hall
Council Chambers
232 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.
Sierra Madre, CA 91024
Manhattan Beach City Hall
City Manager Conference Room
1400 Highland Avenue
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
PUBLIC COMMENT: Members of the public may submit their comments by one of the following options:
• Email Public Comment: Members of the public are encouraged to submit written comments on any agenda item to [email protected] up to four hours before the meeting. Written public comments will be announced at the meeting and become part of the meeting record. Public comments received in writing will not be read aloud at the meeting. • Provide Public Comment During the Meeting: The General Public Comment item is reserved for persons wishing to address the Committee on any Clean Power Alliance-related matters not on today’s agenda. Public comments on matters on today’s Consent Agenda and Regular Agenda shall be heard at the time the matter is called. Comments on items on the Consent Agenda are consolidated into one public comment period. Members of the public who wish to address the Committee at CPA’s Office are requested to complete a comment card and provide it to staff.
Agenda Page 1
If you are attending from a remote location, please identify yourself to a CPA representative when your item is called. Each speaker is limited to two (2) minutes (in whole-minute increments) per agenda item with a cumulative total of five 5 minutes to be allocated between the General Public Comment, the entire Consent Agenda, or individual items in the Regular Agenda. Please refer to Policy No. 8 – Public Comment for additional information.
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If the PDF is downloaded, the bookmark panel (ribbon icon) appears on the left side of the screen.
ACCESSIBILITY: Meetings are accessible to people with disabilities. Individuals who need special assistance or a disability-related modification or accommodation to participate in this meeting, or who have a disability and wish to request an alternative format for the meeting materials, should contact the Clerk of the Board at least two (2) working days before the meeting at [email protected] or (213) 713- 5995. Notification in advance of the meeting, while not required, will enable us to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting and the materials related to it.
CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Approve Minutes from the September 24, 2025, Energy Committee Meeting
2. Receive and File October 2025 Risk Management Team Report
REGULAR AGENDA
3. Oral Update from the Vice President of Power Supply
4. Approve Shortlist of Innovation Solicitation by Authorizing the Chief Executive Officer to Execute a Letter of Support for the MN8 Exowatt Proposal and a Conditional Shortlist Agreement with Photon Vault
COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
ADJOURN – NEXT MEETING JANUARY 28, 2026
Public Records: Public records that relate to any item on the open session agenda for a Committee Meeting are available for public inspection. Those records that are distributed less than 72 hours prior to the meeting are available for public inspection at the same time they are distributed to all, or a majority of, the members of the Committee. Public records are available for inspection at CPA’s Office at 801 S. Grand Ave., Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90017, or online at www.cleanpoweralliance.org/agendas.
Agenda Page 2
Staff Report – Agenda Item 1
To: Energy Planning & Resources Committee
Subject: Approve Minutes from the September 24, 2025, Energy Committee Meeting
Date: December 8, 2025
RECOMMENDATION
Approve.
ATTACHMENT
1. Minutes
Agenda Page 3
MINUTES
Energy Planning & Resources Committee
of the Clean Power Alliance of Southern California
Regular Meeting
Wednesday, September 24, 2025, 12:15 p.m.
Meeting videos are available on CPA's YouTube Channel.
http://www.youtube.com/@CPApublicmeetings
Committee Members participated in this meeting from the following locations:
Manhattan Beach City Hall
City Manager Conference Room
1400 Highland Avenue
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Clean Power Alliance Office
Executive Conference Room
801 S. Grand Ave., Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Alhambra City Hall
Conference Room A
111 S. First Street
Alhambra, CA 91802
City of Oxnard Service Center 1
East Conference Room
214 South C Street
Oxnard, CA 93030
West Hollywood City Hall
3rd Floor Conference Room
8300 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Arcadia City Hall
Council Chambers Conference Room
240 W. Huntington Drive
Arcadia, CA 91007
Carson City Hall
Executive Conference Room
701 East Carson Street
Carson, CA 90745
Temple City City Hall
City Hall Conference Room
9701 Las Tunas Drive
Temple City, CA 91780
L.A. County Sanitation District
Conference Room D
1955 Workman Mill Road
Whittier, CA 90601
CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL
Chair Parkhurst called the meeting to order at 12:16 p.m. Annie Mendoza, Deputy Clerk of the Board, conducted roll call.
ROLL CALL
Alhambra Jeff Maloney Committee Member Remote
Arcadia Absent
Carson Reata Kulcsar Committee Member Remote
Manhattan Beach David Lesser Committee Member Remote
Oxnard Kathleen Mallory Committee Member Remote
Sierra Madre Robert Parkhurst Chair Remote
Energy Planning & Resources Committee Item 1
Agenda Page 4
South Pasadena Diana Mahmud Committee Member Remote
Temple City Ed Chen Committee Member Remote
West Hollywood Chelsea Byers Committee Member Remote
All votes are unanimous, unless otherwise stated.
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Approve Minutes from the August 27, 2025, Energy Committee Meeting
2. Receive and File August 2025 Risk Management Team Report Motion: Committee Mahmud, South Pasadena
Second: Committee Member Lesser, Manhattan Beach
Vote: The consent agenda was approved by a roll call vote.
REGULAR AGENDA
3. Oral Update from the Vice President of Power Supply
None.
4. Approve the 2025 Clean Energy and Reliability Shortlist (Slide 17) and Waitlist (Slide 18) as Recommended by the RFO Review Team
Lindsay Descagnia, Vice President, Power Supply, reported that on July 28, 2025, CPA received 106 proposals for the 2025 Clean Energy and Reliability RFO. Of those 106, 25 proposals have since withdrawn for various reasons, leaving 81 available. Most proposals were for either Standalone Storage or Renewable Generation plus Storage. Staff set Renewable Energy and Resource Adequacy (RA) targets for this RFO. Proposed projects are sufficient for CPA to meet or exceed these targets. Viable projects, especially solar and wind projects, are likely to increase in price over the next RFO cycles as developers navigate the uncertainty of the current landscape, including reduced or eliminated federal tax credits, uncertain tariff costs, and interconnection delays.
On September 12, 2025, a Review Team met to produce a shortlist and waitlist recommendation. Ms. Descagnia presented an RFO overview and procurement targets, described the Review Team’s approach to evaluating and ranking projects, and highlighted aspects of various offers.
Staff clarified for Committee Member Kulcsar that the waitlist recommendations should be considered in the order listed in the waitlist. Committee Member Mallory asked why projects on the waitlist did not make it onto the shortlist, and staff responded that the difference is a higher contract price offered on the waitlisted projects. Staff also informed her that waitlist projects may be bumped up to the shortlist if shortlist projects drop out of the process.
Committee Member Mahmud inquired about projects that are on the waitlist but appear to have scored well based on their quartile ranking, and staff responded that the quartiles blend together the solar and storage with the standalone storage.
The best-priced renewable and storage projects are in the third and fourth Energy Planning & Resources Committee Item 1
Agenda Page 5
quartiles, and the best-priced standalone storage projects are in the first quartile.
Staff was open to listing projects in a manner that clarified technology type and ranking.
Committee Member Lesser commented that he was part of the Review Team and pointed out that the Review Team had information, such as pricing, that is not shared with the full Energy Committee and asked staff how they would help Committee Members make a decision. Staff clarified that the Energy Committee would essentially approve the Review Teams’ approach to evaluating and ranking the projects.
Chair Parkhurst asked staff if there was any additional information about the standalone project that was pending further due diligence before it could be definitively placed on the shortlist. Staff responded that they were working to ensure the project’s viability, considering the information provided by the developer.
Motion: Committee Member Mahmud, South Pasadena
Second: Committee Member Mallory, Oxnard
Vote: Item 4 was approved by a roll call vote.
COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
Committee Member Mahmud referred to the Wall Street Journal's "What’s News" podcast, which stated that China is expected to eclipse the United States in renewable energy technology development due to actions by the federal government. She also mentioned a news report stating that the Department of Energy has withdrawn $13 billion from renewable energy programs, adding that CPA’s RFO Review Team recommended exceeding initial procurement targets due to uncertainty in the renewable industry.
Committee Member Lesser remarked that a New York Times article reports that China is seeking to reduce its carbon emissions by as much as 10% by 2035, as compared to the U.S. currently.
Chair Parkhurst reported that 90% of the energy generated and put on the grid this year has been from renewable sources, specifically solar and wind. He also noted that there is a minimum 5-year wait for installing a natural gas turbine. Of the three companies delivering the turbines, only one is American.
ADJOURN
Chair Parkhurst adjourned the meeting at 12:53 p.m.
Energy Planning & Resources Committee Item 1
Agenda Page 6
Staff Report – Agenda Item 2
To: Energy Planning & Resources Committee
From: Lyon Hardgrave, Director, Energy Risk Management
Approved By: Ted Bardacke, Chief Executive Officer
David McNeil, Chief Financial Officer
Subject: Receive and File October 2025 Risk Management Team Report Date: December 8, 2025
October 2025 RMT REPORT
Key Actions
• Reviewed the counterparty credit exposure summary
• Reviewed July 2025 day-ahead load forecast performance • Reviewed September 2025 market performance
• Reviewed 2026 - 2028 energy position recommendations
• Reviewed 2025 - 2030 Renewable and Carbon-Free positions • Reviewed PCC1 purchase and sales strategy
• Reviewed CF purchase and sales strategy
• Reviewed the 2025 Voluntary Allocation
• Reviewed 2025 - 2026 Sunzia test energy forecast
• Reviewed the 2025 - 2027 slice of day RA position
• Reviewed COD impacts on RA compliance
• Reviewed RA purchase and sales strategy
• Reviewed Energy Risk Management Policy (ERMP) compliance for RA, REC, CF, and Energy
• Reviewed Long-Term Energy Contract amendments and terminations • Reviewed October 2025 CRR Allocations
• Reviewed the Negative REC Price strategy
Agenda Page 7
Energy Planning & Resources Committee Item 2
Policy Compliance
Policy Deviation Required Action
Beginning in June 2024, the
renewable energy hedge ratio
exceeded the maximum hedge
percentage for 2027 due to the
addition of new renewable energy
supply from a PPA.
Beginning in November 2024, the
renewable energy hedge ratio
exceeded the maximum hedge
percentage for 2028-2030 due to a
reduction in the renewable energy
product targets that are used for
long-term power planning and
position management.
None.
The deviations for 2027-2030 will resolve
themselves as CPA nears these years and the
maximum hedge percentages increase.
Beginning in September 2025, the
energy hedge ratio for Q3 2028
exceeded the maximum hedge
percentage by 0.2% due to a
reduction in forecast load.
None.
The deviation will resolve itself on January 1,
2026, when the maximum hedge percentage for
Q3 2028 increases.
ATTACHMENT
None.
Agenda Page 8
Staff Report – Agenda Item 3
To: Energy Planning & Resources Committee
From: Lindsay Descagnia, Vice President, Power Supply
Subject: Oral Update from Vice President, Power Supply
Date: December 8, 2025
The VP will provide an oral report on CPA energy procurement activities.
Agenda Page 9
Staff Report – Agenda Item 4
To: Energy Planning & Resources Committee
From: John McNamara, Director, Structured Contracts
Reviewed by: Lindsay Descagnia, Vice President, Power Supply Matthew Langer, Chief Operating Officer
Nancy Whang, General Counsel
Approved By: Ted Bardacke, Chief Executive Officer
Subject: Approve the Innovation Solicitation Awards as Recommended by RFO Review Team
Date: December 8, 2025
RECOMMENDATION
Approve Shortlist of Innovation Solicitation by authorizing the Chief Executive Officer to execute a Letter of Support for the MN8 Exowatt proposal and a Conditional Shortlist Agreement with Photon Vault.
ATTACHMENT
1. Innovation Solicitation Award Recommendation Presentation Agenda Page 10
Innovation Solicitation
Award Recommendation
December 8, 2025
Agenda Page 11
On May 27, 2025, CPA launched the Clean Energy Innovation Solicitation: Emerging Technologies and New Business Models (Innovation Solicitation) to identify emerging clean energy technologies (Track 1) and for new business models, programs, and procurement ideas (Track 2). This presentation solely relates to Track 1.
CPA received four proposals for the first submission deadline of the Innovation Solicitation. Two proposals were for long duration energy storage projects and two were for carbon capture projects.
An RFO Review Team consisting of three Energy Committee members and CPA Staff including the CEO, COO and VP of Power Supply convened on August 20th to review confidential offer information. The Review Team directed staff to conduct further due diligence on the two long-duration storage projects.
On November 17th, the RFO Review Team reconvened and reviewed the projects in light of the information obtained through additional due diligence. Both long duration energy storage projects show potential, although the technologies are still in early stages of commercialization and many uncertainties remain.
The purpose of today’s presentation is for Energy Committee to consider the Review Team’s recommendation to continue advancing the long duration energy storage proposals—one for a Letter of Support and the other for a Conditional Shortlist Agreement.
2 Executive Summary
Agenda Page 12
Action Requested
3 Approve Shortlist of Innovation Solicitation by authorizing the CEO to execute:
o A Letter of Support for MN8 Exowatt
o A Conditional Shortlist Agreement with Photon Vault
Preferred
Award Option Developer Project Location Capacity (MW) COD Letter of
Support MN8 Exowatt
Thermal
Battery
System
Calexico, CA 10 MW/80 MWh
(storage) Q1 2029
Conditional
Shortlist
Agreement
Photon Vault
Hybrid
Thermal
Energy
Storage
Kettleman City,
CA
25 MW (PV)
5 MW/120 MWh
(storage)
Q2 2029
Agenda Page 13
Agenda
Background
Proposal Overview
Recommendation
Next Steps
Agenda Page 14
4 Background
Agenda Page 15
Overview of Solicitation and Eligibility
The purpose of the Innovation Solicitation is to accelerate the development of emerging clean energy solutions that have the potential to enhance CPA’s portfolio, support California’s clean energy transition, and advance technologies on a path toward commercial readiness The process will allow CPA to evaluate proposals for new technologies and provide selected projects with an agreement to aid in the progression of early-stage development and help attract financing Selected projects will be expected to re-submit a firm proposal to CPA when the project is eligible to participate in a RFO or make a firm bilateral offer. If CPA declines the proposal, neither party will have any additional obligations to each other
6 Track Description of Eligibility Location Size
(MW)
Latest
Expected
Commercial
Readiness
Date
Term
1 Emerging clean renewable or carbon-free power
technologies or resources providing energy storage
capabilities
In CAISO or able to
deliver energy to
CAISO
1-200 2035 5 – 20 years
Agenda Page 16
Award Options
The solicitation offers two award agreement options for selected proposals Proposers were asked to indicate their preferred award option 7 • Requires Proposers to commit to a firm price
• CPA agrees to shortlist the project and
negotiate a PPA in a future RFO or bilaterally
if the project is able to achieve specific
milestones and honor specific terms like price
• Upon shortlisting, Proposer must sign CPA’s
standard exclusivity agreement and provide
collateral
Letter of Support Conditional Shortlist Agreement
• Prices and CODs submitted are considered
indicative
• Expresses CPA’s interest in and support of
the project
• Highlights the value of the technology and
indicates CPA’s interest in future evaluation
• CPA agrees to consider the project in a future
RFO or bilaterally once it meets certain
eligibility criteria
Agenda Page 17
Proposal
Overview
Agenda Page 18
Proposal Overview
Developer Technology
Type
Location
(CA) Capacity Online Requested
Award Option
A
New Natural Gas
Plant with
Carbon Capture
San Joaquin
County 200 MW 2030
Conditional
Shortlist
Agreement
B
Existing Natural
Gas Plant with
Carbon Capture
Integration
Kern County 200 MW 2030
Conditional
Shortlist
Agreement
Photon Vault Hybrid Thermal
Energy Storage
Kettleman City
(Kings County)
25 MW (PV)/ 5
MW (Storage) 2029
Conditional
Shortlist
Agreement
MN8 Exowatt Thermal Battery
System
Calexico
(Imperial County) 10 MW 2029 Letter of Support
Agenda Page 19
9 Technology Overview
Long Duration Storage - Thermal Battery
10 Hybrid Thermal Energy Storage1
Photon Vault
Thermal Battery System2
MN8
Co-located solar PV with thermal battery storage
designed to deliver a flat 5 MWh output 24/7
90% round trip efficiency target
Charges thermal storage system using electricity
generated from the PV and heat from patented solar
thermal collectors
Thermal storage system
• Patented bricks primarily made from sand (heat)
• Patented ice tanks used to as cold storage
Discharge process: Uses a trans-critical CO2 Rankine
Cycle
• CO2 is cooled and liquified in the ice tanks Pressured and heated by the hot bricks Expanded through a
generator to produce electricity
1 See appendix for Photon Vault technology overview infographic. 2 See appendix for the proposed thermal battery system by Exowatt.
Factory-built 40 ft. module containers combining
solar concentrator, thermal battery, and Stirling
engine designed to deliver dispatchable renewable
power 24/7
Efficiency target 35-40%
Charges using solar thermal energy captured by
integrated solar collectors (Fresnel-style optical
lenses) and backup charging via resistance coils using
renewable electricity
Thermal storage system
• Proprietary high temperature heat storage (hot bricks) Discharge process: Uses a Stirling engine operating
on a closed-cycle heat engine principle
• Heat from the thermal battery drives the engine to
generate electricity
Agenda Page 20
Photon Vault 24-hour High-Availability Hybrid Thermal Energy Storage
Hybrid Thermal Energy Storage
25 MW photovoltaic (PV) solar generation
5 MW/120 MWh daily discharge of storage
Products: RA, energy, RECs
Location: Kettleman City, CA (Kings)
New build project with Q2 2029 online date
Price: Pricing is comparable to geothermal resources
Developer: Photon Vault
Term: 20 years
Seeking a Conditional Shortlist Agreement to aid in the development of the project. This project also forms part of Photon Vault’s market entry strategy serving as an opportunity to demonstrate the viability of this technology in CA
Project Overview
11 Criteria Rank Justification
Technology
Maturity Low
Technology has been tested at 10 kW
prototype, and not fully tested at
larger scale
Development
Stage Medium
Site control, conceptual design for
interconnection, detailed schedule for
delivery outlined
Economic
Feasibility Low
Project ranks in 4th quartile NPV
when evaluated in the 2025 Clean
Energy and Reliability RFO Price
Environment, but compares favorably
to other 24/7 output projects
Price Clarity High
Firm and provides a price breakdown
with clear visibility into cost
components to support total price
Innovation High
Unique system design through
combination of different technology.
Awarded 5 patents on their solution
Workforce
Development Medium
Commits to using union labor,
targeted-hires, apprenticeship
programs and paying prevailing wage
Environmental
Stewardship High Zero emissions, end of life recycling
of components
Benefits to DACs High Located in a DAC, job creation
Project Location Medium In CA
Evaluation Summary
Agenda Page 21
MN8 Exowatt Battery
Demonstration
Thermal Battery System
10 MW net electrical output; 80 MWh
Products: RA, energy, RECs
Location: Calexico, CA (Imperial)
The proposed project is a demonstration-scale deployment of Exowatt P3 thermal battery system at one of MN8’s current facilities in Imperial County
Price: Indicative
Developer: MN8 & Exowatt
Exowatt is serving as both technology provider and active project partner contributing system integration, manufacturing, and performance validation while MN8 leads development and site operations Term: 20 years
Seeking a Letter of Support to strengthen position in land expansion negotiations, attract additional technical and financing partners, increase technology credibility
Project Overview
12 Criteria Rank Justification
Technology
Maturity Medium
Uses established technology components,
but system lacks documented operational
history
Development
Stage Medium Site secured, permits in progress,
development timeline clearly articulated
Economic
Feasibility TBD
Counterparty submitted an indicative price
so cost-competitiveness cannot be
determined at this stage
Price Clarity Medium Proposed price is indicative
Innovation High
Unique system design combination: solar,
thermal battery, and Stirling engine--with
proprietary elements. Dual charging
(sunlight and resistive coils)
Workforce
Development High Commits to Project Labor Agreement (PLA) and partnership with a local college
Environmental
Stewardship High
Units can be recycled or repurposed, closed
heat engine minimizes water demand,
stacked containers minimizes land footprint
Benefits to DACs High
Located in a DAC, job creation, and
demonstrates commitment to community
engagement
Project Location Medium In CA
Evaluation Summary
Agenda Page 22
Recommendation
Agenda Page 23
Recommendations
14 In forming its recommendation, the RFO Review Team evaluated the projects based on the criteria specified in the Track 1 Solicitation protocol. Additional context regarding the evaluation is also provided below:
Photon Vault
Recommendation: Conditional Shortlist Agreement
Considerations
Long-duration storage using emerging technologies aligns with the Innovation Solicitation objectives Photon Vault has proposed a firm price that aligns with market expectations for a resource offering a 24/7 hourly profile
At 5 MW, the battery size is advantageous in that, if the project were to prove unsuccessful, it would not materially impact CPA’s overall portfolio or positions
Preliminary testing supports the viability of the technology, though commercial-scale operational performance remains to be demonstrated
Key steps are still required to confirm eligibility under current RA frameworks, although this can be resolved before contracting if the project advances
Developmental milestones such as interconnection and permitting are still maturing and will require further progress Conditional Shortlist Agreement conditionally binds the counterparties in the event that the project achieves the agreed milestones and complies with specified commercial terms (including price), thereby triggering CPA’s obligation to negotiate a PPA either in a future RFO or bilaterally Agenda Page 24
Recommendations
15 In forming its recommendation, the RFO Review Team evaluated the projects based on the criteria specified in the Track 1 Solicitation protocol. Additional context regarding the evaluation is also provided below:
MN8
Recommendation: Letter of Support
Considerations
Long-duration storage using emerging technologies aligns with the Innovation Solicitation objectives Since site control is secured and interconnection efforts are underway, the project is positioned to continue progressing through early development milestones
Preliminary testing supports the viability of the design, however commercial-scale performance remains unproven and will require further validation
Key steps are still required to confirm eligibility under current RA frameworks, but can be resolved over time MN8 could not commit to a firm price and therefore requested a Letter of Support The Letter of Support imposes no binding commitments on CPA or MN8. It solely states CPA’s support, which could help advance the project
Agenda Page 25
Action Requested
16 Approve Shortlist of Innovation Solicitation by authorizing the CEO to execute:
o A Letter of Support for MN8 Exowatt
o A Conditional Shortlist Agreement with Photon Vault
Preferred
Award Option Developer Project Location Capacity (MW) COD Letter of
Support MN8 Exowatt
Thermal
Battery
System
Calexico, CA 10 MW/80 MWh
(storage) Q1 2029
Conditional
Shortlist
Agreement
Photon Vault
Hybrid
Thermal
Energy
Storage
Kettleman City,
CA
25 MW (PV)
5 MW/120 MWh
(storage)
Q2 2029
Agenda Page 26
NEXT STEPS
Agenda Page 27
Solicitation Process/Timeline
• Review Team meets to consider projects and determine next steps, which may include directing staff to conduct additional due diligence on proposals • Return to Review Team and Energy Committee with updates on thermal battery proposals due diligence and recommendations
• Deadline for first round of proposals July 28, 2025
• Intake initial proposals, perform quality control and evaluate all initial proposals • Selected proposals are awarded a Conditional Shortlist Agreement or Letter of Support
• Innovation Solicitation opens
• Verbal status update to Energy Committee regarding decision to conduct additional due diligence on thermal battery proposals
The process will repeat in early 2026 following the second deadline for proposal submissions, February 2026.
Agenda Page 28
18 APPENDIX:
Technology
Overview
Agenda Page 29
1. Photon Vault Hybrid Thermal Battery
Agenda Page 30
20 2. Exowatt Thermal Battery
Source: https://www.exowatt.com/solutions
Agenda Page 31
21 APPENDIX:
Qualitative
Scoring for Track 1
Proposals
Agenda Page 32
Overall Evaluation Summary
23 Projects Technology
Maturity
Development
Stage
Economic
Feasibility
Price
Clarity Innovation Environmental Stewardship
Workforce
Development
Benefits to
DACs
Project
Location
Project A
Carbon Capture Medium Medium Low Medium Low Neutral High TBD Medium Project B
Carbon Capture High High Low Low Medium High High TBD Medium Photon Vault
Hybrid Thermal
Energy Storage
Low Medium Low High High High Medium High Medium
MN8 Exowatt
Thermal Battery Medium Medium TBD Medium* High High High High Medium *Proposed price is indicative.
Agenda Page 33
Evaluation Criteria
In addition to using CPA’s standard ranking criteria, Innovation, Technology Maturity, Price Clarity and Economic Feasibility were added to better align with the solicitation’s goals (see Appendix for detailed descriptions):
Environmental
Stewardship
Workforce
Development Innovation
Project
Location
Benefits to
DACs
24 Technology
Maturity
Development
Stage
Economic
Feasibility Price Clarity
Agenda Page 34
Technology Maturity
Projects are ranked high, medium, and low based on the following prioritization:
Technology is well-established and/or supported by proven operational HIGH history Technology has been tested in pilots or uses established technologies, but may still require optimization
MEDIUM
Technology is highly experimental or lacks documented operational history LOW Agenda Page 35
25 Development Stage
Projects are ranked high, medium, and low based on the following prioritization:
Critical permits obtained. Detailed schedule with key milestones completed. HIGH Site control secured and interconnection complete or clearly mapped Permits in progress, site identified, and preliminary design complete.
Interconnection pending
MEDIUM
No permits secured, major uncertainties in timeline, or no established site.
Significant risks with no mitigation plans outlined LOW Agenda Page 36
26 Economic Feasibility
Projects are ranked high, medium, and low based on the following prioritization:
HIGH Project demonstrates cost-competitiveness
MEDIUM Project costs are reasonable
LOW Project costs are unrealistic
Agenda Page 37
27 Price Clarity
Projects are ranked high, medium, and low based on the following prioritization:
HIGH Pricing details are clearly outlined and firm
Pricing details are outlined and appear viable but contain assumptions or uncertainties
MEDIUM
LOW No price certainty
Agenda Page 38
28 Innovation
Projects are ranked high, medium, and low based on the following prioritization:
Demonstrates a novel solution supported by patents or proprietary designs.
Employs a unique combination of materials, processes, or systems not commonly found in other technologies
HIGH
MEDIUM Project includes unique features but built on known or existing technologies Project relies on widely available, common clean energy technologies. Little to no demonstration of innovation in design, equipment, application LOW Agenda Page 39
29 Environmental Stewardship
Projects are ranked high, medium, neutral, and low based on the following prioritization:
Demonstrates multiple benefits (provides additional societal, health, economic, water saving, or environmental benefits beyond the climate and GHG reduction benefits of renewable energy)
HIGH
Located in an area designated as a preferred renewable energy zone and received required land use entitlement permits
MEDIUM
LOW Project is located in a high conflict area
NEUTRAL Project does not demonstrate either preference or avoidance criteria Agenda Page 40
30 Workforce Development
Projects are ranked high, medium, and low based on the following prioritization:
The project will use targeted-hire, union labor, or multi-trade project labor agreements (including requirements for state-apprenticeship graduates) HIGH The project does not have a labor agreement, but can demonstrate prevailing wage, union labor, and targeted hire commitments MEDIUM The project does not demonstrate prevailing wage, union labor, and targeted hire commitments
LOW
Agenda Page 41
31 Benefits to Disadvantaged Communities
Projects are ranked high, medium, neutral, and low based on the following prioritization:
Located within a DAC and demonstrates DAC workforce and community development benefits HIGH
Project not located within a DAC but can demonstrate DAC benefits and has completed community outreach MEDIUM
LOW Project is inconsistent with community priorities
NEUTRAL Project does not demonstrate DAC benefits
Agenda Page 42
32 Project Location
HIGH In Los Angeles and Ventura counties
Other counties within California
Projects located within a Federally-designated energy community or on tribal lands with demonstrated community support (including outside of California)
MEDIUM
Projects outside of California not located in a Federally-designated energy community or on tribal lands without demonstrated community support LOW
Projects are ranked high, medium, and low based on the following prioritization:
Agenda Page 43
33 APPENDIX:
Unique Natural
Gas Tolls
Evaluation Criteria
Agenda Page 44
Disadvantaged Community Impacts
Natural Gas resources will have differing impacts on DACs than renewable resources. Impacts to DACs will be assessed in conjunction with scoring in the three qualitative evaluation criteria; 1) impacts of the agreement on a transition to cleaner operations, 2) workforce development, and 3) GHG emissions Demonstrates DAC benefits, including transition to cleaner operations or retirement at the end of the contract term
HIGH
Project does not demonstrate additional DAC benefits, or is not located in a DAC
NEUTRAL
LOW Project is harmful or inconsistent with community priorities Agenda Page 45
35 Workforce Development
• CPA will use its traditional workforce development criteria with a slight modification to address existing facilities
The project is a union site or will use targeted-hire, union labor, or multi-trade project labor agreements (including requirements for state-apprenticeship graduates) HIGH
The project is not a union site or does not have a labor agreement, but can demonstrate prevailing wage, union labor, and targeted hire commitments MEDIUM
The project does not demonstrate prevailing wage, union labor, and targeted hire commitments
LOW
Agenda Page 46
36