Over the past several years, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has undertaken an Efficient Electrification research initiative to help the electric power sector and related stakeholders identify cost-effective and resilient strategies to produce and use clean energy. Entergy Corporation has joined with EPRI to conduct a modeling and scenario analysis exploring the potential for the adoption of advanced electric technologies in three end-use sectors: buildings, transportation, and industry. Utility-level analyses were carried out using detailed end-use modeling techniques developed by EPRI along with data and insights provided by Entergy. Overall, this study identifies numerous opportunities for Entergy to assist customers with regard to the efficient electrification of end-use technologies.
Key insights from this work effort include the following:
- There is a high potential for electrification of light-duty vehicles; however, the timing and speed of future electric vehicle adoption are highly uncertain and depend on numerous factors.
- The market for medium-duty and heavy-duty electric vehicles is currently very early-stage but could develop quickly.
- Non-road transportation equipment offers many near-term solutions for customers, with many new technologies in development.
- Favorable climate conditions within Arkansas and Mississippi are expected to be the primary driver for residential heat pump adoption.
- Rooftop heat pumps represent a viable alternative to gas heating in commercial buildings.
- Electric foodservice equipment can offer multiple secondary energy and non-energy benefits to customers.
- Electric process heating can help reduce costs, improve productivity and product quality, and lower greenhouse gas emissions for manufacturing.
- New pipeline projects in the Gulf Coast region could lead to significant opportunities for electrifying natural gas pipeline compression stations.