ETCC Webinar Will Feature California Energy Commission Grant Recipients

Two California Energy Commission recipients will be featured during an Aug. 28 Emerging Technologies Coordinating Council (ETCC) webinar.

Erik Desormeaux, director of process development for San Leandro-based Porifera Inc., and Zhongli Pan, adjunct professor at the University of California, Davis, will discuss innovative projects that received Energy Commission grants.

Porifera specializes in water purification through its proprietary concentrator and recycler technologies. Its products are used for wastewater treatment, water reuse, and food processing. They increase efficiency, cut energy use, and reduce environmental impacts.

Pan will give two presentations on his work using infrared heating as an energy efficient method to dry and blanch walnuts and snacks. The system drastically reduces the amount of energy need to dry nuts and could save growers as much as 50 percent in energy costs.

The Porifera projects were funded by the Energy Commission’s Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) program, which drives clean energy innovation and entrepreneurship. Pan’s project received funds from EPIC’s predecessor the Public Interest Energy Research Program.

The projects support California’s goal of achieving a 100 percent clean energy future.

The ETCC was established by the Energy Commission, the Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison, the Southern California Gas Company, and San Diego Gas & Electric to facilitate collaboration on emerging and underutilized energy technologies. Its leadership team has grown to include the Sacramento Municipal Utility District and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.