Distributed Electricity Backup Assets Program - Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) for Grid Reliability
Distributed Electricity Backup Assets Program - Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) for Grid Reliability funds agencies, tribes, utilities and nonprofits deploying zero-emission resources for California grid reliability.
Funder: California Energy Commission
Due Dates: November 5, 2026 (Workshop) | November 13, 2026 (Questions) | January 26, 2027 (Applications)
Funding Amounts: $2 million–$8 million per award; $23.144 million–$46.144 million anticipated total funding
Summary: Supports deployment of new, commercially available, zero-emission distributed energy resources that strengthen California grid reliability during extreme events.
Key Information: Projects must provide incremental grid capacity and meet dispatch and reporting obligations for at least three program seasons.
Description
The California Energy Commission’s Distributed Electricity Backup Assets (DEBA) Program funds deployment of distributed energy resources that increase electricity supply or reduce or shift demand to help avoid blackouts during extreme events. This competitive solicitation supports new, commercially available, zero-emission energy storage, load-flexibility controls, distributed generation, and microgrid equipment serving non-residential or aggregated residential users in California.
Funded capacity must be additional to the state’s Resource Adequacy supplies and existing Strategic Reliability Reserves. Projects must respond to immediate reliability needs through a selected performance pathway. Administered by the Reliability, Renewable Energy & Decarbonization Incentives Division, the solicitation uses Proposition 4 funding authorized through Senate Bill 105 and Assembly Bill 113.
