Clean Energy Adopter: Initiating Clean Energy Integration with Pilot Projects

Any business that has begun the process of implementing clean energy has reached the second level of the Clean Energy Maturity Model — a framework that helps organizations assess and increase their level of clean energy integration. Having done your research and drummed up internal support for clean energy as an Explorer, you have entered the accomplished ranks of the Adopters.

As an Adopter organization, you have transitioned from interest to implementation, embarking on a clean energy pilot program. While it may only be a single clean energy asset functioning within your organization, the success of that program will soon help you take the next steps as you embark on the process of incremental growth toward greater clean energy maturity. In this blog post we will explore common Adopter traits, the challenges Adopters face, and best practices for overcoming them.

Key Characteristics of an Adopter Organization

An Adopter organization can be identified by the gradual steps they are taking toward clean energy and the completion of at least one pilot project. They have moved past the research stage and are now collecting tangible data about clean energy and gauging how it can help them achieve their business goals. Here is a breakdown of what makes an Adopter:

1. Commitment to Clean Energy

• Has transitioned from exploration to implementation
• Executing pilot projects for initial clean energy adoption

An Adopter organization has put their commitment to clean energy to work. They have transitioned from merely exploring opportunities to implementing clean energy, albeit at a small scale, initially. Executing a pilot project, or multiple pilots, has begun the process of adopting clean energy, opening the door for more and larger-scale implementations in the future.

2. Expanded Internal Focus

• Making considerations for clean energy in Strategy, Financial, and Funding activities
• Taking steps to bring sustainability expertise in house

A signature of a business in the Adopter stage is making clean energy a greater priority internally. Having made the first step in adopting one clean energy technology, an Adopter is considering clean energy in its larger business strategy as well as making financial and funding considerations for further clean energy expansion.  Adopters are also beginning to bring sustainability expertise in house, opposed to relying solely on external resources.

3. Action-Oriented Initiatives

• Using clean energy pilot projects as a testing ground
• Leveraging software to manage asset performance

As mentioned, Adopters are engaged in clean energy pilot projects, which  can be used to springboard into future implementations. They can function as a testing ground for greater use of a single clean energy asset type or a cornerstone in building an array of complementary technologies. Through the pilot project, and by utilizing software to maximize its performance, Adopter organizations can learn more about clean energy strategies, planning, and cost-effectiveness.

Assessment Across Eight Core Areas

An Adopter organization can be further examined using eight assessment areas for clean energy maturity. Your approach to strategy, financial considerations, organizational culture, and other dimensions will help mark whether you have just entered the Adopter phase or are approaching the third maturity level as a clean energy Optimizer.

1. Strategy
   • Your business has begun to refine your clean energy objectives based on the outcomes of the initial pilot project. Long-term commitments may have been made or are being developed to plan for greater sustainability integration on a larger scale and at multiple locations.
2. Financial Considerations
   • As an Adopter, you have begun to realize early-stage benefits including reduced electricity costs and a realized opportunity for future revenue. You have gained a baseline understanding of pilot project costs and how benefits can balance or overcome both initial and ongoing expenses.
3. Funding
   • Your organization is leveraging one or more funding sources to cover installation expenses. You are also becoming more experienced at making use of tax credits, grants, and utility incentives to cover or reduce the cost of clean energy projects.
4. Technology
   • An Adopter has deployed one clean energy asset such as EV chargers or solar arrays. You have gained greater understanding of your chosen technology and are using software solutions to manage that asset's performance.
5. Advocacy
   • Your organization has begun building internal support for greater clean energy implementations based on the results of your plot program. Pilot program successes strengthen the business case for further adoption.
6. Organization & Culture
   • Your company has formed an internal team dedicated to sustainability and further clean energy implementation. Inside the company, you may be seeing a shifting mindset toward clean energy and greater enthusiasm for further clean energy adoption.
7. Environmental Impact
   • You have taken significant steps to reduce Scope 1 emissions, which represent the ecological impact caused directly by a company's operations. Your leadership team may be ready to set foundational carbon reduction goals for long-term and significant reductions beyond Scope 1.
8. Business Operations
   • Your internal teams have begun evaluating the impact of clean energy assets on daily business operations. You can see the potential for further improvements and large-scale organizational benefits of greater clean energy implementation.

Challenges & Solutions for Adopter Organizations

Adopter organizations are in a pivotal position, as they are challenged with scaling up from a single-asset pilot program to broader clean energy adoption. The organization is accumulating useful data from the pilot program but must balance initial investments with the potential for operational benefits. Adopter organizations must ensure alignment between the pilot outcomes and organizational goals to be guided by their initial data. Fortunately, there are many successful Adopter corporations that can serve as an example of how to solve these challenges and advance to higher clean energy maturity levels.

Case Study: DHL Integrates EVs and Charging Stations

DHL, the renowned global shipping company, is a prime example of an Adopter organization moving quickly toward the next maturity level of the Clean Energy Maturity Model.

• Overview: DHL is transitioning from a massive fleet of gas-powered vehicles to electric vans and trucks. They are facilitating this goal through the installation of hundreds of PowerFlex charging stations to support their fleet electrification.

• Key Actions: When DHL decided to switch to electric vehicles, they strategically adopted EV charging as a pilot program. This will help them achieve their goal of gradual electrification, reaching 60% electric vehicles in their last-mile delivery fleet by 2030.

• Impact: DHL has already realized a significant impact in the reduction of carbon emissions due to the scale of their electrification project. They have also pledged to eliminate emissions entirely by 2050.

• Lessons Learned: DHL represents the importance of aligning clean energy initiatives with long-term sustainability goals. They have leveraged their pilot project success to drive profound internal and external support as they scale upward and onward.

Steps to Transition to Level 3: Optimizer

As a business in the Adopter stage, what can your organization do to take that critical step forward and become an Optimizer, the next level of clean energy maturity? An Optimizer has implemented multiple technologies and has evolved from pilot projects to optimizing an upscale clean energy system.

Here is what you can do to achieve this evolution:

1. Evaluate Pilot Outcomessome text
   • Measure the success of your pilot projects against predefined goals and metrics. Use your pilot project as an opportunity to identify areas for improvement and opportunities for scalability.
2. Expand Asset Adoptionsome text
   • Introduce additional clean energy assets and technologies that complement each other. Solar arrays alongside EV charging, for example, make each other more beneficial when used together. Then, seek ways to optimize installations across multiple business locations.
3. Enhance Internal Expertisesome text
   • Build a sustainability team dedicated to tracking emissions and setting emission reduction goals. Use your existing clean energy network to leverage both internal and external advocacy to achieve broader adoption.
4. Implement Software Solutionssome text
   • Enhance the efficiency and benefits of your clean energy technology with software solutions. Adopt systems to monitor and optimize your clean energy performance, then begin monetizing your clean energy assets wherever possible.

PowerFlex Helps You Go From Adopter to Optimizer

Adopters represent organizations actively moving the needle on sustainability. You have already achieved one victory and are ready to build that into greater achievements beyond simple pilot projects. The next step is to transition from single-asset adoption to multi-asset implementation and optimization. As an end-to-end clean technology solutions provider, PowerFlex can help you implement a variety of asset types such as solar, energy storage, EV charging, and more. The next step is to transition from single-asset adoption to multi-asset implementation and optimization. Contact a member of our team to support and scale your clean energy efforts.