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Technology Application Centers: Facilitating Technology Transfer
Abstract
Industrial DSM programs cannot succeed unless customers learn about and implement new technologies in a timely manner. Why? Because this expeditious transfer of new technologies represents the key challenge for the 1990s. This paper explores the viability of using technology application centers (TACs) to help utilities facilitate the diffusion of new technologies to customers.
Technology represents a key component in integrating industrial customers' needs with utility objectives. A&C Enercom's approach to technology deployment seeks to blend an industrial customer's priorities with the utility's marketing and customer service objectives. A&C Enercom sees technology deployment as the sum of an equation: technology deployment equals technology transfer plus technology application. A&C Enercom has learned from experience that technology deployment will not occur unless utilities achieve both technology transfer (e.g, the dissemination of information) and technology application (e.g., the direct application of electrotechnologies to a customer's processes and systems).
TACs represent a key tool that will help utilities meet the technology deployment challenge. A TAC's focus is to serve customers. It should house all technology deployment components and represent the platform from which all services are offered to the industrial customer. Today's utilities must become proactive partners in technology deployment or see customers switch to more astute, technologically-oriented competitors. TACs will help utilities make the right choices and better serve their customers.
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Citation
Kuhel, G. J. (1994). Technology Application Centers: Facilitating Technology Transfer. Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu). Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /91847.