Collaborations & Partnerships

In today’s economic environment, an individual company may not be in a position to independently fund an entire R&D project. GTI offers a consortium approach, through which a group of interested companies fund and help steer the direction of a project, while GTI manages the program and performs much of the research. These collaborative programs, which represent a great opportunity for utilities to leverage their R&D investments, include—

• Operations Technology Development (OTD), a member-controlled partnership of gas distribution companies to develop, test, and implement new technologies related to safe and reliable operation of the infrastructure
• Utilization Technology Development (UTD), a member-controlled partnership of natural gas distribution companies formed to conduct near-term applied research and to develop, test, and deploy energy-efficient end-use technologies.
  • The OTD and UTD collaboratives are supported by GTI’s Sustaining Membership Program (SMP) that jointly funds early-stage applied research up to the proof of concept stage, before further development continues with mid- to short-term RD&D programs.
• Emerging Technology Program (ETP), a member-driven collaborative to accelerate the market introduction and acceptance of new emerging technologies to feed utility energy efficiency programs.
• Joint Industry Projects (JIPs), which bring together U.S. and international companies interested in a similar scope of work to leverage funding and the knowledge and experience of all partners.

GTI is committed to broadening support for natural gas R&D that benefits gas consumers. Through the “Delta” program, our staff can serve as expert witnesses at rate cases and help you gain approval of R&D funding recovery.

We can help you optimize new technology prior to commercialization. As your technology transfer partner, GTI will conduct full-scale field demonstrations to help you assess equipment performance in real-world conditions and help you transfer new technology to the marketplace.

Working Collaboratively with Our Partners to Deliver Results

GTI has an extensive matrix of partners, investors and clients that encompasses more than 200 organizations. We have a proud legacy of successful projects developed in partnership with:

• State and federal government agencies
  • U.S. Department of Energy
  • U.S. Department of Transportation
  • U.S. Department of Defense
  • California Energy Commission
  • New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
  • Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
  • Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (ILDCEO)
• Natural gas utilities and pipeline companies
• Blue-chip industrial companies
• Electric utilities and independent power producers
• Technology developers and equipment manufacturers
• National laboratories
• Private equity and venture-backed companies

GTI works closely with a number of organizations that figure prominently in the energy industry. Highlights include:

• American Council on Renewable Energy (Founding member)
• American Gas Association
• American Public Gas Association
• Association of State Energy Research and Technology Transfer Institutions
• Bioenergy Association of California
• The Business Council for Sustainable Energy
• Carbon Utilization Research Council (member)
• Chicago Council for Science and Technology (C2ST) (Board member)
• Gasification Technologies Council
• Gas Processors Association
• Energy Solutions Center (affiliate member)
• Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (board member)
• International Gas Union (U.S. Leadership Team President for the IGU 2015-2018 Triennium)
• International Pittsburgh Coal Conference (board member)
• Interstate Natural Gas Association of America Foundation
• Midwest Energy Association
• National Association of State Energy Officials
• Western Energy Institute (service member)
• Northeast Gas Association
• RNG Coalition (member)
• Southern Gas Association
• Science Chicago
• US/China Clean Energy Research Center