CONNECT's Innovation 2024 event in San Diego was a dynamic showcase of groundbreaking innovations across sectors like energy, transportation, life sciences, and sustainability. This year, the event spotlighted key players driving change through advanced technologies, including startups, established corporations, and research institutions working to address the pressing challenges of climate change, energy resilience, and mobility.

At the intersection of these themes, Fermata Energy joined forces with SDG&E and Toyota to highlight Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology and its role in the energy transition. In addition to sharing information about our groundbreaking SDG&E/Toyota/Fermata Energy V2G pilot, we spent the day engaging with attendees to educate them about the SDG&E Dynamic Export Rate Pillot, which is one of the use cases that our V2G pilot will be participating in. SDG&E fielded questions about the SDG&E Dynamic Export Rate Pilot, how it can potentially save customers money on their electric bills, how customers can take advantage of this rate with V2G technology, and how this innovative dynamic rate can be leveraged to benefit both customers and the grid. Beyond our booth, the event reflected broader trends that are shaping the future of industries as diverse as healthcare, clean energy, and smart cities. Here are some overarching takeaways from the event along with insights from our perspective:

1. Cross-Industry Innovation is Accelerating

One of the key themes at Innovation 2024 was the increasing convergence of different industries, with many companies presenting solutions that overlap across sectors. Whether it was V2G technology in transportation and energy, or advancements in biotech and AI for healthcare, the event underscored how collaboration across sectors is unlocking new possibilities. This was evident in how attendees from various industries engaged in discussions with our teams about energy storage, grid resilience, and clean energy solutions.

2. Sophisticated Questions Reflect Maturing Markets

We noticed a shift in the type of questions being asked, particularly at the SDG&E, Toyota, and Fermata Energy booth. Attendees demonstrated a much deeper understanding of technologies, asking sophisticated questions that reflected the rapid maturation of markets like V2G. For instance:

• How does V2G save money on electricity bills?
• What benefits can residential and commercial customers expect from grid participation?
• What are the available programs and incentives for grid export?

This level of inquiry was also apparent across other sectors, as visitors to different booths sought real-world financial benefits, regulatory clarity, and concrete use cases for emerging tech.

3. Energy and Sustainability Were Hot Topics

While the event featured a diverse range of sectors, energy and sustainability were clearly front and center. Discussions about clean energy solutions like V2G, energy storage, and dynamic rate programs dominated many conversations. Attendees at our booth, for example, were highly interested in the SCE Dynamic Rate Export pilot and the SDG&E/Toyota/Fermata Energy collaboration, both of which align with broader energy transition goals. Similarly, other booths showcased cutting-edge innovations aimed at reducing carbon footprints, improving energy efficiency, and integrating renewable energy sources into grids and buildings.

4. Hardware and Infrastructure Challenges Are Top of Mind

As industries move toward greater adoption of advanced tech like V2G and energy storage, the focus is increasingly on the infrastructure needed to support it. Visitors asked about the availability of bidirectional chargers, installation costs, and whether utilities would offer financial assistance for infrastructure upgrades. These concerns echoed across the event, as participants from different sectors addressed the hardware, software, and regulatory frameworks necessary for their innovations to thrive. Whether it was EV infrastructure, smart grid technology, or AI in healthcare, infrastructure questions were at the forefront.

5. Collaboration is Key to Success

One of the overarching themes of CONNECT's Innovation 2024 was the need for collaboration between public and private sectors, industries, and communities to scale innovation. Our collaboration with SDG&E and Toyota on the Toyota V2G Research pilot is a prime example of how such partnerships can test and validate technologies that solve real-world problems. Similarly, many other sectors represented at the event emphasized partnerships as essential for scaling new technologies — from biotech firms working with public health organizations to clean tech companies collaborating with governments to deploy green infrastructure.

Looking Ahead: The Role of Collaboration in the Renewable Energy Transition

Our collaborative participation at CONNECT's Innovation 2024 reinforced the value of V2G technology in the broader context of energy resilience and the clean energy transition. Attendees at our booth raised important questions about cost savings, hardware availability, and installation challenges — concerns that mirror ongoing discussions in other sectors grappling with the rapid pace of innovation. Our work with SDG&E and Toyota addresses these challenges head-on, particularly as we continue to explore how V2G can deliver savings, enhance energy independence, and support grid stability.

Learn more about our collaborative V2G pilot here. 

As the event concluded, it was clear that cross-industry collaboration will be pivotal to tackling the challenges of the future, whether in energy, healthcare, or mobility. CONNECT’s Innovation 2024 demonstrated that, together, we can create a more sustainable, resilient future across sectors.