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McCabe, Kevin

Publications and source records attributed to McCabe, Kevin.

At least 19 records

Modeling Distributed Generation in California

In support of analysis for the biennial Integrated Energy Policy Report, the California Energy Commission and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory have partnered to study the growth of distributed energy resources in California. This study involves the use of National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Distributed Generation Market Demand model, available at https://www.nrel.gov/analysis/dgen/, to project statewide adoption of distributed photovoltaics and paired storage. Key outcomes of the collaboration include: • Improved representation of California building stock, load profiles, historical adoption, and tariffs, including the net billing tariff, in the dGen model; • Trained CEC staff members to use and adapt the dGen model for their specific needs; • Developed a methodology for representing emerging consumer segments to potentially adopt distributed energy resources, including low-income, multifamily, and renter-occupied buildings; • Forecasted solar photovoltaic and paired storage growth in California using a common set of modeling parameters. This report describes the multiyear effort, which includes a discussion of: • Methodology and data employed in adapting the Distributed Generation Market Demand model for California to forecast solar photovoltaic and storage statewide through 2040; • Steps taken to modify the base model to forecast solar photovoltaic adoption in emerging market segments such as multifamily or renter-occupied homes or both; • Future enhancements of the model.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Building the Case for Hybrid Energy Developments: Webinar Recording Day 2

INL, PNNL, and NREL, with support from our academic and industry partners, hosted a 2-day webinar to learn more about the benefits of hybrid energy systems, considerations for designing the right system for communities, and practical tools that can help with the design and development process. In Day 2 of this webinar, the focus was on tools that can be used to help inform design decisions for hybrid systems, including resource analysis, siting, resilience, valuation, and resource optimization. Day 2 also highlighted funding opportunities for hybrid systems.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Building the Case for Hybrid Energy Developments: Webinar Recording Day 2

INL, PNNL, and NREL, with support from our academic and industry partners, hosted a 2-day webinar to learn more about the benefits of hybrid energy systems, considerations for designing the right system for communities, and practical tools that can help with the design and development process. In Day 2 of this webinar, the focus was on tools that can be used to help inform design decisions for hybrid systems, including resource analysis, siting, resilience, valuation, and resource optimization. Day 2 also highlighted funding opportunities for hybrid systems.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Distributed Wind Energy Futures Study [Slides]

To better understand distributed wind opportunities in the United States, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) National Renewable Energy Laboratory explored cost, performance, and valuation benchmarks necessary for distributed wind to achieve widespread commercial viability in the United States by 2035. Building on DOE's prior benchmark report "Assessing the Future of Distributed Wind: Opportunities for Behind-the-Meter Projects", the new Distributed Wind Futures Study employs higher-resolution data and new modeling techniques to highlight geographic trends in technical and economic potential and to compare the cost and performance of distribution-connected, megawatt-scale wind applications (referred to as "front-of-the-meter" applications) and behind-the-meter systems, thereby informing the case for investment. The report identifies the best locations and sectors for behind-the-meter and front-of-the-meter applications and provides data to inform the trade-offs consumers face when deciding between distributed wind and solar photovoltaic (PV).

17 WIND ENERGY↗

The locational value of distributed energy resources: A parcel-level evaluation of solar and wind potential in New York state

We report distributed energy resources (DERs) are poised to play a significant role in evolving power systems because of their flexibility to be sited in areas of high value to the grid. Traditional DER compensation frameworks, specifically net energy metering (NEM), inadequately communicate differences in the locational and temporal value of DER generation to the grid. As a transition from NEM, New York State's (NYS's) Value of Distributed Energy Resources (VDER) framework provides a methodology for calculating different value components that DERs offer the grid. To study the impacts of VDER frameworks on DER deployment, we developed a model to assess the value of distributed solar and wind systems configured as either a behind-the-meter system or a front-of-the-meter system for each parcel of land in NYS. Using parcel-level granularity, we can closely evaluate DER locational value and siting availability, particularly in urban and suburban settings. Our analysis finds while most DER generators would be modestly compensated for deferred transmission and distribution infrastructure upgrades (~0.01 $\$$/kWh for solar PV), a subset of projects receive significant value from this component (0.035 to 0.089 $\$$/kWh for top 5% of parcels for solar PV). Finally, our analysis finds VDER provides less overall compensation than NEM to the average DER generator, however, it increases access to compensation for front-of-the-meter DERs - a large and emerging market.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Distributed Wind Energy Futures Study

To better understand distributed wind opportunities in the United States, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) National Renewable Energy Laboratory explored cost, performance, and valuation benchmarks necessary for distributed wind to achieve widespread commercial viability in the United States by 2035. Building on DOE's prior benchmark report "Assessing the Future of Distributed Wind: Opportunities for Behind-the-Meter Projects", the new Distributed Wind Futures Study employs higher-resolution data and new modeling techniques to highlight geographic trends in technical and economic potential and to compare the cost and performance of distribution-connected, megawatt-scale wind applications (referred to as "front-of-the-meter" applications) and behind-the-meter systems, thereby informing the case for investment. The report identifies the best locations and sectors for behind-the-meter and front-of-the-meter applications and provides data to inform the trade-offs consumers face when deciding between distributed wind and solar photovoltaic (PV).

17 WIND ENERGY↗

Storage Futures Study: Key Learnings for the Coming Decades

This report is the final in NREL's Storage Futures Study, a multiyear research project that explored the role and impact of energy storage in the evolution and operation of the U.S. power sector. The SFS examined the potential impact of energy storage technology advancement on the deployment of utility-scale storage and the adoption of distributed storage, and the implications for future power system infrastructure investment and operations. The research findings and supporting data were published across a series of six reports, culminating in this final, seventh publication that draws upon findings from across the study, previous work, and additional analysis to identify eight key learnings about the future of energy storage and its impact on the power system. The key learnings can help policymakers, technology developers, and grid operators prepare for the coming way of energy storage deployment.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

GeoRePORT Protocol Volume III: Technical Assessment Tool

The GeoRePORT System is based on the concept that a geothermal system can be described both in terms of the quality of the geothermal resource as it relates to the potential to extract heat (resource grade) and the progress of research and development over the lifetime of the project (project readiness level). By assessing the major characteristics of a geothermal resource and categorizing the techniques used and how well the research technique was implemented, users can report a resource grade. The resource grade covers multiple geological, technological, and socioeconomic attributes that can be compared across play types and geothermal areas. Resource grade and project readiness level are reported for three assessment categories: geological, technical, and socioeconomic. This protocol document applies to the Technical Assessment Tool and is intended for use with an excel-based spreadsheet tool, published separately.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

Block Scale Rooftop Solar Technical Potential for the City of Orlando

The html maps are provided as supplementary information for the publication titled Parcel Scale Assessment of Rooftop Solar Technical Potential (NREL/PR-7A40-80780). The maps contain information on rooftop solar technical potential at the block scale for the city of Orlando in Florida. The rooftop solar technical potential information is based on data from two different datasets. The first dataset is LiDAR data for the city of Orlando obtained from the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) (Koebrich et al. 2021). The second dataset is a national parcel dataset (HIFLD 2020) which contains descriptive data and geometries for parcels in the U.S. Parcel scale data from both these datasets have been processed and aggregated to block scale to produce these html maps. The first html map (block scale developable roof area for Orlando) contains the developable roof area for solar. The second html map (block scale rooftop solar technical potential for Orlando) contains the rooftop solar technical potential in units of kilowatts as well as additional information on the most common building use type and the most common building occupancy type for the block. These html maps are provided to demonstrate the proof-of-concept analysis conducted for Orlando.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Storage Futures Study: Distributed Solar and Storage Outlook: Methodology and Scenarios

This report is one in a series of NREL’s Storage Futures Study (SFS) publications. The SFS is a multiyear research project that explores the role and impact of energy storage in the evolution and operation of the U.S. power sector. The SFS is designed to examine the potential impact of energy storage technology advancement on the deployment of utility-scale storage and the adoption of distributed storage, and the implications for future power system infrastructure investment and operations. The research findings and supporting data will be published as a series of reports, with each report being released on its completion. The table below lists the specific research topics planned for examination under the SFS and the associated publication formats. This report, the fourth in the SFS series, provides a set of scenarios for cost-effectiveness and customer adoption for a range of scenarios that include future technology costs and valuation of backup power. The SFS series provides data and analysis in support of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Storage Grand Challenge, a comprehensive program to accelerate the development, commercialization, and utilization of next-generation energy storage technologies and sustain American global leadership in energy storage. The Energy Storage Grand Challenge employs a use case framework to ensure storage technologies can cost-effectively meet specific needs, and it incorporates a broad range of technologies in several categories: electrochemical, electromechanical, thermal, flexible generation, flexible buildings, and power electronics. More information, any supporting data associated with this report, links to other reports in the series, and other information about the broader study are available at https://www.nrel.gov/analysis/storage-futures.html.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Space vehicle with customizable payload and docking station

A “black box” space vehicle solution may allow a payload developer to define the mission space and provide mission hardware within a predetermined volume and with predetermined connectivity. Components such as the power module, radios and boards, attitude determination and control system (ADCS), command and data handling (C&DH), etc. may all be provided as part of a “stock” (i.e., core) space vehicle. The payload provided by the payload developer may be plugged into the space vehicle payload section, tested, and launched without custom development of core space vehicle components by the payload developer. A docking station may facilitate convenient development and testing of the space vehicle while reducing handling thereof.

Judd, Stephen↗

Technoeconomic Design of a Geothermal-Enabled Cold Climate Zero Energy Community

Development of a zero energy community is more costly in northern cold climates than in moderate regions. Building energy loads are higher, thanks to the colder weather, and site solar photovoltaics (PV) are less productive due to lower solar incidence and misalignment with the buildings’ energy needs (summer production, winter demands). Geothermal energy production can support a zero energy community through application of energy efficiency (demand design), geothermal production (supply design), and asset dispatch as an integrated techno-economic package. This article presents the process used to explore geothermal system integration, our findings, and technical challenges for community-scale adoption of geothermal as an electric and thermal resource. We show that under a wide range of conditions, community-scale geothermal electric power and direct-use thermal energy is economically competitive with “business-as-usual” design and construction practices for zero energy communities. Furthermore, geothermal-produced energy will be self-consumed to a much greater extent than PV, resulting in significant reductions in site energy import and export. We conclude that under appropriate conditions, community-scale geothermal can be the most economically favorable energy resource for northern-climate zero energy community developments. Ongoing geothermal research and development to improve performance and reduce costs will further enhance the value proposition for community-scale geothermal technologies. We expect that including geothermal power and thermal energy in zero energy community design can improve its cost-effectiveness and therefore enhance the benefits of zero energy in more northern climates.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

Deployable sensor system using mesh networking and satellite communication

A sensor system may be configured for continuous operation in a low resource environment and/or in extreme environmental conditions. The sensor system may have sufficient processing capabilities to provide scientific computing for pre-processing, quality control, statistical analysis, event classification, data compression and corrections (e.g., spikes in the data), autonomous decisions and actions, triggering other nodes, and information assurance functions that provide data confidentiality, data integrity, authentication, and non-repudiation. The hardware may have both mesh networking and satellite and cellular communication capability, and may be available for relatively low cost. Such a network provides the flexibility to have potentially any number of nodes be completely independent from one another. Thus, the network may scale across a diverse terrain.

Frigo, Janette↗

Distributed Generation Market Demand (dGen) model

The Distributed Generation Market Demand (dGen) model simulates customer adoption of distributed energy resources (DERs) for residential, commercial, and industrial entities in the United States or other countries through 2050. The dGen model can be used for identifying the sectors, locations, and customers for whom adopting DERs would have a high economic value, for generating forecasts as an input to estimate distribution hosting capacity analysis, integrated resource planning, and load forecasting, and for understanding the economic or policy conditions in which DER adoption becomes viable, and for illustrating sensitivity to market and policy changes such as retail electricity rate structures, net energy metering, and technology costs.

Array↗

dGen™ (Distributed Generation Market Demand Model) [SWR-17-09]

The Distributed Generation Market Demand (dGen™) model is a geospatially rich, bottom-up, market-penetration model that simulates the potential adoption of distributed energy resources (DERs) for residential, commercial, and industrial entities in the continental United States through 2050. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) developed dGen to analyze the key factors that will affect future market demand for distributed solar, wind, storage, and other DER technologies in the United States within a single modeling platform. The dGen model builds on, extends, and provides significant advances over NREL’s SolarDS model (Denholm et al. 2009), which is now deprecated. All Authors and Contributors are alphabetized in the Developers section with Authors of Code listed first, followed by Contributors and do not reflect equal contributions.

Sigrin, Benjamin↗

dGen™ (Distributed Generation Market Demand Model) [SWR-17-09]

The Distributed Generation Market Demand (dGen™) model is a geospatially rich, bottom-up, market-penetration model that simulates the potential adoption of distributed energy resources (DERs) for residential, commercial, and industrial entities in the continental United States through 2050. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) developed dGen to analyze the key factors that will affect future market demand for distributed solar, wind, storage, and other DER technologies in the United States within a single modeling platform. The dGen model builds on, extends, and provides significant advances over NREL’s SolarDS model (Denholm et al. 2009), which is now deprecated.

Preus, Robert↗

dGen (Distributed Generation Market Demand) Model Data: Alpha Release

Open sourced data needed to run the basic alpha release version of the dGen model. Includes a pre-generated agent file of 100,000 agents in pickle file format along with the base schema and table data in parquet format that are needed to create a postgreSQL database for the model to interact with.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗