Search NASA⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Therkelsen, Peter

Publications and source records attributed to Therkelsen, Peter.

6 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

The global policy landscape of ISO 50001 energy management systems

While many options exist to improve industrial demand-side energy efficiency, energy management systems (EnMSs)—particularly those aligned with ISO 50001—are proven to drive continuous and meaningful energy performance improvements. Governments leverage these EnMSs in their policies to advance national objectives including enhancing industrial competitiveness and achieving environmental goals. Existing research has focused on the impact of EnMSs at the company level, while comprehensive work on EnMSs in a global policy context is lacking. We seek to close this gap by investigating the extent to which current national policies incorporate the utilization of EnMSs, particularly the ISO 50001 standard. Our paper employs a hybrid approach, combining a literature review and expert interviews across 28 governments representing > 86% of global primary energy consumption. We dissect policy mechanisms, governance levels, underlying motivations, and trends in present EnMS policies. We find that > 96% of the investigated countries include EnMSs within their policy scope; 90% of policies including EnMSs utilize the ISO 50001 standard in some capacity. Primary policy motivations include decarbonization, energy savings for industrial competitiveness, and energy system resilience. We highlight that in the EnMS context, policy mixes—combining economic incentives, regulatory instruments, and information-based approaches—are more effective than standalone measures. Our work provides a novel global overview of governmental EnMS policies, moving beyond whether EnMS should be adopted to focus on how they can be implemented most effectively.

Moreno, Francisco Luis↗
DOE OSTI2023

Flame stabilizer for natural draft lean premixed burner apparatus

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to burner apparatus for lean premixed flames. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a burner plate, a burner body, and a mesh. A first surface of the burner plate defines a combustion surface for a fuel/air mixture. The burner plate defines a plurality of primary ports. The burner body defines a fuel-air mixing chamber. One surface of the burner body comprises the burner plate. The burner body defines an inlet for receiving air and a fuel in the fuel-air mixing chamber. The mesh is disposed in the fuel-air mixing chamber and is in contact with a second surface of the burner plate.

Rapp, Vi↗
DOE OSTI2023

ISO 50001-Based Energy Management Systems as a Practical Path for Decarbonization: Initial Findings from a Survey of Technical Assistance Cohort Participants

Organizations face rising pressure to take action to reduce their climate-affecting emissions (i.e., decarbonize). While many responses are possible, an essential approach—strategically managing their energy consumption as an essential business practice via an ISO 50001-based energy management system—is not yet widely recognized as a framework for decarbonization. This study analyzes interim survey results from 24 organizations (a 48% response rate) implementing a rigorous energy management system, one deployed by the U.S. Department of Energy as “50001 Ready”, to test whether participating organizations perceive the energy management system under development as an essential aspect of their decarbonization efforts. The results are preliminary in nature, given the ongoing nature of the program and associated data collection; however, they are sufficient to refute our hypothesis that energy management systems are perceived by organizations participating in 50001 Ready cohorts to primarily affect energy performance with little-to-no connection regarding decarbonization efforts. Major findings include that participants’ decarbonization targets and commitments are driven by market imperatives (highlighting the importance of ISO 50001 as a management system tool) and that they see energy efficiency as vital to decarbonizing. We conclude by suggesting future research directions to further establish the premise that energy management systems are an effective, efficient, and long-lasting decarbonization strategy.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Strategic Energy Management Program Persistence and Cost Effectiveness An Analysis of the SEM Program Landscape

This study examines the relationship between strategic energy management (SEM) programs and their persistence and cost effectiveness, with analysis based on interview data from 24 SEM program administrators, SEM program evaluations, and other reports. The 80 interview questions focused on the topics of program design, energy savings, energy savings persistence, cost effectiveness, and customer SEM persistence. The generosity of interview respondents provided a wealth of data, resulting in a report of sufficient length to warrant inclusion of this brief guide of the report structure. The major sections are listed below with brief descriptions. Individual sections of this report are mainly stand-alone and do not require reading of other sections. As a result, there is some duplication between sections, but with differing levels of detail. Executive Summary: Presents three key conclusions of this work with a short description of potential actions to advance the understanding of each key finding. Brief Observations: Lists a large number of bulleted observations resulting from this research, arranged by the five major topic areas included in the interviews. Analysis details are provided in the Analysis of Interview Results section. Foundations for this Research: Provides an overview of SEM, SEM frameworks, SEM programs, the topics of persistence and cost effectiveness, and the focus of this research. Methodology: Details the approach and strategy of this research, providing background information relevant to the formulation of interview questions and the identification of which SEM programs to interview. Observations from Compiled Evaluations and Other Reports: Reports observations from the collection and analysis of program evaluations, annual reports, utility planning documents, and SEM-related white papers. This section, presented in bullet form, highlights challenges in data collection and ultimately a comparison of program practices as they pertain to persistence and cost effectiveness. Analysis of Interview Results: Presents detailed analysis of responses from SEM program administrators, arranged by the five major categories examined: program design, energy savings, energy savings persistence, cost effectiveness, and customer SEM persistence. Interview questions are generally grouped together into subsections when it makes sense to examine them together. SEM Programs Challenge Traditional Cost-Effectiveness Metrics: Details an analysis based on five key factors showing that applying traditional cost-effectiveness metrics to SEM programs is not straightforward. This invites the opportunity to consider whether traditional cost-effectiveness metrics are applicable to SEM programs, either individually or at large. Resolution of Research Hypotheses: Tabulates a set of hypotheses that were developed to address the fundamental nature of the research at hand. Analysis of responses to multiple questions informs an understanding of each hypothesis and can be used to better understand the SEM program environment at large.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2020

Non-routine adjustments – towards standardizing M&V approach for quantifying the effects of static factors

The success of an energy management program relies on ensuring that the energy savings can be verified with an adequate level of certainty. Energy savings cannot be directly measured and hence have to be deduced by comparing the pre-retrofit energy consumption with post-retrofit energy consumption data adjusted to account for differences in conditions. These adjustments are needed, since conditions that influence energy consumption may not stay the same between pre- and postinstallation phase of the project. These adjustments can often be routine when accounting for factors like production volume and weather that are expected to change and are included in the energy consumption adjustment model. Existing measurement and verification (M&V) resources and guidance mostly concentrate on developing models for routine adjustment of one or more factors that normally change. On the other hand, there are factors (static) like product mix, operating hours, gross square area, etc. that are assumed to stay constant during normal conditions. However, in order to adapt to dynamic market conditions, the industries are forced to react thereby leading to changes to these static factors. Identifying these static factors that warrant adjustment, called non-routine event, along with quantifying their effect on energy consumption can be complex and lack of proper guidance can exacerbate this issue. This paper reviews some of the current work in terms of how non-routine events are defined, characterized, detected and quantified based on a review of existing M&V guidelines, protocols and other relevant literature. This work also reviewed some of the existing non-routine events and adjustment practices to understand how these different aspects are addressed along with a discussion on some of the key challenges and gaps in the current guidance.

Earni, Shankar↗