Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Cost Projections”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 181 records · Page 10
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

High Effectiveness, Compact, High Pressure and Low-Cost Recuperator, Presented at The Fifth International Symposium – Super-Critical CO2 Power Cycles, San Antonio, Texas, March 28-31, 2016, by Dr. John Kelly, President, Altex Technologies Corporation

Closed Brayton super-critical CO2 power cycles are well suited to waste heat bottoming cycles, due to their increased efficiency and compactness, relative to Rankine steam bottoming cycles. Since waste heat applications would be retrofits, the power system compactness is important. To achieve high efficiency, these power cycles require high pressure recuperative type heat exchangers, of substantial heat duty. Current Printed Circuit Heat Exchangers (PCHE), originally developed for high pressure gas and oil applications, can be used as recuperators, but costs are higher than desired. Altex is developing a purpose-built high pressure and effectiveness recuperator to provide the reliability, compactness, performance and pressure capability of current recuperators, but at a reduced cost. The High Effectiveness Low Cost (HELC) recuperative heat exchanger design yields volume and weight metrics of .0024 m3/UA and 10.2 kg/UA, which are 4% and 77.3% below recuperator target metrics, respectively. A 50 kW test article was designed and fabricated. Performance tests on water and oil showed that the HELC design model could predict heat transfer, to within 10% of the measured value. This model was then used to project HELC performance, when operating on supercritical CO2. Besides performance tests, the test article was hydrostatically tested, for integrity at up to 4,000 psi pressure. At these conditions, some distortion of channels was encountered. To mitigate distortion, the inserts were redesigned and these results were used to project the cost of 500 kW and 5,083 kW HELC units. The cost metric for the 5,083 kW unit was determined to be $1,349/UA, which is 10% lower than the recuperator desired cost metric desired target of $1,500/UA. In addition, the 5,083 kW unit HELC cost of $61.09/kW is 33.6% lower than the $92/kW estimated cost for a PCHE. Hydrostatic pressure tests, at up to 4,000psi, showed that the unit did not leak. However, channels were distorted at this pressure differential. Design updates to minimize stress concentrations and distortion were prepared and analyzed, to show that distortion could be controlled, but to date tests have not been run to prove the design. Project results show the potential of the HELC approach, but more work is required to confirm this potential, at the larger scales of interest.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

High Effectiveness, Compact, High Pressure and Low Cost Recuperator for Super-Critical CO2 Power Cycles, Paper Presented at The Fifth International Symposium – Super-Critical CO2 Power Cycles, San Antonio, Texas, March 28-31, 2016, by Dr. John Kelly, President, Altex Technologies Corporation

Closed Brayton super-critical CO2 power cycles are well suited to waste heat bottoming cycles, due to their increased efficiency and compactness, relative to Rankine steam bottoming cycles. Since waste heat applications would be retrofits, the power system compactness is important. To achieve high efficiency, these power cycles require high pressure recuperative type heat exchangers, of substantial heat duty. Current Printed Circuit Heat Exchangers (PCHE), originally developed for high pressure gas and oil applications, can be used as recuperators, but costs are higher than desired. Altex is developing a purpose-built high pressure and effectiveness recuperator to provide the reliability, compactness, performance and pressure capability of current recuperators, but at a reduced cost. The High Effectiveness Low Cost (HELC) recuperative heat exchanger design yields volume and weight metrics of .0024 m3/UA and 10.2 kg/UA, which are 4% and 77.3% below recuperator target metrics, respectively. A 50 kW test article was designed and fabricated. Performance tests on water and oil showed that the HELC design model could predict heat transfer, to within 10% of the measured value. This model was then used to project HELC performance, when operating on supercritical CO2. Besides performance tests, the test article was hydrostatically tested, for integrity at up to 4,000 psi pressure. At these conditions, some distortion of channels was encountered. To mitigate distortion, the inserts were redesigned and these results were used to project the cost of 500 kW and 5,083 kW HELC units. The cost metric for the 5,083 kW unit was determined to be $1,349/UA, which is 10% lower than the recuperator desired cost metric desired target of $1,500/UA. In addition, the 5,083 kW unit HELC cost of $61.09/kW is 33.6% lower than the $92/kW estimated cost for a PCHE. Hydrostatic pressure tests, at up to 4,000psi, showed that the unit did not leak. However, channels were distorted at this pressure differential. Design updates to minimize stress concentrations and distortion were prepared and analyzed, to show that distortion could be controlled, but to date tests have not been run to prove the design. Project results show the potential of the HELC approach, but more work is required to confirm this potential, at the larger scales of interest.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Low-Cost Magnesium Alloy Sheet Component Development and Demonstration Project

The overarching objective of this USAMP project was to develop and demonstrate door panels made from magnesium (Mg) sheet with a cost penalty over conventional steel stampings of no more than $5.50/kg saved. The technical approach integrated experiments with advanced computational tools based on Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) methods to develop new alloy chemistries and their thermomechanical processing that promise improved formability and lower forming temperatures. A penultimate task before finally forming the stampings was to incorporate actual microstructure into models that would enable formability simulations. This approach would, for the first time, account for individual magnesium grains moving in an anisotropic fashion unlike that for aluminum or steel that have isotropic properties upon which the current simulation tools are based. In separate activities, new coatings and lubricants to facilitate forming and improved corrosion protection and joining strategies, were developed to ensure that the door could be produced with stated product requirements. A technical cost model, which included parts production, assembly, and paint for a door specifically designed for Mg sheet, showed the cost penalty to be between 4.26 USD to 6.60 USD/kg saved, which enveloped the project’s cost targets. The cost of the coated Mg sheet was identified as the key driver for the cost penalty. The mass of the Mg-intensive door was 7.9 kg, which was 54% less than the baseline steel door.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Investigating Benefits and Challenges of Converting Retiring Coal Plants into Nuclear Plants

A coal-to-nuclear (C2N) transition means siting a nuclear reactor at the site of a recently retired coal power plant. Three overarching questions from the C2N transition guide this research: where in the United States are retired coal facilities located and what factors make a site feasible for transition; what factors of technology, cost, and project timeline drive investor economics over such a decision; and how will C2N impact local communities? The study team evaluated the siting characteristics of recently retired plants and those operating coal-fired power plant sites run by a utility or an independent power producer utilizing publicly available data to screen U.S. coal power plant sites to nuclear-feasible locations. After screening all retired coal sites to a set of 157 potential candidates and screening operating sites to a set of 237 candidates, the study team estimates that 80% of retired and operating coal power plant sites that were evaluated have the basic characteristics needed to be considered amenable to host an advanced nuclear reactor. For the recently retired plant sites evaluated, this represents a capacity potential of 64.8 GWe to be backfit at 125 sites. For the operating plant sites evaluated, this represents a capacity potential of 198.5 GWe to be backfit at 190 sites. This report evaluates a case study for the detailed impacts and potential outcomes from a C2N transition. Based on the nuclear technology choices and sizes evaluated to replace a large coal plant of 1,200 MWe generation capacity at the case study site, nuclear overnight costs of capital could decrease by 15% to 35% when compared to a greenfield construction project, through the reuse of infrastructure from the coal facility. Nuclear replacement designs can have a lower capacity size because nuclear power plants run at higher capacity factors than coal power plants. In the case study replacing coal capacity with 924 GWe of nuclear capacity, the study team found regional economic activity could increase by as much as $\$275 million$ and add 650 new, permanent jobs to the region of analysis. The evaluated site choice in the report is hypothetical for analysis purposes only and based on available data and documented assumptions. Consequently, the findings only inform at a general level. A community, investor, or other interested stakeholder can use these results to set up a detailed, in-depth analysis for a specific application of interest, such as evaluating a C2N transition of a specific coal power plant and a specific nuclear technology design. The report was subjected to independent peer reviews by experts in systems engineering and regional economic modeling to evaluate analysis and assumptions.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Guideline for Characterizing and Evaluating a Candidate Project Site for Solar Thermal Applications

This document presents a structured procedure for characterizing and evaluating candidate project sites for concentrating solar power (CSP) and solar heat for industrial processes (SHIP) applications. The objective is to provide project developers, researchers, and other stakeholders with a consistent, technology-agnostic framework for early-stage site assessment, enabling informed decision-making prior to significant investment in project development. Site selection is a critical factor in project success or failure for both CSP and SHIP projects. Key factors such as solar resource availability, land characteristics, environmental and regulatory constraints, infrastructure availability, and community context are determined by the choice of project site and can materially impact project performance, cost, schedule, and overall viability. This procedure is designed to systematically evaluate these factors, identify potential fatal flaws, and prioritize the most favorable candidate sites for further development. The process begins with rapid screening-level evaluation, using publicly available data to assess solar resource, land availability and suitability, zoning and land-use compatibility, and exclusion zones such as protected lands or sensitive habitats. Sites that meet the minimum screening criteria advance to a more detailed characterization. Subsequent sections of this report provide guidance for a next-level assessment of the most important technical and environmental parameters, including: 1) Solar resource quality, variability, and uncertainty using multiyear datasets and, where appropriate, on-site measurement campaigns; 2) Meteorological conditions such as wind, temperature, extreme weather events, and soiling impacts; 3) Land characteristics including slope, shading, and geotechnical conditions; and 4) Environmental and regulatory considerations, including permitting processes, endangered species, cultural resources, and visual impacts. The procedure also addresses infrastructure and integration considerations, including: 1) Grid interconnection requirements for CSP power generation projects; 2) Electrical and operational integration for SHIP facilities; 3) Water availability, quality, and permitting constraints, which are particularly critical for CSP in arid regions; and 4) Site access, construction logistics, and availability of workforce and supporting services. Recognizing the importance of social and economic context, the procedure includes evaluation of community engagement factors, such as stakeholder sentiment, proximity to sensitive visual receptors, workforce development opportunities, and local economic incentives. The outputs of these assessments are synthesized in a cost and risk evaluation, translating site characteristics into expected impacts on capital cost, operating cost, schedule, and technical risk. This is complemented by screening-level performance modeling, including 8760 simulations and long-term projections, to quantify expected energy or thermal output, assess variability thereof, and support comparison between candidate sites. Finally, the procedure provides high-level guidance on a structured go/no-go decision framework, categorizing sites based on identified risks and constraints, and outlining a clear path forward to feasibility studies and front-end engineering design for viable projects. By standardizing the site characterization process across both CSP and SHIP applications, this guideline aims to: 1) Improve consistency and transparency in early-stage project evaluation; 2) Reduce development risk and avoid investment in nonviable project sites; 3) Support collaboration between developers, researchers, and public agencies; and 4) Accelerate successful deployment of concentrating solar technologies for both power generation and industrial process heat.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Techno-Economic Wind Blade Manufacturing Model to Identify Opportunities for Cost Improvements Phase II IACMI Project 4.6/4.8

In IACMI Project 4.6 and IACMI Project 4.8, an Excel-based Techno-Economic Model (TEM) of the manufacturing process for composite wind turbine blades and a DELMIA Factory Flow Simulation of a generic wind blade manufacturing facility was developed. Together, these two tools provide a combined economic modeling capability that accounts for the material, labor, overhead and full-lifecycle operating costs associated with wind blade manufacturing as well as the impact of process flow and factory layout on overall manufacturing efficiency. The tools provide a novel means of detailed comparative analysis of the economic feasibility of proposed technologies and process changes for blade manufacturing. The modeling tools were developed with close support from members of industry and visits to multiple blade manufacturing facilities. With industry oversight, a detailed generalized manufacturing process plan and facility layout were developed with manufacturing parameters, material costs and economic factors based on historical data. Dassault Systèmes and the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) contributed to the development of the Techno-Economic Model by providing macros to enable the generation of Bill of Material (BOM) data from a 3D blade design in either CATIA or NuMAD format, respectively. The TEM was built with the capability to directly import a Bill of Materials for economic analysis, and with the addition of the macros provided by Dassault and UTD, the TEM can directly import blade designs from both CATIA and NuMAD file formats. The modeling tools developed in Project 4.6 were used to investigate four wind blade manufacturing concepts in detail and select one to explore with laboratory-scale experimentation in Project 4.8. The four manufacturing concepts that were investigated were down-selected by the full project team from a larger list of concepts. The selections were made based on a number of criteria ranking viability and level of interest for each concept. The ‘One-Step Close’ manufacturing concept was ultimately selected for investigation in Project 4.8 and the demonstration was performed at the NREL CoMET facility. The TPI advanced manufacturing facility in Warren, RI contributed the production of several prototype components, the designs for which were developed by Janicki Industries. The demonstration project provided clear indication of the viability of the One-Step Close manufacturing concept for blade manufacturing and good validation of the Techno-Economic Model’s prediction of its economic impact.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

The practice and economics of hybrid poplar biomass production for biofuels and bioproducts in the Pacific Northwest

Hybrid poplar demonstration-scale farms were managed in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California to establish management practices, yields, harvesting methods, and the economics of biomass production. Yield during the 2-year establishment cycle averaged 3.5 dry Mg ha –1 year –1 increasing to 11.6 Mg ha –1 year –1 in the ensuing 3-year coppice cycle. Populus deltoides (Bartram ex Marsh.) × P. maximowiczii (Henry) varieties preformed best in Oregon during the coppice cycle with the best variety producing 18.1 Mg ha –1 year –1 , while P. ×generosa (Henry) varieties maximized yields in Washington at 22.1 Mg ha –1 year –1 . P. ×canadensis (Moench) varieties excelled in Idaho and California with upper yields of 13.6 Mg ha –1 year –1 and 12.9 Mg ha –1 year –1 , respectively. Stands were cut with a single-pass harvester 2 years after planting and a second time after 3 years of coppice growth; material capacity, limited by poor ground conditions, varied between 21.7 to 31.3 green Mg h –1 . Chemical composition averaged 1.87% inorganics, 7.74% extractives, 26.90% lignin, 38.07% glucan, 13.66% xylan, 1.61% galactan, 1.14% arabinan, and 2.76% mannan. Production costs (USD) projected over a 20-year rotation of six coppice cycles were $71.81 Mg –1 in Washington, $89.91 Mg –1 in Oregon, $98.76 Mg–1 in Idaho, and 179.07 Mg–1 in California. Here, land rental, establishment, crop care, harvest, transportation, and land restoration, respectively, accounted for 23%, 5%, 19%, 30%, 17%, and 6% of total feedstock cost. Farms were successfully restored to conditions existing before poplar conversion. In the absence of fertilization, increases in soil pH and decreases in nitrate-nitrogen, zinc, iron, and organic matter were consistently noted but could not be associated with poplar production alone.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2022

1.2.2.404 – Improving the Representation of Hydropower in Production Cost Models

This project's goal is to improve hydropower's representation in power system models by actively coupling river basin (hydrologic) models with grid operations (production cost) models. Near term, this work provides a foundation that allows improved available flexibility and operational constraints representation. Longer term, the work will provide a template that can be used by commercial production cost modeling software vendors to capture the nuances of hydropower operations in their software offerings.

HYDRO ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Optimal Header Design for Diffusion Bonded Heat Exchangers

Microchannel heat exchangers have seen increasing adoption in many high-pressure applications in recent decades but are subject to particulate fouling from the relatively small channel size compared to traditional designs. Typical cleaning methods require process shutdown, heat exchanger removal, cleaning, then reassembly. The objective of this project was to refine and transfer technology to enable header design improvements for Cleaning-in-Place (CIP), allowing for reduced/negligible process interruption for the cleaning process. The technology transfer was from Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia) to Vacuum Process Engineering, Inc. (VPE). This primary purpose of CIP was developed while considering channel flow uniformity and heat exchanger cost. The project phases were to 1) capture and define potential improvement options, 2) evaluate options with both simulation and experiments, and 3) transfer design knowledge to the industry partner. These efforts resulted in improved header designs from the first known focused effort in this area. The improved designs will help the entire microchannel heat exchanger field that has applications in supercritical CO 2 power cycles, hydrogen (fuel cell) vehicle fueling, liquified natural gas processing, and more.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2020

Multi-Model and Multi-Scale Global Sensitivity Analysis for Identifying Controlling Processes of Complex Systems

An environmental model consists of multiple process level sub-models, and each sub-model represents a process that is key to the operation of the simulated system. Global sensitivity analysis methods have been widely used to identify important processes for system model development and improvement. The existing methods of global sensitivity analysis only consider parametric uncertainty, and are not capable of handling model uncertainty caused by multiple process models that arise from competing hypotheses about one or more processes. To address this problem, this project develops a new method to probe model output sensitivity to competing process models by integrating model averaging methods with variance-based global sensitivity analysis to address uncertainty in process models and parameters. The new method yields three process sensitivity indices. The first one is called first-order process sensitivity index, and it is derived as a single summary measure of relative process importance. Evaluating the index is computationally expensive, because it relies in a Monte Carlo scheme that requires thousands and even millions of model executions. To reduce computational cost, this project develops a computationally efficient, quasi Monte Carlo method, and this method is presented in Chapter 2 of this report with and a numerical example for demonstration. The numerical example shows that the results of the quasi Monte Carlo method are substantially close to those of the full Monte Carlo method, but the computational cost of the quasi Monte Carlo method is only 0.7% of that of the full Monte Carlo method. The second index is called total-effect process sensitivity index, and it measures interactions between different processes. Therefore, this sensitivity index includes the first-order process sensitivity index, and can be used to identify influential processes. On the other hand, the total-effect process sensitivity index can also be used to screen non-influential processes. This is demonstrated by two numerical examples using the Sobol-G* functions and groundwater flow models that consider recharge process, geological process, and snowmelt process. The numerical examples shows that the total-effect process sensitivity index is more informative than the first-order process sensitivity. The derivation of the process sensitivity index and the numerical examples are discussed in Chapter 3. Chapter 4 presents two computationally efficient methods for screening non-influential processes to exclude them from further investigation. The two methods are the multi-model difference-based sensitivity (MMDS) analysis method, which can be implemented using the Latin Hypercube Sampling. The second one is the implementation of MMDS method using a binning method. The numerical example for the Sobol-G* function indicates the two methods are capable of identifying non-influential models, and the numerical examples for the groundwater flow and reactive transport show that the two methods are effective for groundwater problems. However, it should be noted that the two methods are numerical approximations, and they can only be used for screening non-influential processes, not for ranking importance of system processes. All the sensitivity analysis methods are implemented by developing python codes, and the codes are in a software called SAMMPY: a python package for process sensitivity analysis under multiple models. The SAMMPY design and structure are discussed in Chapter 5, and the package is released to the public for free download.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Prototype Development for MBSE-Driven Digital Environment at Fermilab

Complex projects like Fermilab s accelerators and detectors involve thousands of interdependent components and requirements, making traditional documentation hard to keep consistent and often causing rework. Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tackles this by representing the system as a digital, queryable model. While widely used in aerospace and safety-critical industries, MBSE adoption has been limited elsewhere due to steep learning curves and high costs. This project investigates how a web-first, low-code MBSE stack can reduce those barriers and offer an accessible, unified source of truth for engineers and physicists.

Valle, Diego Pedro (ORCID:0009000865900663)↗
DOE OSTI2024

Conceptual range estimation for total cost of ownership of modular process‐intensified chemical plants

Abstract Chemical companies have used modularization to reduce capital costs and project timelines, putting capital to work faster and lowering the risk of entering new markets. Nevertheless, the impacts of using modularization along with advanced technologies, such as process intensification, have not yet been fully realized, often due to the uncertain business risks associated with their implementation. Therefore, new methods are needed for quantifying the impact of modular chemical process intensification (MCPI) on the capital and operating costs of chemical plants to help build a business case for this novel approach. This article presents a new conceptual range estimation technique for total cost of ownership that addresses the deficiencies of existing methods for quantifying MCPI impacts. The incorporation of percentage range estimates was employed to allow for adaptability across various cost and size scales. This work also begins to elucidate how chemical engineering and construction firms can benefit from MCPI and identifies barriers that inhibit MCPI applications in the chemical industry.

Alhamouri, Khaled I.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Investigation of a high-temperature combination heat pump for lower-cost electrification in multifamily buildings

The development of space and water heating combination heat pumps capable of generating water temperatures high enough for convective heat emitters will enable more cost-effective and equitable decarbonization solutions for electrifying multifamily buildings. Here, in this paper, multifamily building models and a charge-sensitive mechanistic cycle model of a combination heat pump are developed, and the system performance is predicted based on the models. Unlike other state-of-the-art residential heat pumping equipment, the modeled combination heat pump using an economized, fluid-injected variable-speed compressor can achieve higher temperature lifts of 40° - 85°C, with lower installation costs and complexity. The model predicted heating coefficient of performance (COP h ) is 2.1 at an ambient temperature of -15°C with a high-temperature lift of nearly 85°C, and a seasonal coefficient of performance in heating mode (SCOP h ) ranges from 2 - 4 for different locations. The system shows 30% - 90% lower CO 2 eq emissions over a condensing gas boiler and 9% - 13% lower projected installation costs than two separate space and water heat pumping appliances.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2024

RAFT: Reconfigurable Array of High-Efficiency Ducted Turbines for Hydrokinetic Energy Harvesting

Diversifying the energy harvesting portfolio is crucial to achieving the ambitious goal of transitioning to clean energy by 2030. Marine hydrokinetic energy has garnered renewed interest due to its high harvesting potential in the U.S., and the resource's reliability and predictability—remaining relatively constant on a daily basis and available 24/7. However, there are currently few commercial devices capable of harnessing the energy from flowing water. This project aims to bridge that gap by designing and evaluating a novel hydrokinetic turbine concept that can efficiently harvest energy from both rivers and tidal streams. The RAFT (Reconfigurable Array of High-Efficiency Ducted Turbines) concept introduces a duct surrounding the turbine rotor and creates an array of small 5-kW units. The duct serves two primary purposes: (1) it enhances hydrodynamic efficiency by accelerating flow to the rotor, and (2) it functions as a structural component, facilitating the formation of modular arrays that lower costs. This project focuses on demonstrating this concept and validating these benefits through simulations and scaled prototype testing. The project team includes 8 faculty members and over 20 students from 3 universities, organized into three core areas: hydrodynamics, electrical systems, and structural analysis, with additional teams dedicated to system integration, environmental assessment and risk management, and tech-to-market strategy. The team successfully demonstrated the increased hydrodynamic efficiency of a ducted turbine compared to an unducted version using high-fidelity simulations and prototype tests. Moreover, design optimization efforts led to surpassing the SHARKS program's goal of 60% reduction of the levelized cost of energy with a significant margin.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Carbon Capture Design and Costing: Phase 2 (C3DC2) (Final Project Report)

ION Clean Energy’s (ION) advanced solvent is one of the leading solvent systems currently under development for post-combustion carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) capture. ION has partnered with Nebraska Power Public District (NPPD), Sargent & Lundy, Koch Modular Process Systems, and Siemens to design a commercial-scale (700 MW) capture system utilizing ION’s advanced solvent, ICE-21, retrofitted onto NPPD’s Gerald Gentleman Station in Sutherland, Nebraska, USA. The capture system was designed to take full advantage of the solvent benefits including an efficient physical plant layout, reduced energy requirements, less solvent degradation, lower emissions, and lower capital costs relative to systems built with DOE BBS case benchmark solvents. This Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) study also included an investigation of utilizing biomass co-combustion with the aim of reaching near-zero emissions for this coal-fired power generating unit. The targeted biomass was from local resources in Nebraska tied to the production of ethanol.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2025

Evaluating GHG Mitigation Potential from ESPC Projects [Slides]

This report explores the impact of implemented ESPC projects on the projected greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions in the U.S. buildings sector, and the associated projected annual cost savings and marginal abatement costs. It is important to investigate the role that energy retrofits can play in achieving GHG emission reduction targets given the use of ESPC by public agencies to reduce emissions from energy use in addition to the historical use of ESPC to to achieve cost/energy savings and ancillary benefits (e.g., addressing deferred maintenance, aging infrastructure, etc.). The analysis draws from LBNL’s eProject Builder (ePB) database, which contains approximately 3,000 energy retrofit projects implemented by energy service companies (ESCOs), mostly energy savings performance contract (ESPC) projects. This is the first report to model GHG emission reductions from ongoing ESPC projects in the U.S public sector based on ePB project data. It is intended for policymakers, federal, state and local government officials and other potential ESPC customers, the ESCO industry, researchers, and other energy policy professionals.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Energy Options Analysis Project (Final Report)

This Bear River Band of Rohnerville Rancheria (BRB) Energy Options Analysis Project provides a rigorous and comprehensive near-term renewable energy implementation plan that aligns with the BRB’s long term strategic vision of “zero net annual utility energy consumption.” Final recommendations were arrived at by following four key project phases:A gas and electricity load assessment was conducted for all existing buildings using historic consumption data, and projected loads of new or anticipated buildings using building designs. A renewable energy resource assessment was conducted that estimated the gross generation potential of solar and wind, constrained to areas that could potentially be developed. Other renewable generation technologies were not considered feasible to meet the loads of the BRB. Demand-side efficiency and fuel switching opportunities were identified that can reduce electrical and gas consumption. These opportunities were not integrated into the load assessment in order to provide a conservative implementation plan, but are recommended to be pursued in order to cost-optimize projects during a feasibility assessment. A strategic vision advisory committee was organized and consulted when iterating on the viability of possible projects. These project phases resulted in finalizing the following three solar PV projects for the near term, which also lay the foundation for a future community-scale or multiple-facility microgrid for added resiliency. Additional solar PV on the hillside south of the Tish-Non Community Center. Solar plus battery storage microgrid at the Pump & Play fuel station. Solar PV at the Casino.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Low‐PGM and PGM‐Free Catalysts for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: Stability Challenges and Material Solutions

Abstract Fuel cells as an attractive clean energy technology have recently regained popularity in academia, government, and industry. In a mainstream proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell, platinum‐group‐metal (PGM)‐based catalysts account for ≈50% of the projected total cost for large‐scale production. To lower the cost, two materials‐based strategies have been pursued: 1) to decrease PGM catalyst usage (so‐called low‐PGM catalysts), and 2) to develop alternative PGM‐free catalysts. Grand stability challenges exist when PGM catalyst loading is decreased in a membrane electrode assembly (MEA)—the power generation unit of a PEM fuel cell—or when PGM‐free catalysts are integrated into an MEA. More importantly, there is a significant knowledge gap between materials innovation and device integration. For example, high‐performance electrocatalysts usually demonstrate undesired quick degradation in MEAs. This issue significantly limits the development of PEM fuel cells. Herein, recent progress in understanding the degradation of low‐PGM and PGM‐free catalysts in fuel cell MEAs and materials‐based solutions to address these issues are reviewed. The key factors that degrade the MEA performance are highlighted. Innovative, emerging material concepts and development of low‐PGM and PGM‐free catalysts are discussed.

Du, Lei↗