[LCA UP] Biomass Land Preparation (2023)
This unit process models land preparation activities for various biomass types.
Group - Basic Process↗
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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.
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[LCA UP] Biomass Pelletization (2022)
This unit process quantifies the energy requirements that are expected to result from woody biomass or torrefied woody biomass pelletization.
Group - Basic Process↗
Reversible Methane Electrochemical Reactors as Efficient Energy Storage for Fossil Power
The overall objective of the project was to conduct a comprehensive Research & Development (R&D) program to demonstrate the suitability and future advancement and integration of reversible methane protonic ceramic electrochemical reactors (PCERs) as an efficient Energy Storage System (ESS) with fossil fuel power plants. Fundamental process and system models are developed to conduct a preliminary conceptual study and investigate the power plant system integration requirements, performance requirements, and technical and non-technical gaps for eventual implementation at system level. Technology maturation requirements is also investigated through identifying the critical technical elements and networking with industrial technology developers and end-users.
08 HYDROGEN↗
Analyzing Potential Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions from Plug-In Electric Vehicles: Report for CRC Project, "Carbon Return on Investment for Electrified Vehicles"
Investment in battery and electrification technologies has the potential to greatly reduce vehicular greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) will have zero tailpipe emissions. However, there will be GHG emissions associated with production of the vehicle including its battery, and with any carbon-emitting electricity sources used to charge the vehicle. This study explores the GHG reduction benefits of different plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) designs in the context of factors such as electricity production mix, per-vehicle battery requirements, and varying battery market growth scenarios. The analyses focus on the U.S. light-duty vehicle (LDV) market, which accounts for nearly 60% of U.S. transportation sector GHG emissions - over twice as much as the next largest contributing transportation sub-sector.
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
LCA–TEA Harmonization Framework to Evaluate Carbon Conversion Technologies
This presentation discusses different aspects of LCA-TEA harmonization framework, methodologies utilized to develop this harmonization approach, and the utilities of this framework to evaluate emerging carbon conversion technologies.
carbon utilization↗
Introduction to NETL Natural Gas LCA
This work presents an overview of NETL natural gas (NG) life cycle modeling. The content covers: introduction, model structure and unit processes, co-product management, and highlights from the recently published NETL NG baseline report.
life cycle analysis (LCA)↗
NETL LCA Update: Recent Highlights
The presentation was an update on impactful work completed by the NETL LCA Team during the past year. This presentation was part of a special session where DOE national laboratories are sharing updates on their LCA work. In addition to NETL, the session included presentations from Argonne National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. This presentation from NETL includes updates on the Natural Gas Baseline, the Electricity Baseline, and Critical Mineral Collaborations/METALLIC. The figures are generally high level diagrams illustrating the scope and workflow for projects and are generally pulled from already public materials and published work.
critical minerals↗
Processing Municipal Solid Waste for Conversion to Jet Fuel (Final Technical Report)
This final report describes the successful demonstration of AI‑assisted waste sorting and a novel pressurized solids feed system to enable conversion of non‑recyclable municipal solid waste to jet fuel under DOE Award DE‑EE0009265. Results include improved feedstock purity and variability reduction, lab‑scale testing, and technoeconomic and life‑cycle assessments.
09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
Environmental Evaluation of Gas Switching Reforming for Low Carbon Hydrogen: A Power-to-X Study
Gas Switching Reforming for hydrogen production (GSR-H2) offers a promising pathway for producing low-carbon hydrogen at scale, with significant implications for Power-to-X (PtX) systems that rely on clean hydrogen as a feedstock for synthetic fuels and chemicals. GSR-H2 integrates inherent carbon capture and thermal self-sufficiency, positioning it as an efficient alternative to conventional steam methane reforming (SMR), proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis, and chemical looping reforming (CLR). Unlike SMR, GSR-H2 avoids external natural gas combustion by leveraging exothermic redox cycles to generate process steam and recover electricity internally. Its innovative reactor design consolidates all reforming stages within a single reactor cluster, eliminating the need for solid circulation found in CLR, thereby reducing capital costs and improving system reliability and scalability. This presentation describes the first environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) of GSR-H2, evaluating its environmental performance across U.S. grid and renewable energy scenarios. In a renewables-powered configuration, GSR-H2 achieves a global warming potential (GWP) of 2.77 kg CO2 equivalent per kg H2, substantially lower than SMR (10.4 kg) and competitive with PEM electrolysis (1.85 kg) and CLR (1.84 kg). Results across additional impact categories, including air quality and water use, support GSR-H2’s role as a complementary hydrogen source in PtX applications. Its reduced environmental burden, thermal integration, and simplified scale-up potential make GSR-H2 a viable contributor to net-zero PtX systems, particularly where renewable energy is abundant and electricity-intensive hydrogen production faces economic or infrastructure constraints.
03 NATURAL GAS↗
The orbiting deep space relay station - A study report
This paper is an interim report on a study being carried out to assess the requirements for tracking and communications with deep-space probes in the post-1985 time frame and to evaluate approaches to meeting those requirements. The orbiting deep-space relay station (ODSRS) is one approach to meeting those requirements that appears to have some significant advantages over ground-based stations. A detailed conceptual design of an ODSRS is compared with other tracking and communications system configuration options. The comparison includes a life-cycle cost analysis as well as operations and performance capabilities. Reported results of the study to date include a preliminary assessment of post-1985 requirements, a discussion of planned ODSRS system capabilities as well as of tracking and communications system advantages and problems that are peculiar to an OSDRS, a look at the current status of the conceptual design of the ODSRS, and a summary of the plan for the remainder of the study.
Hunter, J. A.↗
Power Sources Conference, 29th, Atlantic City, NJ, June 9-12, 1980, Proceedings
Fuel systems are considered along with thermal batteries, primary batteries, lithium primary batteries, lithium/sulfur dioxide primary batteries, lithium/oxychloride primary batteries, high temperature secondary batteries, advanced secondary batteries, and nickel secondary batteries. Attention is given to a Ni-Fe battery with gas recombination device and state-of-charge indication, the development of the nickel-iron battery system for electric vehicle propulsion, improved lead-acid batteries, the behavior of the lead-acid batteries used to start the military vehicles at low temperatures, a life cycle energy analysis of the lead-acid battery, and the anodic corrosion of fiber reinforced lead composites for use in lead-acid submarine batteries. A description is presented of the key physical characteristics for predicting Zr powder burn times, the production of zirconium metal powder for rapid rise time thermal battery application, and high rate lithium-iron disulfide batteries.
Source record↗
Economic aspects of advanced coal-fired gas turbine locomotives
Increases in the price of such conventional fuels as Diesel No. 2, as well as advancements in turbine technology, have prompted the present economic assessment of coal-fired gas turbine locomotive engines. A regenerative open cycle internal combustion gas turbine engine may be used, given the development of ceramic hot section components. Otherwise, an external combustion gas turbine engine appears attractive, since although its thermal efficiency is lower than that of a Diesel engine, its fuel is far less expensive. Attention is given to such a powerplant which will use a fluidized bed coal combustor. A life cycle cost analysis yields figures that are approximately half those typical of present locomotive engines.
Liddle, S. G.↗
Electric/Hybrid Vehicle Simulation
ELVEC computer program provides vehicle designer with simulation tool for detailed studies of electric and hybrid vehicle performance and cost. ELVEC simulates performance of user-specified electric or hybrid vehicle under user specified driving schedule profile or operating schedule. ELVEC performs vehicle design and life cycle cost analysis.
Slusser, R. A.↗
Process development
An overview is given of seven process development activities which were presented at this session. Pulsed excimer laser processing of photovoltaic cells was presented. A different pulsed excimer laser annealing was described using a 50 w laser. Diffusion barrier research focused on lowering the chemical reactivity of amorphous thin film on silicon. In another effort adherent and conductive films were successfully achieved. Other efforts were aimed at achieving a simultaneous front and back junction. Microwave enhanced plasma deposition experiments were performed. An updated version of the Solar Array Manufacturing Industry Costing Standards (SAMICS) was presented, along with a life cycle cost analysis of high efficiency cells. The last presentation was on the evaluation of the ethyl vinyl acetate encapsulating system.
Bickler, D. B.↗
Life-cycle costs of high-performance cells
A life cycle cost analysis of high efficiency cells was presented. Although high efficiency cells produce more power, they also cost more to make and are more susceptible to array hot-spot heating. Three different computer analysis programs were used: SAMICS (solar array manufacturing industry costing standards), PVARRAY (an array failure mode/degradation simulator), and LCP (lifetime cost and performance). The high efficiency cell modules were found to be more economical in this study, but parallel redundancy is recommended.
Daniel, R.↗
The space station assembly phase: Flight telerobotic servicer feasibility. Volume 2: Methodology and case study
A methodology is described for examining the feasibility of a Flight Telerobotic Servicer (FTS) using two assembly scenarios, defined at the EVA task level, for the 30 shuttle flights (beginning with MB-1) over a four-year period. Performing all EVA tasks by crew only is compared to a scenario in which crew EVA is augmented by FTS. A reference FTS concept is used as a technology baseline and life-cycle cost analysis is performed to highlight cost tradeoffs. The methodology, procedure, and data used to complete the analysis are documented in detail.
Smith, Jeffrey H.↗
Multiple-Purpose Subsonic Naval Aircraft (MPSNA): Multiple Application Propfan Study (MAPS)
Study requirements, assumptions and guidelines were identified regarding carrier suitability, aircraft missions, technology availability, and propulsion considerations. Conceptual designs were executed for two missions, a full multimission aircraft and a minimum mission aircraft using three different propulsion systems, the UnDucted Fan (UDF), the Propfan and an advanced Turbofan. Detailed aircraft optimization was completed on those configurations yielding gross weight performance and carrier spot factors. Propfan STOVL conceptual designs were exercised also to show the effects of STOVL on gross weight, spot factor and cost. An advanced technology research plan was generated to identify additional investigation opportunities from an airframe contractors standpoint. Life cycle cost analysis was accomplished yielding a comparison of the UDF and propfan configurations against each other as well as against a turbofan with equivalent state of the art turbo-machinery.
Engelbeck, R. M.↗
Communications satellites in non-geostationary orbits
The design of a satellite communications system in an orbit lower than GEO is described. Two sun-synchronous orbits which lie in the equatorial plane have been selected: (1) the apogee at constant time-of-day equatorial orbit, a highly eccentric orbit with five revolutions per day, which allows 77-135 percent more satellite mass to be placed in orbit than for GEO; and (2) the sun-synchronous 12-hour equatorial orbit, a circular orbit with two revolutions per day, which allows 23-29 percent more mass. The results of a life cycle economic analysis illustrate that nongeostationary satellite systems could be competitive with geostationary satellite systems.
Price, Kent M.↗