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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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At least 253 records · Page 14
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Recovery Simulator and Analysis Formulation: Mathematical Framework for Enhanced Resilience and Resource Allocation

This report introduces recovery simulator and analysis (RSA), a framework aimed at enhancing the resilience of electrical grids post-disruption. The RSA model leverages an optimization problem formulation that focuses on maximizing the load served (or optionally customers served) through a coordinated and cooptimized recovery of non-black start generation, transmission lines, feeders and substations subject to labor budget constraints. By integrating advanced linear programming techniques, the simulator selects efficient reocovery pathways, optimizing both short-term and long-term grid recovery strategies. The mathematical framework guides decision-making through a comprehensive evaluation of potential recovery actions, factoring in the trade-offs between labor constraints and load (or optionally customer) restoration efficacy. This enables grid operators to simulate diverse outage scenarios and delineate optimal recovery pathways, thereby prioritizing critical repair tasks and ensuring resource allocation is both economical and effective. The intended use case of RSA is to allow planners to explore many recovery scenarios quickly and determine assets most critical across a wide range of scenarios, and therefore strong candidates for hardening or additional investment. RSA might also be used in an operational setting, following a single event, for exploring efficient recovery pathways.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2023

SCUC-DER Integration Report: Integrating Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Using Advanced Unit Commitment Models and DER Aggregation Methodologies

Distributed energy resources (DERs) are continuing to grow due to regulatory, policy, and market shifts, and it needs to be ensured that small DERs are given a level playing field with traditional resources. Legacy market processes such as unit-commitment problems were designed for a power grid consisting largely of centralized power plants. In contrast, DERs consist of many small devices with distinct operating characteristics that may or may not be connected at the transmission interconnection points, limiting their visibility to the independent system operators (ISOs) who operate wholesale electricity markets. This report details the development and initial results from a simulation platform that integrates state-of-the-art security-constrained unit commitment software, detailed feeder models, and a DER aggregator model to quantify potential DER integration issues. Quantitative results to date illustrate potential infeasible scheduling solutions from SCUC when the DERA includes aggregations of energy-limited energy storage resources. Likewise, if aggregations are not penalized for dispatch deviations, they may have incentives to deviate from the SCUC-determined resource schedules. Assumptions about the amount of aggregated demand response resources (DRRs) and the ability of DERAs to follow profit incentives have an important impact – DRRs have significant flexibility and can typically feasibly meet their SCUC schedule, but on the other hand, their profit incentives can cause unscheduled increases in load before and after DRR dispatch. Computation time results on the SCUC solver and simulation platform only show a modest increase in SCUC solution time as the number of DERAs is increased, but results to date only reflect the RTS-GMLC test system; results may show more significant solver slowdown in larger transmission systems. The largest contribution to simulation time is attributed to the DERA offer generation method, which is suggested for future improvements.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2021

A hub and spoke approach to optimizing energy wheeling of renewable resources

The deployment of zero carbon renewable energy sources needs to increase significantly to support the goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. At the same time energy end use needs to decarbonize. This will change both energy supply and energy demand patterns, requiring the energy delivery infrastructure (grid-based transmission circuits) to become increasingly flexible to maintain security of supply everywhere and always. The integration of zero carbon renewable energy requires cross-border and cross energy system coupling and a fit-for-purpose design. Nowadays, energy systems are planned, designed and operated in silos with a strong national focus. However, large-scale offshore wind production needs to be transported to deep inland locations, across country borders. The increased peak generation capacity of renewable energy sources will, at times, significantly exceed demand (Matthew Langholtz, 2020). The traditional solution of continuously reinforcing and extending the electricity grid is not sustainable from a cost and societal perspective. This paper will, however, propose a deterministic approach on how networked (interconnected grid) Points of receipt (POR) to Points of Delivery (POD) can be optimized for wheeling renewable energy resources while minimizing energy cost with a hub and spoke approach. The statistical approach will be done via using existing daily energy market clearing prices, available transmission capacity and firm daily transmission prices in open access energy markets. Renewable energy targets, including specific offshore wind targets, need to be in line with the ramp-up as implied by the Paris Agreement. These targets are required to provide industry with a secure market outlook that allows them to build up supply chains accordingly. Optimizing wheeled energy paths from carbon neutral resources such as renewables make them not only cost competitive on the unit commitment stack, but also more accessible on the dispatch stack to other carbon heavy forms of generation such as coal and natural gas turbines (Matthew Langholtz, 2020). This correlates to maximizing renewable resource inertia (wind, solar, biomass) within an interconnected grid without having to consider additional expansion of resources via land purchases and de-forestation.

Mukherjee, Srijib↗
DOE OSTI2024

Control-inspired design and power optimization of an active mechanical motion rectifier based power takeoff for wave energy converters

Ocean waves have high energy density and are persistent and predictable. Yet, converting wave energy to a useable form remains challenging. A significant hurdle is the oscillatory nature of waves resulting in the alternating loads, which necessitate the use of rectification at some stage of the energy conversion. This research effort presents a novel design of active mechanical motion rectifier (AMMR) for the power takeoff (PTO), which provides enhanced controllability and better power performance when compared to passive mechanical motion rectifiers (MMR). Inspired by transistors used in synchronous electrical rectifiers, the proposed design uses controllable electromagnetic clutches in the mechanical transmission to allow active engagement-disengagement control; thus, rectifying the oscillatory motion into a unidirectional rotation for high energy conversion efficiency and allowing the generator in unidirectional rotation to control the bidirectional wave capture structure for maximizing the power output. A semi-analytical computational approach is developed to efficiently evaluate the optimal power achieved using the proposed AMMR-based PTO and active control. It is found that the AMMR-based PTO design yields a higher optimal power than the previous passive MMR design across the wave spectrum. The influences of generator inertia and reactive power are discussed. Furthermore, the effects of control parameters on the power output and the optimal trajectories are analyzed. Wave tank tests with the AMMR prototype demonstrated the effectiveness of AMMR based PTO design and validated the numerical analysis.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗
DOE OSTI2022

Phase I: Natural Gas-Based Energy Storage at Abbott Power Plant

Compressed Natural Gas Energy Storage (CNGES), uses the potential energy of compressed natural gas within an integrated energy storage system. Specifically, an inventory of high-pressure natural gas is stored during off-peak hours in a first stage by controlling the balance of gas entering a pipeline from the transmission system, and in a second stage by using new compressors to fill vessels onsite. The natural gas storage medium is then discharged through an expander-generator to use the potential energy from the gas to generate electricity without combustion. The excess chemical energy stored in the natural gas is integrated with an existing fossil-based asset to provide power generation during peak hours and increase the reliability of the associated fossil generating facility.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Cybersecurity Considerations for Grid-Connected Batteries with Hardware Demonstrations

The share of renewable and distributed energy resources (DERs), like wind turbines, solar photovoltaics and grid-connected batteries, interconnected to the electric grid is rapidly increasing due to reduced costs, rising efficiency, and regulatory requirements aimed at incentivizing a lower-carbon electricity system. These distributed energy resources differ from traditional generation in many ways including the use of many smaller devices connected primarily (but not exclusively) to the distribution network, rather than few larger devices connected to the transmission network. DERs being installed today often include modern communication hardware like cellular modems and WiFi connectivity and, in addition, the inverters used to connect these resources to the grid are gaining increasingly complex capabilities, like providing voltage and frequency support or supporting microgrids. To perform these new functions safely, communications to the device and more complex controls are required. The distributed nature of DER devices combined with their network connectivity and complex controls interfaces present a larger potential attack surface for adversaries looking to create instability in power systems. To address this area of concern, the steps of a cyberattack on DERs have been studied, including the security of industrial protocols, the misuse of the DER interface, and the physical impacts. These different steps have not previously been tied together in practice and not specifically studied for grid-connected storage devices. In this work, we focus on grid-connected batteries. We explore the potential impacts of a cyberattack on a battery to power system stability, to the battery hardware, and on economics for various stakeholders. We then use real hardware to demonstrate end-to-end attack paths exist when security features are disabled or misconfigured. Our experimental focus is on control interface security and protocol security, with the initial assumption that an adversary has gained access to the network to which the device is connected. We provide real examples of the effectiveness of certain defenses. This work can be used to help utilities and other grid-connected battery owners and operators evaluate the severity of different threats and the effectiveness of defense strategies so they can effectively deploy and protect grid-connected storage devices.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Pathways to the Next-Generation Power System With Inverter-Based Resources: Challenges and recommendations

Managing the stability of today's electric power systems is based on decades of experience with the physical properties and control responses of large synchronous generators. Today's electric power systems are rapidly transitioning toward having an increasing proportion of generation from nontraditional sources, such as wind and solar (among others), as well as energy storage devices, such as batteries. In addition to the variable nature of many renewable generation sources (because of the weather-driven nature of their fuel supply), these newer sources vary in size - from residential-scale rooftop systems to utility-scale power plants - and they are interconnected throughout the electric grid, both from within the distribution system and directly to the high-voltage transmission system. Most important for our purposes, many of these new resources are connected to the power system through power electronic inverters. Collectively, we refer to these sources as inverter-based resources.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2020

An Improved Transmission Switching Algorithm for Managing Post-(N-1) Contingencies in Electricity Networks

In this presentation, we detail the shortcomings of existing transmission switching (TS) methodologies for preventing post-contingency loss of load in wide area electric power networks. Following that, we present a bi-level algorithm as an improvement to the state of the art. We show proof-of-concept level results that indicate computational viability, fast solutions, and the ability to pick the same best candidate as non computationally viable methods. Further, our method also minimizes load shedding after the contingency, thus enhancing the reliability and security of electricity supply. We also include a futuristic scenario of increased renewables and decreased natural gas sourced generators to show promising results. We grant permission for our presentation to be recorded and uploaded by the conference organizers.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2021

Effect of GPS Manipulation to Traditional and Next Generation Relay Protection (Final Report)

This project’s objective is to test the effect of GPS timing variations on relay protection algorithms to determine vulnerabilities and the associated hazards to the electric grid. This will focus on time domain protection which utilizes traveling waves measured on the transmission lines to detect the fault within a tower span. This requires the use of GPS to sync the two substations and can be vulnerable to GPS manipulation. However, the effects of GPS manipulation are not a commonly known risk. Therefore, this LDRD will address the risks of GPS manipulation for on a new protective relay technology that has the potential to change protective relaying. For time domain protection a GPS resilient architecture was implemented and tested for time domain protective relays through a direct serial fiber connection between the two relays. This allows for one relay to be the master and provide synchronization outside of timestamp for traveling wave protection.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2020

Contributions of Solar + Storage to Future Power Needs

The costs of solar photovoltaics (PV) have been dropping in recent years, leading to increasing installations of solar PV systems and growing interest in how the technology will impact the electric grid. Additionally, as battery costs decline, there is increasing interest in understanding the benefits and limitations of battery storage for the grid as well as potential co-benefits of coupling battery storage and photovoltaics. This paper presents recent methodological developments to more accurately represent the value and limitations of coupled PV and battery systems in capacity expansion models. These are demonstrated using the Resource Planning Model (RPM), which co-optimizes capacity investments, transmission investments, and reduced-order dispatch through 2045. We simulate the evolution of the generation and transmission system in the Western Interconnection both with and without a coupled PV and battery technology option under two core scenarios - a baseline scenario and a high renewable penetration scenario - coupled with sensitivities assuming low and mid PV and battery cost projections. We analyze the degree to which a variety of configurations of coupled PV + Battery systems are able to meet future electricity needs, under which system conditions this coupled technology becomes beneficial to the electric grid and identify the displaced technologies when coupled solar and storage is introduced into the model. We find that capturing the benefits of co-locating these systems becomes increasingly important as the penetration of solar PV rises, and that in particular it is important to accurately capture the ability of these technologies to shift energy, provide firm capacity, and reduce expected curtailment.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Grid Edge Visibility: Gaps and a Road Map

Behind-The-Meter (BTM) resources at the grid edge are rapidly becoming an important component of the electric grid, requiring a substantial reconfiguration of traditional grid practices, such as policy changes, market redesign, and infrastructure upgrades. This adjustment is challenged by the fact that, by definition, grid edge elements are not easily observable by grid control entities. Increasing the visibility of these resources is therefore an important goal, one that is experiencing much research and discussion by various power system stakeholders. For example, policy makers are analyzing the tradeoffs of using grid edge meters to impose charges on grid edge electricity generation. System operators, such as the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) in the United States, can identify visibility information on the electrical location and the size of the grid edge resources as a critical consideration across the transmission-and-distribution (T&D) spectrum. This article summarizes the challenges and needs of grid entities resulting from the introduction of grid edge resources as well the gaps in the extant grid edge visibility frameworks.

behind-the-meter↗
DOE OSTI2025

Proximity ferroelectricity in wurtzite heterostructures

Proximity ferroelectricity is an interface-associated phenomenon in electric-field-driven polarization reversal in a non-ferroelectric polar material induced by one or more adjacent ferroelectric materials. Here, in this paper, we report proximity ferroelectricity in wurtzite ferroelectric heterostructures. In the present case, the non-ferroelectric layers are AlN and ZnO, whereas the ferroelectric layers are Al 1−x B x N, Al 1−x Sc x N and Zn 1−x Mg x O. The layered structures include nitride–nitride, oxide–oxide and nitride–oxide stacks that feature two-layer (asymmetric) and three-layer (symmetric) configurations. Ferroelectric switching in both layers is validated by multimodal characterization methods, including polarization hysteresis, anisotropic chemical etching, second harmonic generation, piezo response force microscopy, electromechanical testing and atomic resolution polarization orientation imaging in real space by scanning transmission electron microscopy. We present a physical switching model in which antipolar nuclei originate in the ferroelectric layer and propagate towards the internal non-ferroelectric interface. The domain wall leading edge produces elastic and electric fields that extend beyond the interface at close proximity, reducing the switching barrier in the non-ferroelectric layer, and allowing complete domain propagation without breakdown. Density functional theory calculations of polymorph energies, reversal barriers and domain wall energies support this model. Proximity ferroelectricity enables polarization reversal in wurtzites without the chemical or structural disorder that accompanies elemental substitution, opening new questions and opportunities regarding interface-based ferroelectricity.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Connecting Minds: AI Use Cases to Bridge Power Systems and Large Language Models for Practical Applications

Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and development of large language models (LLMs) present the opportunity to develop a new generation of power systems applications. In contrast with early power system AI applications based on structured numerical data, LLMs offer unique capabilities to perform logical reasoning using text documents, unstructured data, and application programming interface (API) calls to computational software. This paper seeks to bridge the knowledge gap between power systems engineers and LLM developers through a crosscutting explanation of use cases, characteristics, requirements, practical considerations from the perspectives of both LLM capabilities and industry needs. Specific focus is given to applications that can be realistically deployed by electric utilities. After introducing the architecture of LLMs and unique challenges of the power systems domain, this paper proposes twenty representative LLM applications grouped into categories of 1) power system operations, 2) asset management, 3) system planning and analytics, and 4) energy management and protection systems. Five use cases are presented within each category with descriptions of the motivation, objectives, approaches, example inputs / outputs, and benefits of each use case.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2020

Simulating Distributed Energy Resource Responses to Transmission System-Level Faults Considering IEEE 1547 Performance Categories on Three Major WECC Transmission Paths

This study performs a large quantity of transmission and distribution simulations for three regions in the Western Interconnection along with final transmission simulations informed by distribution simulation results. Results find that the type of ride-through implemented by distributed energy resources (DERs) is a significant factor to the overall power system response to transmission-level faults. This impact is particularly high for transmission-level faults that depress voltage levels for high numbers of substations (i.e., for cases that experience large regional voltage sags). Because of the programmed nature of the ride-through of IEEE 1547-compliant DERs, the potential for large reductions in real power injection is possible based on IEEE 1547 interpretation and specific implementation. In this study, we made a first attempt to determine the quantity of DERs affected by a variety of transmission-level faults as well as a granular response of distribution-simulated DERs to a few types of IEEE 1547-2003 interpretations and IEEE 1547-2018 voltage ride-through categories. The distribution-informed transmission studies show that the category of IEEE 1547 adherence, particularly with the new 2018 standard, can have a significant impact on the amount of DER-based generation lost following transmission-level fault events.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2024

Planning and Operations in Electricity Markets Under System Transformation

United States electricity markets, planning mechanisms, and operational procedures are currently evolving in concert with three key trends. First, a range of new resources—solar, wind, energy storage, hybrid co-located storage, and distributed energy—are coming online and require new solutions to ensure they are efficiently integrated into existing systems. Second, consumers now face more opportunities to participate in markets by providing demand response and engaging in two-way interactions with the grid. Third, there is an increasing need for enhanced coordination between generation and transmission planning as well as across transmission and distribution systems.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Idaho National Laboratory’s FY 22 Greenhouse Gas Report

A greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory is a systematic approach to account for the production and release of certain gases generated by an institution from various emission sources. The gases of interest are those that climate science has identified as related to anthropogenic global climate change. This document presents an inventory of GHGs generated during fiscal year (FY) 2022 by Idaho National Laboratory (INL)—a Department of Energy (DOE) sponsored entity located in southeastern Idaho. In recent years, concern has grown about the environmental impact of GHGs. This, together with a desire to decrease harmful environmental impacts, would be enough to encourage the calculation of an inventory of the total GHGs generated at INL. Additionally, INL has a desire to see how its emissions compare with similar institutions, including other DOE national laboratories. Executive Order 14057 requires that federal agencies and institutions track and report GHG emissions where required. INL’s GHG inventory was calculated according to methodologies identified in federal GHG guidance documents using operational control boundaries. It measures emissions generated in three scopes: (1) INL emissions produced directly by stationary or mobile combustion and by fugitive emissions, (2) the share of emissions generated by entities from which INL purchased electrical power, and (3) indirect or shared emissions generated by outsourced activities that benefit INL (occurring outside INL’s organizational boundaries, but are a consequence of INL’s activities). This inventory found that INL generated 75,572.42 metric tons (MT) of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) emissions during FY 2022. The following conclusions were made from looking at the results of the individual contributors to INL’s FY 2022 GHG inventory: • Electricity (including the associated transmission and distribution losses) is the largest contributor to INL’s GHG inventory, with over 50% of the CO2e emissions. • Other sources with high emissions were mobile combustion (fleet fuels), employee commuting, stationary combustion (facility fuels), and waste disposal (fugitive emissions from the onsite landfill). • Sources with low emissions were waste disposal (contracted disposal), fugitive emissions from refrigerants, wastewater treatment (onsite and contracted), and business ground travel (in personal and rental vehicles). This report details the methods behind quantifying INL’s GHG inventory and discusses lessons learned on better practices by which information important to tracking GHGs can be tracked and recorded. It is important to note that because this report differentiates between those portions of INL that are managed and operated by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA) and those managed by other contractors, it includes only INL’s activities overseen by BEA. It is assumed that other contractors will provide similar reporting for those activities they manage, where appropriate.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2023

Northern California and Southern Oregon Offshore Wind Transmission Study: Volume 1 (Revised)

Offshore wind (OSW) power based on floating technology in the coastal waters of the U.S. Pacific Ocean has great potential to contribute to climate mitigation and renewable energy goals in California, Oregon, and other parts of the western U.S. To achieve development of OSW at scale, investments in transmission infrastructure are needed to deliver this power to major metropolitan areas because these are the primary electricity load centers. Currently the transmission infrastructure serving coastal regions where OSW is most likely to be developed has limited capacity and is designed to bring power from the east to serve modest coastal loads. The development of OSW generation and the interconnection of this resource to the bulk power grid will require major investments in new transmission infrastructure and upgrades to existing infrastructure. This study investigated the development of up to 25.8 GW of OSW energy on the northern coast of California and the southern coast of Oregon. The focus of the study was to assess various transmission alternatives that could deliver OSW power to distant load centers while also providing energy benefits to rural coastal communities near to where OSW power may be developed.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

2.1.3.404 - WEC Array Power Management and Output Simulation Tool

An array of wave energy converter (WEC) devices has variations in power output due to the chaotic nature of the waves. Eliminating or mitigating the power fluctuations is important for reducing the integration impacts of WEC plants in both distribution and transmission grids, and in standalone isolated power systems. Reduced variability of WEC-generated power in combination with energy storage or power management control at each WEC and at the array level will help increasing hosting capacity of distribution feeders for this type of variable renewable generation, and minimization of electric losses. To reduce risks and risk perception, gain key stakeholder acceptance, and enable developers to design effective and compatible energy plants with arrays of WEC devices, it requires the use of modeling tools to simulate the resource environment, device dynamics, utility power system response, as well as the development of an interface for an array controller. The project will create a publicly accessible numerical modeling framework to empower the wave energy sector to design projects of various scales (kW-100s MW), which are optimized on a plant performance basis and are compatible with different power systems and wave conditions. The framework will integrate with WEC-Sim, a wave environment model (SWAN-FUNWAVE), as well as established relevant electrical analysis tools, to model the grid system and interconnection, and optimize power output and power management for the WEC array.

POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION,TIDAL AND WAVE↗