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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

Applications of explainable artificial intelligence in renewable energy research

Researchers in renewable energy are applying deep learning (DL) to a variety of problems from diverse renewable energy domains, such as biofuels, wind, solar, power systems, buildings, vehicles, and transportation systems. Improvements in accuracy may be demonstrated using DL in laboratory settings. However, the lack of interpretability of DL models poses a practical limitation to their utility in advancing scientific knowledge and in the deployment of DL models in safety-critical energy systems. In this article, we discuss explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) as one pathway toward more interpretable DL models. We explore a brief timeline of U.S. national laboratory interest in XAI, an overview and taxonomy of methods in the field of XAI, and a selection of applications across renewable energy research domains. We conclude by highlighting pivotal areas where XAI can accelerate innovation in artificial intelligence for renewable energy research and other essential future directions.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Roadmap to 100 GWDC: Scientific and supply chain challenges for CdTe photovoltaics

This roadmap highlights pathways to expand the CdTe module manufacturing capacity per year to 100 GW DC by 2030 by improving Te extraction from existing supply chains, minimizing Te usage in modules by leveraging thinner absorbers, and focusing research efforts in key areas to improve module efficiencies. Both scientific and supply chain innovations will be necessary to maintain the high compound annual growth rate of the CdTe photovoltaic (PV) industry and cement its role as a key technology for multi-TW-scale PV deployment.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

Fracture detection and imaging through relative seismic velocity changes using distributed acoustic sensing and ambient seismic noise

Fracture systems are important pathways for fluid and solute transport and exert a critical influence on the hydraulic properties of aquifers and reservoirs. Therefore, detailed knowledge of fracture locations, connections, and evolution is crucial for both groundwater and energy applications (e.g., enhanced geothermal, oil and gas recovery, carbon sequestration, and wastewater injection). The innovative combination of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) and ambient seismic noise techniques has the potential to detect and characterize fracture systems at high-spatial and temporal resolution without an active source. To test this, we conducted a multiphysics field experiment at Blue Canyon Dome, New Mexico. A novel energetic material developed by Sandia National Laboratories was used to generate fractures in two separate stimulations. Ambient noise was recorded before and after each stimulation using fiber-optic cables installed in the outer annulus of four boreholes surrounding the stimulation hole at a radius of 1.2 m. The Python package MSNoise was used to compute crosscorrelations and measure changes in velocity between each time period relative to the initial (prestimulation) time period. The majority of channel pairs showed a velocity reduction (average –3% relative velocity change) following both stimulations. We used a 3D Bayesian tomography approach to resolve spatial variations by utilizing differences between channel pairs. Results showed that the greatest velocity reduction was concentrated near the center of the test area and suggested the presence of a near-vertical fracture, oriented northeast to southwest for depths >19 m below ground surface and extending slightly to the southwest corner. Finally, these results were generally consistent with crosshole seismic tomography time-lapse images. DAS technology provides valuable sensing capability and — when used with a passive seismic approach — shows great promise for monitoring and characterization of fractured-rock systems.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Workshop Report: Wind Innovations for Rural Economic Development (WIRED)

The U.S. Department of Energy's Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) hosted the Wind Innovations for Rural Economic Development (WIRED) workshop in October 2018 with support from PNNL and NREL. The goals of the workshop were to develop an understanding of 1) what opportunities and challenges face rural electric utilities, considering distributed wind and other distributed energy resources, 2) what research and development pathways could enable wind technology to be more valuable for rural electric utilities, and 3) how DOE, in partnership with utilities and stakeholders, might ease the deployment of distributed wind systems. The report captures the key challenges, opportunities, and potential federal government R&D solutions as communicated by the stakeholder participants.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Organic Nano-Junctions: Linking Nanomorphology and Charge Transport in Organic Semiconductor Nanoparticles for Organic Photovoltaic Devices

In this study, innovative nanoscale devices are developed to investigate the charge transport in organic semiconductor nanoparticles. Using different steps of lithography techniques and dielectrophoresis, planar organic nano-junctions are fabricated from which hole mobilities are extracted in a space charge-limited current regime. Subsequently, these devices are used to investigate the impact of the composition and morphology of organic semiconductor nanoparticles on the charge mobilities. Pure donor nanoparticles and composite donor:acceptor nanoparticles with different donor compositions in their shell are inserted in the nanogap electrode to form the nano-junctions. The results highlight that the hole mobilities in the composite nanoparticles decrease by two-fold compared to pure donor nanoparticles. However, no significant change between the two kinds of composite nanoparticle morphologies is observed, indicating that conduction pathways for the holes are as efficient for donor proportion in the shell from 40% to 60%. Organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices are fabricated from water-based colloidal inks containing the two composite nanoparticles (P3HT:eh-IDTBR and P3HT:o-IDTBR) and no significant change in the performances is observed in accordance with the mobility results. Through this study, the performance of OPV devices have been successfully correlated to the transport properties of nanoparticles having different morphology via innovative nanoscale devices.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Nonthermal hydrogen plasma-enabled ambient, fast lignin hydrogenolysis to valuable chemicals and bio-oils

The reduction of fossil fuel resources and the ongoing surge in global energy demand have captured the interest of researchers worldwide, prompting a focus on developing renewable energy sources. For this reason, biomass conversion has emerged as a crucial pathway for renewable fuel production. Lignin, constituting 10–35% of woody biomass, represents a significant and largely untapped sustainable feedstock. Despite the potential of lignin, a substantial portion of this lignocellulosic residue remains unused, with approximately 60% considered waste. This study addresses the challenge of underutilized lignin by introducing an innovative approach to its hydrogenolysis. Despite their potential, existing hydrogenolysis methods face obstacles such as complexity, high cost, and the need for high temperatures or pressures. Herein we report a noncatalytic nonthermal hydrogen plasma method for lignin hydrogenolysis, conducted under ambient temperature and pressure conditions. Our method proves to be highly effective in breaking lignin bonds, achieving complete conversion, and generating valuable gaseous and bio-oil products including methane and aromatic dimers and monomers obtained from guaiacyl and syringyl units within the lignin structure. Our results showed an increase in gaseous products, especially methane, and aromatic monomer yields, as well as a reduction in total bio-oil and biochar yields and lignin functional groups by increasing reaction time, input power, and H2 partial pressure. This research confirms the considerable promise of utilizing noncatalytic nonthermal hydrogen plasma-assisted hydrogenolysis as an effective technique for producing gaseous and liquid fuels from lignin.

Pishva, Parsa↗
DOE OSTI2020

Cybersecurity Resiliency of Marine Renewable Energy Systems-Part 1: Identifying Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities and Determining Risk

Technology innovation, market demand, and the potential impacts of a changing climate are driving the marine renewable energy (MRE) industry to develop market-ready systems to provide low-carbon electricity for emerging, off-grid markets. The advanced operational and information technology devices used in MRE systems create a pathway for a cyber threat actor to gain unauthorized access to data or disrupt operation. To improve the resiliency of MRE systems as a predictable, affordable, and reliable source of energy from oceans and rivers, guidance was developed for an end users' organization that describes a framework for identifying and managing cybersecurity risk. The development of the cybersecurity guidance is based on standards described in the Risk Management Framework and Cybersecurity Framework developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This paper is the first of a two-part series that describes an approach to determine the cybersecurity risk for MRE systems based on assessing potential cyber threats, identifying vulnerabilities (people, processes, and technology, including physical and operational environment), and evaluating the consequences a cyberattack would have on operation of the MRE system and impact on end users' mission and business objectives. MRE developers and stakeholders can use this approach to assess their current cybersecurity risk posture to incorporate appropriate cybersecurity controls to reduce the consequences and impacts from a cyberattack on MRE systems. This approach can be refined further as MRE systems are deployed and operational configurations are available.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2018

The path from litter to soil: Insights into soil C cycling from long-term input manipulation and high-resolution mass spectrometry

The pathways carbon (C) takes from plant litter to soil organic matter (SOM) underlies our understanding of how soil C stocks and microbial decomposition will respond to climate change, and determining whether natural soil C sinks can be enhanced to offset potential losses. Long-term ecosystem-scale litter manipulations and innovations in the molecular characterization of SOM provide a unique opportunity to explore these dynamics. We incubated soils from a 20-year litter-input experiment for 525 days and asked how litter quantity and source (i.e., roots versus aboveground litter) affected soil C cycling, including microbial function and the size and molecular composition of C pools defined by degree of mineral association. Input exclusion led to a 30% loss of soil C, attributable largely to the non-mineral-associated C fraction, and was accompanied by declines in soil C decomposition. The absence of roots led to a shift in the microbial catabolic profile, though there was no evidence that root litter was preferentially stabilized. Carbon did not accumulate under litter addition. However, direct examination of the finest mineral fraction with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) revealed dramatic changes to the chemical composition of carbon. In particular, lipid content increased proportionally with input addition, and was subsequently mineralized during incubation, indicating that this apparently stable fraction is metabolically active. Moreover, non-metric dimensional scaling (NMS) showed that both litter treatments and incubation caused the molecular composition of SOM to diverge, and explained 79% of the variance in soil respiration. We conclude that the path from litter to soil is more complex than previously thought and mineral-associated SOM thought to be stable may be microbially available.

Reynolds, L L.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Opportunities for green hydrogen production with land-based wind in the United States

Hydrogen (H 2 ) is an efficient energy carrier and storage mechanism that can supply both stationary and transport energy demand. Rapidly declining renewable energy generation costs; technology innovations in wind, solar, battery storage, and electrolysis; and a global push for more sustainable and secure energy have driven increased interest in green H 2 production. In this study, we develop an H 2 scenario analysis tool to assist in rapid, high-resolution insights into future, green H 2 pathways to achieve policy goals and market competitiveness. Using this tool, we estimate H 2 production and costs for U.S., off-grid scenarios given varying policy and cost scenarios from 2025–2035. Results indicate that achieving economically competitive green H 2 production (below $\$$2/kg) is possible in 2030 with no policy incentives (one site achieves this target), while increasing policy support to include wind and green H 2 production tax credits enables widespread economic viability sooner, with sub-$\$$2/kg LCOH targets achieved by 2025 and 51.7% of sites achieving this target by 2035. Maximizing policy support through prevailing wage and apprenticeship credit multipliers enable widespread economic viability, including sub-$\$$2/kg of green H 2 by 2025 and even negative pricing by 2035. Regions with lowest LCOH values correspond to high wind resource areas and capacity factors. Achieving decarbonization goals with green H 2 depends on technology cost reductions and policy support, with a maximum average LCOH reduction of $\$$23.10 between no and maximum policy support scenarios, and a maximum average LCOH reduction of $\$$25.86 between current, conservative technology costs and 2035 projected technology cost assumptions.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2020

Algal Biomass Production via Open Pond Algae Farm Cultivation: 2019 State of Technology and Future Research

NREL’s algae state of technology benchmarking efforts focus both on front-end algal biomass production and separately on back-end conversion to fuels through NREL’s “combined algae processing” (CAP) pathway. The production model is based on outdoor long-term cultivation data, enabled by comprehensive algal biomass production trials conducted under Development of Integrated Screening, Cultivar Optimization, and Verification Research (DISCOVR) consortium efforts, driven by data furnished by Arizona State University (ASU) at the Arizona Center for Algae Technology and Innovation (AzCATI) testbed site. The CAP model is based on experimental efforts conducted under NREL R&D projects. This report focuses on front-end algal biomass production, documenting the pertinent algal biomass cultivation parameters that were input to the NREL open pond algae farm model and reports on key process sustainability indicators for the biomass production stage including annual biomass yields, facility power demand, and water consumption.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Algal Biomass Production via Open Pond Algae Farm Cultivation: 2020 State of Technology and Future Research

The annual State of Technology (SOT) assessment is an essential activity for platform research conducted under the Bioenergy Technologies Office. It allows for the impact of research progress to be quantified in terms of economic improvements in the overall biofuel production process for a particular biomass processing pathway, whether based on terrestrial or algal biomass feedstocks. As such, initial benchmarks can be established for currently demonstrated performance, and progress can be tracked towards out-year goals to ultimately demonstrate economically viable biofuel technologies. NREL's algae state of technology benchmarking efforts focus both on front-end algal biomass production and separately on back-end conversion to fuels through NREL's "combined algae processing" (CAP) pathway. The production model is based on outdoor long-term cultivation data, enabled by comprehensive algal biomass production trials conducted under Development of Integrated Screening, Cultivar Optimization, and Verification Research (DISCOVR) consortium efforts, driven by data furnished by Arizona State University (ASU) at the Arizona Center for Algae Technology and Innovation (AzCATI) testbed site. The CAP model is based on experimental efforts conducted under NREL research and development projects. This report focuses on front-end algal biomass production, documenting the pertinent algal biomass cultivation parameters that were input to the NREL open pond algae farm model based on the latest DISCOVR cultivation performance data. Relative to prior 2019 benchmarks, the 2020 algae farm SOT achieved further reductions in modeled minimum biomass selling price of approximately $70/ton (roughly 10%), primarily attributable to a 16% demonstrated improvement in annual average cultivation productivity rates.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Algal Biomass Production via Open Pond Algae Farm Cultivation: 2021 State of Technology and Future Research

The annual State of Technology (SOT) assessment is an essential activity for platform research conducted under the Bioenergy Technologies Office. It allows for the impact of research progress to be quantified in terms of economic improvements in the overall biofuel production process for a particular biomass processing pathway, whether based on terrestrial or algal biomass feedstocks. As such, initial benchmarks can be established for currently demonstrated performance, and progress can be tracked towards out-year goals to ultimately demonstrate economically viable biofuel technologies. NREL's algae state of technology benchmarking efforts focus both on front-end algal biomass production and separately on back-end conversion to fuels through NREL's "combined algae processing" (CAP) pathway. The production model is based on outdoor long-term cultivation data, enabled by comprehensive algal biomass production trials conducted under Development of Integrated Screening, Cultivar Optimization, and Verification Research (DISCOVR) consortium efforts, driven by data furnished by Arizona State University (ASU) at the Arizona Center for Algae Technology and Innovation (AzCATI) testbed site. The CAP model is based on experimental efforts conducted under NREL research and development projects. This report focuses on front-end algal biomass production, documenting the pertinent algal biomass cultivation parameters that were input to the NREL open pond algae farm model based on the latest DISCOVR cultivation performance data. Relative to the fiscal year (FY) 2020 SOT at $683/ton or $603/ton for ASU and FA evaporation scenarios, respectively (unlined pond basis), the FY 2021 SOT represents a slight increase in MBSP of 1%-2%. This is primarily attributed to a slight 4% reduction in annual cultivation productivity achieved at the AzCATI site (supported by the efforts under the DISCOVR consortium noted above) observed during FY 2021 cultivation campaigns.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Chemical Recycling Processes of Waste Polyethylene Terephthalate Using Solid Catalysts

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a non-degradable single-use plastic and a major component of plastic waste in landfills. Chemical recycling is one of the most widely adopted methods to transform post-consumer PET into PET's building block chemicals. Non-catalytic depolymerization of PET is very slow and requires high temperatures and/or pressures. Recent advancements in the field of material science and catalysis have delivered several innovative strategies to promote PET depolymerization under mild reaction conditions. Particularly, heterogeneous catalysts assisted depolymerization of post-consumer PET to monomers and other value-added chemicals is the most industrially compatible method. Here, this review includes current progresses on the heterogeneously catalyzed chemical recycling of PET. It describes four key pathways for PET depolymerization including, glycolysis, pyrolysis, alcoholysis, and reductive depolymerization. The catalyst function, active sites and structure-activity correlations are briefly outlined in each section. An outlook for future development is also presented.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2026

Enhanced Recovery of Critical Minerals and Geological Hydrogen in The Mine of the Future

invited perspective article: The rapid demand for critical minerals (CMs) and hydrogen (H2) necessitates innovative solutions beyond conventional mining. This study explores enhanced mineral recovery (EMR) and geological hydrogen production (GeoH2) by leveraging the Earth’s subsurface as a reactive platform. Using ultramafic rocks and engineered fluids, the approach simultaneously mobilizes critical resources and produces H2 through natural processes like serpentinization. This paradigm offers a transformative pathway to secure essential materials and diversify energy resources, setting a foundation for the Terrestrial Mine of the Future

Yan, Keju↗
DOE OSTI2022

Exploring New Ways to Classify Industries for Energy Analysis and Modeling

As the US moves closer to embracing a net zero greenhouse gas emissions position, combustion processes outside the power sector are becoming urgent concerns. Industry is an important end user of energy and relies on fossil fuels used directly for process heating and as feedstocks for a diverse range of applications. Fuel and energy use by industry is heterogeneous, meaning that even a single product group can vary broadly in its production routes and associated energy usage. In the US, the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) serves as the basis for data collection and reporting. In turn, data based on NAICS is the foundation of most US energy modeling. Thus, the effectiveness of NAICS at representing energy use is a limiting condition for plans to improve energy efficiency and alternatives to fossil fuels in industry. Facility-level data to build more detail into heterogeneous sectors is scarce. This work explores alternative classification schemes for industry based on energy use characteristics, and provides a validation of an approach to make facility-level energy use estimates based on publicly available data from the greenhouse gas reporting program. First, several approaches to industrial taxonomies and their usefulness for industrial energy modeling are summarized. Data from Industrial Assessment Centers is analyzed using unsupervised machine learning techniques to detect clusters. Cladistics, an approach from biology, is adapted to energy and process characteristics of industries. A cladogram is presented for evolutionary directions in the iron and steel sector. Cladograms are a promising tool for constructing scenarios and summarizing directions of sectoral innovation. Finally, validation is performed for facility-level energy estimates from the US EPA Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. This validation assists in making this data source available for use in energy modeling. Together, this work explores alternative approaches for categorizing industries in a way that aids understanding energy use, and presenting pathways for the future.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Algal Biomass Production via Open Pond Algae Farm Cultivation: 2022 State of Technology and Future Research

The annual State of Technology (SOT) assessment is an essential activity for platform research conducted under the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO). It allows for the impact of research progress (both directly achieved in-house at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory [NREL] and furnished by partner organizations) to be quantified in terms of economic improvements in the overall biofuel production process for a particular biomass processing pathway, whether based on terrestrial or algal biomass feedstocks. As such, initial benchmarks can be established for currently demonstrated performance, and progress can be tracked toward out-year goals to ultimately demonstrate economically viable biofuel technologies. NREL's algae SOT benchmarking efforts focus both on front-end algal biomass production and separately on back-end conversion to fuels through NREL's "combined algae processing" (CAP) pathway. The production model is based on outdoor long-term cultivation data, enabled by comprehensive algal biomass production trials conducted under the Development of Integrated Screening, Cultivar Optimization, and Verification Research (DISCOVR) consortium efforts, driven by data furnished by Arizona State University (ASU) at the Arizona Center for Algae Technology and Innovation (AzCATI) testbed site. The CAP model is based on experimental efforts conducted primarily under NREL research and development projects. This report focuses on front-end algal biomass production, documenting the pertinent algal biomass cultivation parameters that were input to the NREL open pond algae farm model. Through partnerships under DISCOVR, collaborators at ASU furnished details on cultivation performance metrics including biomass productivity and harvest densities for recent growth trials done at the AzCATI site. The resulting biomass productivity was calculated at 18.5 g/m2/day (ash-free dry weight [AFDW], annual average) for seasonal cultivation of Picochlorum celeri, Tetraselmis striata LANL1001, and Monoraphidium minutum 26B-AM biomass strains at the ASU site. Picochlorum celeri achieved the best productivity from May to September, with Monoraphidium minutum 26B-AM being used in October, November, March, and April, and Tetraselmis striata employed during winter months (December through February). Beyond the standard SOT models, in Appendix C of this report we also present an industry case study evaluating several scenarios reflective of outdoor cultivation data furnished by an industry collaborator. This case study provides a supplementary datapoint on work being performed elsewhere achieving comparable cultivation productivity with more favorable compositional quality, producing biomass enriched in lipids as may be more optimal for conversion upgrading to fuels and products.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Algal Biomass Production via Open Pond Algae Farm Cultivation: 2023 State of Technology and Future Research

The annual State of Technology (SOT) assessment is an essential activity for platform research conducted under the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO). It allows for the impact of research progress (both directly achieved in-house at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory [NREL] and furnished by partner organizations) to be quantified in terms of economic improvements in the overall biofuel production process for a particular biomass processing pathway, whether based on terrestrial or algal biomass feedstocks. As such, initial benchmarks can be established for currently demonstrated performance, and progress can be tracked toward out-year goals to ultimately demonstrate economically viable biofuel technologies. NREL's algae SOT benchmarking efforts historically focused both on front-end algal biomass production and separately on back-end conversion to fuels through NREL's "combined algae processing" (CAP) pathway. The production model is based on outdoor long-term cultivation data, enabled by comprehensive algal biomass production trials conducted under the Development of Integrated Screening, Cultivar Optimization, and Verification Research (DISCOVR) consortium efforts, driven by data furnished by Arizona State University (ASU) at the Arizona Center for Algae Technology and Innovation (AzCATI) testbed site. The CAP model is based on experimental efforts conducted primarily under NREL research and development projects. This report focuses on front-end algal biomass production, documenting the pertinent algal biomass cultivation parameters that were input to the NREL open pond algae farm model. Through partnerships under DISCOVR, collaborators at ASU furnished details on cultivation performance metrics including biomass productivity and harvest densities for recent growth trials done at the AzCATI site. The resulting biomass productivity was calculated at 16.7 g/m 2 /day (ash-free dry weight [AFDW], annual average) for seasonal cultivation of Picochlorum celeri TG2 and Monoraphidium minutum 26B-AM biomass strains at the ASU site. Picochlorum celeri achieved the best productivity from April to September, with Monoraphidium minutum 26B-AM being used between October and March. Tetraselmis striata LANL1001, usually part of the strain rotation in previous cultivation SOTs, was supplanted by Monoraphidium minutum 26B-AM in this year's outdoor cultivation trials. Finally, building from an industry case study presented in the 2022 SOT report, in the Appendix of this report we provide an update on further improved data furnished by an industry collaborator and resultant impacts on economics reflecting several seasonal scenarios. This case study provides a supplementary datapoint on work being performed elsewhere with a more dedicated focus on improved compositional quality, producing biomass enriched in lipids as may be more optimal for conversion upgrading to fuels and products.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Expanding NREL's Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES) Capabilities

NREL's Integrated Energy Pathways vision represents a transformed, future integrated energy system that is more affordable, clean, secure, and resilient than today. Key to this vision is the unique Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES) research platform. With a focus on advancing modern grid infrastructure, making investments in energy efficiency building technology research, and innovating battery storage and much more, the unique ARIES research platform can be used to accelerate the integration of new technologies into a modern grid.

advanced research↗