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DOE OSTI2024

Integration of New Technology Considering the Trade-Offs Between Operational Benefits and Risks: A Case Study of Dynamic Line Rating

Electric grid operators are adept at handling complexity and uncertainty. However, with increasing introduction of renewable generation, distributed energy resources, and more frequent severe weather events, operators will experience new workload and challenging decision scenarios. Here, this paper quantifies risks and benefits from an operator's perspective of introducing weather based forecast Dynamic Line Ratings (DLR) using variable wind conditions in addition to ambient temperature to relieve transmission congestion and facilitating more offshore wind (OSW). A concept of operations (CONOPS) applied to a forecast DLR implementation and its integration with OSW is defined. A method for evaluating tradeoffs of derating to make the rating more conservative but decreasing the benefit was developed and applied to a case study for two existing overhead transmission lines on Long Island, New York. The CONOPS uses historical day-ahead and hour-ahead High Resolution Rapid Refresh weather forecasts and weather station data to support planning and real-time operations. The analysis determines the risk of downgrades in real-time operational rating compared to the forecast and quantifies the frequency and severity of last-minute downgrades. The risk is compared against the benefits in increased capacity to provide insights on the additional amount of uncertainty DLR and OSW will add to the operator's workload.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2025

Intersection of Hydrologic Change and Hydropower in the United States: Needs for Future Research and Practice

Hydropower is crucial for electric‐grid stability in the context of variable renewables but faces threats from changing hydrology. Here, we summarize the state of the science at the intersection of hydropower operations and planning, hydrologic science, and climate. We focus on the United States, outlining research, development, and training needs. Key knowledge gaps include the risk that intensification of compound extreme events poses to future generation, as well as uncertainties surrounding greenhouse gas emissions from hydropower reservoirs with relevance to hydropower's role in energy decarbonization. Quantifying such impacts and reducing uncertainty are critical where possible, but remaining irreducible or deep uncertainty will require new approaches. Future monitoring and modeling methods must provide a better understanding of the complexity inherent in large watersheds that is critical to managing both hydropower and watersheds in the context of hydrologic change. Yet, research and development will have little impact if they do not inform practice. Standardization and consolidation of platforms are essential for data, modeling, and tool translation to local scales and small operators. An enhanced industry‐academia dialog is pivotal for fostering a robust pipeline of hydropower professionals. Collaboration among researchers, policymakers, authorities, and industry stakeholders emerges as a recurring theme, highlighting the imperative for collective efforts.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2024

Manufacture and testing of biomass-derivable thermosets for wind blade recycling

Wind energy is helping to decarbonize the electrical grid, but wind blades are not recyclable, and current end-of-life management strategies are not sustainable. Here, to address the material recyclability challenges in sustainable energy infrastructure, we introduce scalable biomass-derivable polyester covalent adaptable networks and corresponding fiber-reinforced composites for recyclable wind blade fabrication. Through experimental and computational studies, including vacuum-assisted resin-transfer molding of a 9-meter wind blade prototype, we demonstrate drop-in technological readiness of this material with existing manufacture techniques, superior properties relative to incumbent materials, and practical end-of-life chemical recyclability. Most notable is the counterintuitive creep suppression, outperforming industry state-of-the-art thermosets despite the dynamic cross-link topology. Overall, this report details the many facets of wind blade manufacture, encompassing chemistry, engineering, safety, mechanical analyses, weathering, and chemical recyclability, enabling a realistic path toward biomass-derivable, recyclable wind blades.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2025

Elucidating Sodium-Sulfur Battery Chemistry using Operando Transmission X-ray Microscopy and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

Room-temperature sodium-sulfur (Na-S) batteries offer a beneficial and cost-effective solution for powering modern electric grids and devices. However, Na-S batteries suffer from performance decay during battery cycling due to the sluggish kinetics and polysulfide shuttling. Revealing the conversion mechanism of the Na-S chemistry is critical to designing high-capacity and stable Na-S batteries. In this study, we employed operando X-ray microscopy and operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy to elucidate the sulfur conversion in a carbon host using an ether-based electrolyte. We reveal the structural and chemical evolution of the sulfur cathode during cycling, which results in volume expansion and the dissolution of active material, ultimately affecting the battery performance. Our work provides fundamental insight into the sulfur reaction scheme, addressing the lingering challenges before establishing inexpensive Na-S batteries for broad applications, including portable electronics and large-scale energy storage.

Jagadeesan, Sathya Narayanan [SLAC National Accele↗

DOE OSTI2024

EVI-RoadTrip™: Electric Vehicle Infrastructure for Road Trips [SWR-22-17]

The EVI-RoadTrip™ tool offers high-resolution refueling network design and analysis to inform electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure development for road trips or long-distance travels. EVI-RoadTrip helps infrastructure planners, analysts, and decision makers evaluate EV energy consumption and corresponding charging demands along the routes-between origin and destination. It considers the projected location and characteristics of charging stations, potential electric grid impacts, and required infrastructure improvements. Strategically located charging stations for long-distance travel are critical to enabling the widespread adoption of EVs by allowing them to travel further beyond city or town boundaries. Sophisticated analysis and planning can identify the points (e.g., corridors) that may require increased availability of EV charging stations to support electrified road trips.

Wood, Eric↗

DOE OSTI2025

Preparation of 1,3-Dihydroxyphenazine

The ability to effectively store energy produced by intermittent renewable sources is a critical challenge for chemists and materials scientists. Redox flow batteries (RFB), which generate current by the flow of electrons between dissolved redox active compounds in separate solutions, are envisioned as a method to store renewable energy at the electrical grid scale. The best known examples of RFBs are driven by redox active metal or main group complexes. Within the past decade, redox active organic molecules have begun to be used in the construction of RFBs with high cell potential and cycle stability, at economical price points. Of particular interest are substituted dihydroxy phenazines, a class of heterocycles, that have recently been used as an anolyte for aqueous organic RFBs. Recent work indicates that different regioisomers of dihydroxyphenazine show dramatically different solubility and stability under electrochemical cycling conditions. Of particular interest was 1,3-dihydroxyphenazine (1,3-DHP), which showed greater than 1.5 M solubility in 2M KOH and excellent electrochemical stability. Current methods of producing 1,3-DHP, however, are low yielding and cumbersome. In the article proposal that follows, we offer an improved method of producing 1,3-DHP at high purity and moderate yield. The method detailed below was used by the Materials Engineering Research Facility (MERF) at Argonne National Lab to deliver more than 1.5 kg of this compound for use in the construction of aqueous organic RFBs.

Dzwiniel, Trevor [Argonne National Laboratory (ANL↗

DOE OSTI2024

Clean Industry in China: A Techno-Economic Comparison of Electrified Heat Technologies, Barriers, and Policy Options

China’s manufacturing sector generates 61% of the country’s CO 2 emissions, nearly three-quarters of which is related to industrial process heating. To meet China’s climate targets and attain a zero-carbon industrial sector, decarbonizing these industrial heating processes is a necessity. If China’s electricity grid is similarly decarbonized, direct electrification is the most practical means of supplying this heat efficiently at the required scale.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

DOE OSTI2024

Defining Safe and Efficient Interconnection Policies for Energy Storage and Solar + Storage to Improve Integration and Reduce Costs

Energy storage has a unique and pivotal role to play in the transition to a low-carbon economy because it can help the electric grid accommodate more renewable energy. However, a number of barriers currently impede the process of connecting energy storage systems to the distribution grid. The Toolkit and Guidance for the Interconnection of Energy Storage and Solar-Plus-Storage (the “BATRIES Toolkit”), which is the publication subject to this Final Technical / Scientific Report, provides vetted solutions to eight regulatory and technical barriers to the interconnection of standalone storage and solar-plus-storage systems (referred to as “energy storage”) to the distribution grid. These recommendations are based on over a year of research and analysis by utility and industry experts. The BATRIES Toolkit also includes model language that utilities and utility regulators can use to update state interconnection rules to reduce the costs and time to safely interconnect energy storage and solar-plus-storage systems. The solutions are nationally applicable and can be applied in diverse states and markets across the U.S.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2024

Cybersecurity for the Operational Technology Environment (CyOTE) (Final Technical Report)

Electric grids have historically been susceptible to both physical attacks and environmental hazards but the implementation of smart grids, remote management, and self-healing networks, has now made the grid vulnerable to cyber attacks. To address risks introduced by routable connectivity, utilities must establish dynamic solutions to identify, protect, detect, respond to, and recover from cyber security threats and vulnerabilities. In response to the evolving threat landscape U.S. Department of Energy-Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (DOE CESER) initiated the Cybersecurity for the OT Environment (CyOTE) pilot program, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) effort designed to leverage U.S. intelligence capabilities to prevent, detect, or mitigate a cyber attack on utility operational technology (OT) networks. As part of the CyOTE pilot, The Southern Company (Southern Company or Southern) researched, evaluated and deployed emerging Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) technologies and cyber security monitoring architectures to provide previously unrealized network visibility and situational awareness through deep packet inspection and data analytics. This Final Scientific/Technical Report documents the objectives, methodology, lessons learned, and results of Southern Company’s participation in the CyOTE pilot from December 2018 to September 2023.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

DOE OSTI2024

Assessing the Impacts of CO 2 Reduction and Utilization Technologies on Regional Freshwater Resources

This work, a product of the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO)-supported multi-lab CO 2 Reduction and Upgrading for e-Fuels Consortium (CO 2 RUe), focuses on advanced research and development and cross-cutting evaluation of environmental, economic, and social sustainability for CO 2 reduction and upgrading for fuels and chemicals. The Consortium develops and de-risks advanced technologies that use renewable electricity to convert CO 2 into e-fuels and commodity chemicals. One key aspect of environmental sustainability consideration is water resources. This report summarizes a three-year study that analyzed the impacts of water consumption in select CO 2 reduction and utilization technologies in two future scenarios using a pair of water indices—water availability index and water stress footprint. The analyses also account for projected electricity grid mixes and their water withdrawal and water consumption demand in grid regions. The work identifies drivers, challenges, and critical areas in water sustainability, along with valuable insights into technological and regional factors. The study also explores the potential of using non-traditional water resources to reduce water stress and increase availability. These findings are intended to support industry stakeholders and BETO with the knowledge needed for informed decision-making, contributing to strategies to mitigate risks associated with the implementation of CO 2 utilization technologies.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

DOE OSTI2024

Model Guidance to Address Barriers to Combined Heat and Power and Waste Heat to Power

Congress directed that the US Department of Energy (DOE) initiate a review of interconnection rules to identify barriers to interconnection and ways to better integrate combined heat and power (CHP) and waste heat to power (WHP) in the electric grid. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) supports DOE by providing technical assistance for CHP. DOE tasked ORNL with the interconnection review and development of model guidance to enable developers and CHP owners to interconnect more CHP. This report summarizes the work that DOE initiated in response to the congressional request.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

DOE OSTI2024

Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program: Technical and Economic Considerations for Uprate of Existing Nuclear Reactors with Cogeneration

The United States nuclear reactor fleet consists of 63 pressurized water reactors and 31 boiling water reactors and is a pivotal component in the nation's energy infrastructure, supplying approximately 97 GW e of clean power. With the country's commitment to decarbonization by 2050, these reactors are not only instrumental in decarbonizing the electricity grid but also play a critical role in decarbonizing industrial processes, producing clean fuels, and scaling up CO 2 removal. This report delves into the potential for power uprates in the existing fleet to contribute to these decarbonization efforts, focusing on the expansion of capacity for applications such as hydrogen production and carbon capture and sequestration. Building on previous research, the report explores regional market demands for hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide, financial implications of oxygen and CO 2 sales from high-temperature steam electrolysis systems, and the potential for direct air capture systems paired with uprated nuclear plants.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

DOE OSTI2024

Disruption avoidance via island suppression: the crucial roles of DIII-D and foundational research

The FESAC long range plan calls out disruption avoidance and mitigation as key remaining technical gaps. In discussing the roles of DIII-D and NSTX-U, the FESAC long range plan says “Additional research on these facilities, in combination with private and international collaborations, continuing support of existing university tokamak programs, and utilization of US expertise in theory and simulation, is needed to find solutions to remaining technical gaps. These gaps include disruption prediction, avoidance, and mitigation …”. Disruptions pose an existential threat to ITER and to FPPs. For a fusion reactor, unplanned shutdowns caused by disruptions will be a significant barrier to connecting such a reactor to the electric grid, even if disruption mitigation is successful. Disruption studies for ITER in recent years have largely focused on disruption mitigation (e.g., pellet injection), motivated by near-term deadlines for finalizing the design of the mitigation hardware. It is recognized, however, that mitigation alone will not suffice. The 2022 U.S. ITER Research Needs Workshop Report states that ”[d]isruptions are considered the largest threat to the ITER Research Program”, and that “[m]itigation should be a last resort”. As we discuss below, there are unresolved foundational issues that play a critical role in avoidance, and DIII-D is an ideal device for generating the data needed to address these issues.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2024

Accelerated Energy Storage Deployment in RELAC Countries

"Renewables in Latin America and the Caribbean" or RELAC is a regional initiative across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) that was created at the end of 2019, within the framework of the United Nations Climate Action Summit, with the objective of reaching at least 70% of renewable energy installed capacity, and 80% of the region's total electricity generation from renewables by 2030. 16 countries are members (Barbados, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay), and others are in discussions to join. RELAC provides these countries with support in addressing technical and financial needs to increase renewable energy penetration, matchmaking with financial resources to support capacity building needs and implementation of RE expansion plans, and knowledge exchange via peer-learning, and best practices in renewable energy integration to the electrical grid.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

DOE OSTI2024

AI-Enhanced Co-Design for Next-Generation Microelectronics: Innovating Innovation (Workshop Report)

The Artificial Intelligence Enhanced Co-Design for Next Generation Microelectronics virtual workshop was held April 4-5, 2023, and attended by subject matter experts from universities, industry, and national laboratories. This was the third in a series of workshops to motivate the research community to identify and address major challenges facing microelectronics research and production. The 2023 workshop focused on a set of topics from materials to computing algorithms, and included discussions on relevant federal legislation and such as the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors and Science Act (CHIPS Act) which was signed into law in the summer of 2022. Talks at the workshop included edge computing in radiation environments, new materials for neuromorphic computing, advanced packaging for microelectronics, and new AI techniques. We also received project updates from several of the Department of Energy (DOE) microelectronics co-design projects funded in the fall of 2021, and from three of the Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs) that had been funded in the fall of 2022. The workshop also conducted a set of breakout discussions around the five principal research directions (PRDs) from the 2018 Department of Energy workshop report: 1) define innovative material, device, and architecture requirements driven by applications, algorithms, and software; 2) revolutionize memory and data storage; 3) re-imagine information flow unconstrained by interconnects; 4) redefine computing by leveraging unexploited physical phenomena; 5) reinvent the electricity grid through new materials, devices, and architectures. We tasked each breakout group to consider one primary PRD (and other PRDs as relevant topics arose during discussions) and to address questions such as whether the research community has embraced co-design as a methodology and whether new developments at any level of innovation from materials to programming models requires the research community to reevaluate the PRDs developed back in 2018.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

DOE OSTI2024

Assessing the Impacts of CO 2 Reduction and Utilization Technologies on Regional Freshwater Resources

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Implementación acelerada del almacenamiento de energía en los países de RELAC [Accelerated Energy Storage Deployment in RELAC Countries]

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

DOE OSTI2024

Comparative Life Cycle Analysis of Carbon Dioxide Utilization in Concrete Products

In this study, a comparative LCA of CO2U concrete processes is conducted, revealing promise in several research areas. The environmental impacts of replacing conventional binder and aggregates with carbonated steel slag and direct carbonation of concrete are investigated in ten different product systems, which include both ready-mix and pre-cast concretes. The results indicate that cement substitution, CO2 uptake, electricity consumption, and the electricity grid mix constitute critical levers for deep decarbonization of concrete building materials. This presentation applies LCA to inform the use of CO2U concrete technology pathways in the design of sustainable concrete while promoting transparency and rational assumptions in the presence of uncertainty. Broader themes in the work include LCA of emerging technologies and the sensitivity of LCA results to co-product management methods.

Clarke, James↗