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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 289 records · Page 16

Identifying institutional barriers and policy implications for sustainable energy technology adoption among large organizations in California

Large organizations wield considerable market power, their procurement activities can be leveraged to achieve social, economic and environmental goals by ‘pulling’ more desirable products into the market. However, while there is substantial research in individual consumer buying behavior and market barriers to sustainable technology adoption, less is known about large organizational buying behavior and the impact of institutional barriers in this area. To address these research gaps, in this work we conducted an exploratory study aimed at better understanding the process through which large organizations purchase sustainable energy technologies and what internal barriers they experience during that process. Additionally, we surveyed and interviewed 120 individuals involved in procurement from Californian organizations representing both public and private sectors. Survey results indicate the need to resolve the conflict between prioritizing lowest first cost and lowest life cycle cost, better engage multiple stakeholders involved in internal decision-making around purchasing, and improve existing procurement tools or offer new ones. We provide recommendations for how policymakers can apply our findings to increase the adoption of sustainable energy technologies in their own organizations and communities.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

The Future of Sensitivity Analysis: An essential discipline for systems modeling and policy support

Sensitivity analysis (SA) is en route to becoming an integral part of mathematical modeling. The tremendous potential benefits of SA are, however, yet to be fully realized, both for advancing mechanistic and data-driven modeling of human and natural systems, and in support of decision making. In this perspective paper, a multidisciplinary group of researchers and practitioners revisit the current status of SA, and outline research challenges in regard to both theoretical frameworks and their applications to solve real-world problems. Six areas are discussed that warrant further attention, including (1) structuring and standardizing SA as a discipline, (2) realizing the untapped potential of SA for systems modeling, (3) addressing the computational burden of SA, (4) progressing SA in the context of machine learning, (5) clarifying the relationship and role of SA to uncertainty quantification, and (6) evolving the use of SA in support of decision making. An outlook for the future of SA is provided that underlines how SA must underpin a wide variety of activities to better serve science and society.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

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↗

Planning Considerations for Energy Storage in Resilience Applications. Outcomes from the NELHA Energy Storage Conference's Policy and Regulatory Workshop

This report presents the proceedings and lessons learned at a conference workshop that discussed the role of energy storage in supporting electric system resilience, which took place at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority’s (NELHA) Conference on Energy Storage Trends and Opportunities in December 2018. Staff from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) made two presentations on the topic of resilience: the first covering a conceptual framework for incorporating resilience into resource planning processes, and the second covering a tool developed for microgrid planning that can assist in identifying resource mixes that will meet site-specific resilience needs. Throughout the presentations, presenters and workshop participants discussed the obstacles to improving electric system resilience and potential solutions for overcoming them. Following the workshop, the authors conducted additional research to further contextualize the topics discussed at the workshop and to frame the resulting recommendations for future engagement on this subject by the Department of Energy and the national laboratories.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Europe’s energy policy based on large-scale use of renewables most likely will require supplemental power supplies to balance their electrical power systems

Political decisions toward an increased role for renewable energy sources (wind & solar) in Europe will have an impact on the functioning of the electrical power systems that will have to be offset due to the inherent intermittent nature of renewable sources. The offset can be accomplished either through increasing non-renewable energy supply and production from other means, including purchasing Russian piped natural gas and LNG, or decreasing demand by curtailing power consumption. Europe likely will also need increased energy supplies to cover reduced gas production in the North Sea and Netherlands. Also, expected disconnection of Baltic states from the BRELL (Belarus-Russia-EstoniaLatvia-Lithuania) grid will force these countries to acquire electricity from Europe, resulting in increased demands on the European power grid that will require additional capacity to offset.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Grid Resilience to Extreme Events – Connecting Science to Investments and Policy

A workshop co-hosted by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Seattle City Light was held at the Seattle Municipal Tower on November 8–10, 2022. Participants from research organizations, utilities, professional associations, consultants, and government organizations attended. The purpose of the workshop was to develop a vision for addressing climate extremes that include improving forecasting and characterization, infrastructure resilience modeling, and investment planning and decision support. The workshop also aimed to provide a platform for sharing approaches and information and identifying possible collaborations.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Modeling and Policy Pathways to Decarbonize South Asia’s Industrial Sector

The industrial sector is responsible for one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, and industrial decarbonization will be an essential component of limiting emissions and mitigating climate change (Rissman et al., 2020). This holds true for South Asian countries as they work toward their stated commitments to reducing emissions in the coming years. India has pledged to reduce the emissions intensity of its gross domestic product (GDP) by 33–35% by 2030 (Government of India, 2016) and announced at COP26 a target of reaching net-zero CO 2 emissions by 2070, a goal that will require rapid decarbonization of energy-intensive industries (WEF, 2021). Bangladesh’s Nationally Determined Contributions include a commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 6.73% to 15.12% by 2030 (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, 2021). While these Nationally Determined Contributions do not explicitly target emissions reductions in industry, Bangladesh’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C) Master Plan highlights industry as an important sector for EE&C (Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority, 2015). Sri Lanka has pledged carbon neutrality by 2050, including a reduction in industrial greenhouse gas emissions (Ministry of Environment, 2021). Nepal’s commitment to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 includes plans to establish guidelines and technology transitions facilitating industrial decarbonization (Government of Nepal, 2020).

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Human Subjects in Energy Technology and Policy Research (Symposium Report)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has a unique and wide-ranging research portfolio. One focus of the department’s research mission is to develop and promote the adoption of technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and result in renewable and clean energy for the country. This research encompasses a surprisingly diverse array of studies, many of which involve the inclusion of human participants that go beyond traditional biomedical investigations. For example, individuals play an important role in DOE research on clean energy sources, development and testing of new energy-efficient technologies, and partnerships with local communities for equitable climate solutions.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Advancing Electric System Resilience with Distributed Energy Resources: A Review of State Policies

Severe weather, cyber-attacks, geomagnetic disturbances, and other hazards and threats have caused or have the potential to cause substantial levels of damage to electricity infrastructure and the global economy. Growth in distributed energy resources (DERs) and increasing attention to the resilience of the electric grid - its ability to "anticipate, absorb, adapt to, and/or rapidly recover" from disruptions, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC, 2018) - have created an opportunity for energy stakeholders to develop and deploy "resilient DERs," resources in the distribution grid that improve the ability of a customer, critical facility, and/or the distribution system in general to anticipate, absorb, adapt to, and/or rapidly recover from disruptions. This paper explores how existing state regulations intersect with resilience and highlights opportunities where state regulators can employ DERs to advance resilience.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Clean Air as a Bonus for Achieving Energy-Related State Goals: A Review of Policies and Programs in 15 States

This report explores connections between six common areas for state action on energy-related issues — resilience, economic development, energy affordability, electrifying transportation, grid modernization, and using local resources — and reducing air emissions. Although clean air often is not a driver for such state actions, they nonetheless reduce a variety of emissions, including particulates, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. The study spans 15 geographically diverse states: Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah. While these states have not adopted mandatory climate goals, they conduct a wide range of energy-related activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants as a side benefit.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

A Quantitative Approach for Demonstrating Plume Stabilization Under CCS Policy Frameworks

Conference presentation at Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) Conference 2024, Houston, Texas, March 11–13, 2024. The study highlighted the operator’s responsibilities for demonstrating plume stabilization in partial fulfillment of postinjection monitoring and site closure requirements. The metric dA/dt was chosen because of rules and regulations that call out the need to measure the change in area of the plume and plume extents over time. As dA/dt approached dA/dtcritical, the CO 2 plume’s growth was both minimal and predictable. Providing operators with a quantitative approach to determining plume stabilization is important for moving carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects beyond feasibility phases of development.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗

State Policies on Access to Vaccination Services for Low-Income Adults

Importance State vaccination benefits coverage and access for adult Medicaid beneficiaries vary substantially. Multiple studies have documented lower vaccination uptake in publicly insured adults compared with privately insured adults. Objective To evaluate adult Medicaid beneficiaries’ access to adult immunization services through review of vaccination benefits coverage in Medicaid programs across the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Design, Setting, and Participants A public domain document review with supplemental semistructured telephone survey was conducted between June 1, 2018, and June 14, 2019, to evaluate vaccination services benefits in fee-for-service and managed care organization arrangements for adult Medicaid beneficiaries in the 50 states and the District of Columbia (total, 51 Medicaid programs). Exposures Document review of benefits coverage for adult immunization services and supplemental survey with validation of document review findings. Main Outcomes and Measures Benefits coverage for adult Medicaid beneficiaries and reimbursement amounts for vaccine purchase and administration. Results Public domain document review was completed for all 51 jurisdictions. Among these, 44 Medicaid programs (86%) validated document review findings and completed the survey. Only 22 Medicaid programs (43%) covered all 13 Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices–recommended adult immunizations under both fee-for-service and managed care organization arrangements. Most fee-for-service arrangements (37 of 49) reimbursed health care professionals using any of the 4 approved vaccine administration codes; however, 8 of 49 programs did not separately reimburse for vaccine administration to adult Medicaid beneficiaries. Depending on administration route, median reimbursement for adult vaccine administration ranged from $\$9.81$ to $\$13.98$ per dose. Median per-dose reimbursement for adult vaccine purchase was highest for 9-valent human papillomavirus vaccine ($\$204.87$) and lowest for Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine ($\$18.09$). Median reimbursement was below the private sector price for 7 of the 13 included vaccines. Conclusions and Relevance Even in programs with complete vaccination benefits coverage, reimbursement amounts to health care professionals for vaccine purchase and administration may not fully cover vaccination provision costs. Reimbursement amounts below costs may reduce incentives for health care professionals to vaccinate low-income adults and thereby limit Medicaid adult beneficiary access to vaccination.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗