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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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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Opaque Envelopes: Pathway to Building Energy Efficiency and Demand Flexibility: Key to a Low-Carbon, Sustainable Future

The opaque envelope - the barrier that helps maintain comfortable indoor conditions regardless of prevailing outdoor conditions - is the single largest contributor to primary energy use in residential and commercial buildings. Residential and commercial buildings comprise 39% of total U.S. primary energy use [1]. The opaque envelope affects 25% of building energy use, or 10% of total U.S. primary energy use [2]. High-performance opaque envelope technologies, therefore, have substantial potential to reduce energy use in both new construction and existing buildings. Retrofits are particularly crucial to realizing the energy savings potential of the opaque envelope because nearly 85% of residential and 55% of commercial buildings that exist today will still exist in 2050 [1]. Building envelope performance is also important for occupant comfort, productivity, health, and well-being. Improving the energy performance of the opaque envelope in U.S. buildings is critical to achieving aggressive cli- mate goals that support a clean energy economy and an equitable energy future for all Americans. By reducing total building energy use and improving energy efficiency, envelope research and development (R&D) will have a significant impact on how low-carbon buildings can mitigate climate change.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2025

New Community Center Integrated Energy Efficiency Measures (EEMs) and Solar Photovoltaic Generation System in the Forest County Potawatomi Community

The Forest County Potawatomi Community (“FCPC” or “the Tribe”), is a federally recognized Indian Tribe located in Wisconsin. With the support of the United States Department of Energy, Office of Indian Energy (DOE IE) grant funding, the Tribe implemented their New Community Center Integrated EEMs and Solar Photovoltaic System in the Forest County Potawatomi Community project (the “Project”). The Project was developed and executed with the goal of partially energizing the Community Center while concurrently pursuing Tribal energy sovereignty through cost effective energy efficiency and generation measure.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Next Generation Durable, Cost Effective, Energy Efficient Tubular SOFC (Final Scientific/Technical Report)

The overall objective of this project is to develop and optimize a YSZ electrolyte-based solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology for low cost, low temperature (~ 650°C), and high energy efficiency operation. The developed technology will be implemented and demonstrated in a high efficiency 2~3kW SOFC with applicability to sub-MW systems. A summary of significant accomplishments is provided below. Key accomplishments: 1. Improved fundamental cell technology demonstrated at single tube and system scale. Improved power output by 54% while operating at the normal temperature of 750°C. And improved power output by 33% while operating at 650°C, 100°C lower than normal temperature. 2. SPS patented internal recycle arrangement was developed and extended to operate on LPG fuel directly in a compact, high-efficiency (> 40%) system. 3. System testing was conducted to prove the long-term durability of cell improvements. Demonstrated over 8000 hours of operation at 0.21 %/1000 hrs degradation. 4. A large-scale, 2.5kW net power system demonstration was completed, which demonstrated 40% net efficiency over 1000 hours. 5. System design and cost analysis of a 1MW system utilizing a 2.5kW bundle was completed. Cost optimization of the bundle showed a reduction of nearly 80% is possible from $\$$5,790/kW to $\$$1250/kW. This lower cost is considered viable for SPS commercialization.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Energy efficiency for the growing South Carolina manufacturing industries. Final Report

The overall goals of the proposed project were to establish a DOE Industrial Assessment Center with Clemson University as the main center and to cement the Clemson IAC as the "go to" resource for energy efficiency expertise and assistance to manufacturing businesses in the state of South Carolina. The Clemson IAC included a satellite support center through partnership with the SCE&G Energy Innovation Center at the Clemson University Restoration Institute (CURI) in North Charleston, SC. The Clemson IAC was the first IAC based in the state with the goal to serve the entire state. The Clemson IAC provided SMEs with no-cost energy assessments, trained the next generation of energy-savvy engineers, and provided outreach to non-participating SMEs. Project objectives were structured into five 12-month Budget Periods. In the first Budget Period, the primary objective was to establish methods and materials for Clemson IAC assessments, training, and outreach. In the remaining Budget Periods, the primary objectives were to perform assessments, train students, and pursue outreach to hard-to-reach SMEs that did not participate in energy assessments. Expected outcomes in the first Budget Period included the development of standard procedures for performing energy assessments, including data acquisition, processing, and communication both within the team and in assessment reports prepared for SMEs. Outcomes related to student training in the first Budget Period included detailed curriculum and internship plans for students pursuing the DOE IAC Certificate and energy-related Clemson University certificates. Outcomes in the first Budget Period also included the development of outreach materials and plans for outreach events. In Budget Periods 2 through 5, major expected outcomes are trained students and completed energy assessments and reports for SMEs. Decision points and Go-No Go criteria for the end of each Budget Period, presented in more detail below, are based on the number of students in training and the number of energy assessments performed.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2023

Rapid and Energy‐Efficient Synthesis of Disordered Rocksalt Cathodes

Abstract Lithium‐rich transition metal oxides with a cation‐disordered rocksalt structure (disordered rocksalt oxides or DRX) are promising candidates for sustainable, next‐generation Li‐ion cathodes due to their high energy densities and compositional flexibility, enabling Co‐ and Ni‐free battery chemistries. However, current methods to synthesize DRX compounds require either high temperature (≈1000 °C) sintering for several hours, or high energy ball milling for several days in an inert atmosphere. Both methods are time‐ and energy‐intensive, limiting the scale up of DRX production. The present study reports the rapid synthesis of various DRX compositions in ambient air via a microwave‐assisted solid‐state technique resulting in reaction times as short as 5 min, which are more than two orders of magnitude faster than current synthesis methods. The DRX compounds synthesized via microwave are phase‐pure and have a similar short‐ and long‐range structure as compared to DRX materials synthesized via a standard solid‐state route, resulting in nearly identical electrochemical performance. In some cases, microwave heating allows for better particle size and morphology control. Overall, the rapid and energy‐efficient microwave technique provides a more sustainable route to produce DRX materials, further incentivizes the development of next‐generation DRX cathodes, and is key to accelerating their optimization via high‐throughput studies.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Human-in-the-loop Sensing and Control for Commercial Building Energy Efficiency and Occupant Comfort

Most of the existing heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in commercial buildings operate in a conservative manner by assuming maximum occupancy in each room during pre-specified periods of the week, leading to significant energy being wasted as rooms are over-conditioned compared to the actual requirements of the occupants. Though critical, our understanding of occupancy patterns and thermal comfort needs of the occupants in commercial buildings is lacking and it is well known that both of these quantities are stochastic and time-varying, thus requiring sensing solutions to estimate them. This project had the goal of designing, implementing and evaluating a hardware and software solution to ameliorate this challenge. In particular, a depth camera (one whose pixels reveal distance from the camera as opposed to color values) placed on doorways is used to detect entrance and exit events from thermal zones in the building, and thereby estimate their occupancy levels. This information is then fed to a novel control algorithm that can, through interactions with the HVAC system, learn how to provide control inputs that maximize comfort and minimize energy waste. The resulting system represents a significant improvement over existing controllers for commercial HVAC systems and allowed us to improve our understanding of the design of future human-in-the-loop control solutions. For this solution to be feasible, the project had target metrics for its performance and cost. In particular, entrance and exit events for occupants moving about the building would need to be detected with an accuracy higher than 97%; and the resulting control inputs derived from this information would need to lead to approximately 10% energy savings compared to a schedule-based controller. Furthermore, regarding the final hardware design, the project had a target bill of materials (BOM) cost for the sensing solution of less than US$200 per unit while using less than 25W of power on average. All of these target metrics were met or exceeded by our final proposed solution. We performed evaluations by deploying the system in over 20 rooms of different types across 6 commercial buildings in Pittsburgh, PA over the course of three years, and performing targeted controlled experiments to test its performance along the different metrics. The human-in-the-loop control solutions (both hardware and software) developed through this project are expected to lead to significant improvements in the comfort and energy efficiency of HVAC systems used in commercial buildings. The insights we developed through the project pave the way to HVAC systems that can condition interior spaces according to their real-time utilization and the thermal comfort needs of the occupants, thereby reducing energy use. They also open up a new learning-based way of configuring HVAC controllers without having to manually fine-tune them for each building. These innovations can significantly increase the adoption of novel control solutions by the industry and thereby save resources and reduce costs of operation.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2022

Work Smarter, Not Harder: Improving Energy Efficiency and Safety through Smarter Ventilation: Preprint

Ventilation is a key component to maintaining healthy, safe indoor air quality. Especially important in laboratories, ventilation is the first line of defense against airborne hazards produced during research activities. Though a vital component, laboratory ventilation systems are often victim to ineffective operation, posing a risk to the most important asset - the researchers. Furthermore, system inefficiencies can lead to up to 50% wasted energy. To improve both energy efficiency and safety in laboratories, we present the Smart Labs Toolkit - a resource developed by the U.S. Department of Energy Federal Energy Management Program and the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories that guides laboratory stakeholders through a straight-forward, holistic approach to achieve dynamic, high-performance laboratories. Smart Labs enable safe and efficient world class science to occur in laboratories through high-performance methods. A Smart Labs program employs a combination of physical, administrative, and management techniques to assess, optimize, and manage high performance laboratories. We will focus on a central component of the Smart Labs approach - the Laboratory Ventilation Risk Assessment, a systematic process for identifying risk due to airborne hazards to inform the operation of dynamic ventilation that optimizes safety and efficiency. Case studies of organizations who have successfully implemented Smart Labs ventilation management programs will also be shared. In learning ventilation strategies successful in critical laboratory environments, learn the tools and resources needed to successfully manage energy in any building through smarter, safer ventilation.

buildings↗
DOE OSTI2024

Energy Efficiency Assistance for Galena Alaska

The City of Galena sits along the north bank of the Yukon River with no road access. Temperatures regularly reach negative 20°F in the winter and sunlight extends for up to 21 hours a day in the summer. Galena’s 400 residents, including members of the Koyukuk Athabascan culture, primarily use fuel oil and locally forested wood for heating and electricity generation. Because these resources are costly to obtain, local households have a high energy burden, spending 7% of their annual income on energy (averaging $4,000 per year). To reduce this burden, the City of Galena joined the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Remote Alaska Community Energy Efficiency (RACEE) Competition, where they received financial and technical assistance to implement energy savings solutions across their community, including building envelope improvements, solar panels, and LED lighting. Additionally, Galena installed new energy monitoring equipment to continue measuring the impacts of this work beyond the RACEE project.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2025

Energy-efficient carbon capture from industrial point sources via commercially available green solvent and hollow fiber membrane contactors

Solvent-based absorption systems have emerged in the carbon capture space due to their high absorption capacities, reusability, and favorable energy requirements. Using diethyl sebacate as a solvent for pre- and post-combustion carbon capture has advantages over other solvents, including high hydrophobicity, low viscosity, low vapor pressure, high CO 2 solubility, high CO 2 selectivity, and being commercially available in large quantities. Despite these advantageous properties, the use of diethyl sebacate as a solvent for post-combustion carbon capture has not been studied in detail. To examine the capability of diethyl sebacate, a scalable, energy-efficient, hollow fiber membrane (microporous polypropylene and polyvinylidene fluoride) contactor (HFMC)-based process with low-cost and high surface area is investigated. A purity of 95.3 % CO 2 with 46 % recovery in one absorption stage was achieved, with a permeate flux over one magnitude greater than using a deep eutectic solvent in the same system. Technoeconomic analysis determined a ∼ 0.8 GJ per ton of CO 2 at a processing cost of ∼$93 per ton of CO 2 . Results from this work underscore the potential for utilizing green solvents in HFMC-based separation processes for effective carbon capture and provide a pathway towards practical deployment.

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

Toward Energy-Efficient HPC: Insights from Power Profiling a Cloud-Resolving Earth System Model

Power is a fundamental constraint as supercomputing advances to exascale. Efficient operation within strict power budgets requires application-aware power management based on a detailed understanding of application-level power behavior. This work analyzes the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) atmosphere component, SCREAM, on Perlmutter (NERSC) and Frontier (OLCF). We characterize power variation across inputs, concurrency levels, and power caps, evaluate the energy impact of code optimizations, and attribute energy within the code using a newly developed GPU energy model. Results show that SCREAM’s peak power remains stable during its core execution phase and decreases gradually as concurrency increases. Power capping experiments reveal a performance–energy "sweet spot". On Perlmutter, limiting GPU power to 50% of thermal design power (TDP) achieves up to 15% energy savings with a 7% performance penalty. On Frontier, a 40% TDP cap yields up to 10% energy savings with less than 10% performance loss. Code optimizations reduce SCREAM energy by shortening run time without increasing power. Modeling reveals a critical insight: data movement accounts for approximately 70% of SCREAM’s GPU energy. This fundamentally shifts the optimization focus from FLOPS to data transfer reduction for this class of applications, offering the most impactful strategy for improving energy efficiency. This work establishes a foundation for practical, application-aware power management at exascale.

Zhao, Zhengji [Lawrence Berkeley National Laborato↗
DOE OSTI2021

Energy efficient supercritical water desalination using a high-temperature heat pump: A zero liquid discharge desalination

Supercritical water desalination (SCWD) is zero liquid discharge technology that can potentially control the solubility of different electrolytes. However, SCWD is an energy-intensive process and requires high-quality thermal heat (> 450 °C). This study proposes the integration of a high-temperature heat pump to reduce the SCWD energy requirement. The integrated system energy consumption improves by 36% for 3.5% feed concentration and 14% for 20% feed, and the distillate cost reduces by 15% and 10%. Another benefit of the proposed integration is the system can be operated using only electricity as a heat source, as is the case with commonly used high-recovery thermal desalination technology. The integrated SCWD-heat pump system shows superior performance compared to the commercially used brine concentrator and crystallizer system. It is approximately 20% more energy-efficient for 25% feed concentration and 8% cheaper. Hence, the integrated SCWD-heat pump has the potential to outperform the pre-existing high-recovery desalination technology.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Energy efficient photonic memory based on electrically programmable embedded III-V/Si memristors: switches and filters

Abstract Over the past few years, extensive work on optical neural networks has been investigated in hopes of achieving orders of magnitude improvement in energy efficiency and compute density via all-optical matrix-vector multiplication. However, these solutions are limited by a lack of high-speed power power-efficient phase tuners, on-chip non-volatile memory, and a proper material platform that can heterogeneously integrate all the necessary components needed onto a single chip. We address these issues by demonstrating embedded multi-layer HfO 2 /Al 2 O 3 memristors with III-V/Si photonics which facilitate non-volatile optical functionality for a variety of devices such as Mach-Zehnder Interferometers, and (de-)interleaver filters. The Mach-Zehnder optical memristor exhibits non-volatile optical phase shifts > π with ~33 dB signal extinction while consuming 0 electrical power consumption. We demonstrate 6 non-volatile states each capable of 4 Gbps modulation. (De-) interleaver filters were demonstrated to exhibit memristive non-volatile passband transformation with full set/reset states. Time duration tests were performed on all devices and indicated non-volatility up to 24 hours and beyond. We demonstrate non-volatile III-V/Si optical memristors with large electric-field driven phase shifts and reconfigurable filters with true 0 static power consumption. As a result, co-integrated photonic memristors offer a pathway for in-memory optical computing and large-scale non-volatile photonic circuits.

Cheung, Stanley (ORCID:0000000248860013)↗
DOE OSTI2024

Reversible Methane Electrochemical Reactors as Efficient Energy Storage for Fossil Power

The overall objective of the project was to conduct a comprehensive Research & Development (R&D) program to demonstrate the suitability and future advancement and integration of reversible methane protonic ceramic electrochemical reactors (PCERs) as an efficient Energy Storage System (ESS) with fossil fuel power plants. Fundamental process and system models are developed to conduct a preliminary conceptual study and investigate the power plant system integration requirements, performance requirements, and technical and non-technical gaps for eventual implementation at system level. Technology maturation requirements is also investigated through identifying the critical technical elements and networking with industrial technology developers and end-users.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2024

Workflow Provenance in the Computing Continuum for Responsible, Trustworthy, and Energy-Efficient AI

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes more pervasive in our society, it is crucial to develop, deploy, and assess Responsible and Trustworthy AI (RTAI) models, i.e., those that consider not only accuracy but also other aspects, such as explainability, fairness, and energy efficiency. Workflow provenance data have historically enabled critical capabilities towards RTAI. Provenance data derivation paths contribute to responsible workflows through transparency in tracking artifacts and resource consumption. Provenance data are well-known for their trustworthiness helping explainability, reproducibility, and accountability. However, there are complex challenges to achieve RTAI, which are further complicated by the heterogeneous infrastructure in the computing continuum (Edge-Cloud-HPC) used to develop and deploy models. As a result, a significant research and development gap remains between workflow provenance data management and RTAI. In this paper, we present a vision of the pivotal role of workflow provenance in supporting RTAI and discuss related challenges. We present a schematic view between RTAI and provenance, and highlight open research directions.

Santos Souza, Renan↗
DOE OSTI2026

In situ catalyst activation and regeneration enable energy-efficient high-current CO 2 reduction to ethanol-rich C 2+ mixtures

Electrochemical conversion of dissolved CO 2 in bicarbonate electrolytes, i.e., bicarbonate electrolysis, offers distinct advantages over gas diffusion electrode systems by enabling direct utilization of the CO 2 capture electrolyte while bypassing the energy-intensive CO 2 release step. However, bicarbonate electrolysis faces challenges such as CO 2 mass-transfer limitation, local pH-driven CO 2 depletion, and high cathodic potentials. The higher potential often causes catalyst surface reorganization, leading to a gradual loss of active sites and variations in selectivity during CO 2 reduction. Here, we report a directed, in situ activation and regeneration method that allows precatalysts to equilibrate under dynamic (pulsed) electrolysis conditions. We demonstrate in situ activation of a scalable Cu 2 O/Cu mesh that, under short-width (t = 4 s) pulsed electrolysis, provides stable mixed oxidation states of Cu, favoring the formation of an ethanol-rich crude mixture. The pulsed electrolysis waveform, consisting of six distinct segments, is tuned to form Cu + oxides, which are then reduced to generate local alkaline conditions favoring C–C coupling. This synergistic effect results in FEs of 73% for C2+ products and 39% for ethanol at an applied current density of −150 mA cm −2 and a cathodic potential of −1.45 V (vs. RHE). The overall half-cell energy efficiency is ∼30% for C 2+ products. The in situ Raman experiments confirm the role of pCO 2 R in dynamically regenerating Cu+-containing surface species during pulsed operation, thereby steering selectivity towards C 2+ products. A comprehensive multiscale, multiphysics model is developed to investigate the dynamic behavior of copper surface species (Cu, Cu + , and Cu 2+ ) and local microenvironmental conditions during the pCO 2 R. The results reveal that the coexistence of different copper oxidation states, especially the Cu+ intermediate, is critical in steering selectivity towards multicarbon (C 2+ ) products. The dynamic modulation of surface redox states via tailored pulsing strategies favors C–C coupling pathways by inducing localized alkaline conditions and stabilizing reactive intermediates. This work establishes a predictive modeling platform that links pulse waveform design with mechanistic insights into catalyst state evolution and product selectivity. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the synergistic effect of in situ activation of pre-catalysts and pulsed electrolysis for higher selectivity towards C 2+ products.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Driving the Shift to Energy-Efficient and Climate-Responsible Commercial Refrigeration Equipment in Chile

This report provides an overview of global and Chile-specific market trends, technological advancements, and policy developments related to commercial refrigeration equipment, with an emphasis on refrigerated display cabinets. Section 2 examines CRE market trends at the global and Chilean levels. Section 3 presents CRE energy consumption and the latest technological options for improving energy performance. It also discusses low global warming potential (GWP)1 refrigerant options for CRE. Section 4 provides a cost-effectiveness analysis. Section 5 reviews other regional energy efficiency standards and labeling programs and offers potential standard requirements for Chile. Section 6 concludes the report by summarizing key findings and conclusions. Finally, Appendix A provides detailed guidelines intended as a starting point to inform policies and programmes.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2026

Heavy-Duty Nonroad Material Handler Electrification Part 2: Energy Efficiency and Performance Evaluation

Decarbonization efforts achieved through electrification in nonroad mobile machinery can realize a reduction in fuel consumption of more than 20%, thanks to concepts familiar to light-duty passenger vehicles. This case study compares the results of a hybrid-electric material handler to its conventional counterpart, utilizing machine-specific drive cycles presented in part one of this paper series. The hybrid prototype features an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) powertrain that demonstrated substantial energy efficiency improvements. Specifically, there was a reduction in equivalent fuel consumption of 75% when operating in electric-only mode, and 33% when maintaining the battery by charging with an on-board generator. Together, the efficiency improvements can be extrapolated over a low-intensity, 8-h shift characterized by significant idle time and highly dynamic engine load for a 47% reduction in net energy consumption. Key technologies that led to this improvement included engine downsizing and decoupling, regenerative braking, and an electrohydraulic pump unit with advanced controls. Finally, his study explains details of the powertrain architecture and subsystems that were implemented on a demonstration vehicle, control strategies used to meet project goals, and an analysis of energy consumption from testing on a closed course. Also included in this study is a discourse on comparison metrics that can be used for quantifying the energy consumption differences between hybrid-electric and conventional diesel powertrains in nonroad mobile machinery.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗