Valuing intra-day coordination of electric power and natural gas system operations
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Perovskite light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are normally operated under forward direct current (DC) to realize electron/hole injection at cathode/anode surfaces. In this work, we demonstrate an alternating current (AC) driven LED enabled by bi-directionally allowed charge transport in quasi-2D perovskite (PEA 2 MA n-1 PbnI 3n+1 ) film. Essentially, the bi-directional charge transport is realized by uniformly arranging different-n-value 2D nanoplates together with symmetrically designed anode/cathode interfaces, which can allow injected electrons and holes to form light-emitting states under both forward and reverse biases, leading to an AC electroluminescence (EL) with the device architecture of ITO/PEI/PEDOT:PSS/PEA 2 MA n-1 PbnI 3n+1 /P3HT/PEI/Ag. The high AC EL performance was achieved with the radiance = 24 W Sr -1 m -2 and 18.3 W Sr -1 m -2 and EQE = 12.5% and 3.7% under forward and reverse biases. Furthermore, the device-operational stability was largely improved with the half-intensity time of T 50 = 11.0 h under AC bias (+2 V/-2 V, 50 Hz) as compared to T 50 = 3.9 h under forward bias (+2 V/0 V, 50 Hz).
Energy storage at all timescales, including the seasonal scale, plays a pivotal role in enabling increased penetration levels of wind and solar photovoltaic energy sources in power systems.
Increased mitotic activity is associated with the genesis and aggressiveness of many cancers. To assess the clinical value of mitotic activity as prognostic biomarker, we performed a pan-cancer study on the mitotic network activity index (MNAI) constructed based on 54-gene mitotic apparatus network. Our pan-cancer assessment on TCGA (33 tumor types, 10,061 patients) and validation on other publicly available cohorts (23 tumor types, 9,209 patients) confirmed the significant association of MNAI with overall survival, progression-free survival, and other prognostic endpoints in multiple cancer types, including lower-grade gliomas (LGG), breast invasive carcinoma (BRCA), as well as many others. We also showed significant association between MNAI and genetic instability, which provides a biological explanation of its prognostic impact at pan-cancer landscape. Our association analysis revealed that patients with high MNAI benefitted more from anti-PD-1 and Anti-CTLA-4 treatment. In addition, we demonstrated that multimodal integration of MNAI and the AI-empowered Cellular Morphometric Subtypes (CMS) significantly improved the predictive power of prognosis compared to using MNAI and CMS alone. Our results suggest that MNAI can be used as a potential prognostic biomarker for different tumor types toward different clinical endpoints, and multimodal integration of MNAI and CMS exceeds individual biomarker for precision prognosis.
Surface precipitation measurements are essential for Earth system model (ESM) evaluation and understanding cloud processes. An ever-growing need for robust, temporally evolving, and easy-to-use statistical datasets provides motivation for a baseline ground-based precipitation properties data product. The U.S. Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility operates an extensive suite of precipitation instruments with various sensitivities and operating mechanisms, which render the decision of which instrument to use based on one or more fixed thresholds challenging and prone to errors and bias. Using a long-term instrument inter-comparison from a unique per-precipitation event perspective, rather than instantaneous sample comparison, we demonstrate that ARM rainfall-measuring instruments are generally consistent with each other at the statistical level. Inter-instrument deviations at the single event level can be large, especially for specific rainfall event properties such as maximum precipitation rates. A machine-learning (ML) analysis using a random forest regressor indicates that in some cases, depending on instrument, local site climatology, and/or specific deployment configuration, certain atmospheric state variables influence the measured quantities in an unpredictable manner. Thus, a-priori weighting of different instruments does not necessarily lead to more accurate and less biased synthesis of instrument data. These results motivate the design of the ARM precipitation best-estimate (PrecipBE) value-added product, which incorporates all valid precipitation data while considering data quality and other instrument limitations. PrecipBE consists of time series and tabular statistics datasets in an easy-to-use and insightful per-precipitation event format. It provides a large set of precipitation event properties supplemented with ancillary data from ARM datasets that correspond to the detected precipitation events. We describe the PrecipBE algorithm and demonstrate its use via the examination of a single-day output as well as a long-term trend analysis of precipitation events at the ARM Southern Great Plains (SGP) site, covering more than 30 years of data. The trend analysis tentatively suggests a long-term temporal tendency for mainly shorter and less intense precipitation events at the SGP site, but a long-term increase in annual rainfall by more than 36 mm (5 %) per decade. This rainfall trend is catalyzed primarily by more extreme event properties of relatively rare, intense precipitation events, with event total and 1 min maximum precipitation rate at a 1 year timeframe increasing up to 5 mm and 9 mm h −1 (several percent) per decade, respectively. While the currently available PrecipBE datasets (at https://adc.arm.gov/discovery/, last access: 8 December 2025) cover rainfall from multiple ARM deployments up to March 2025, PrecipBE is planned to be expanded to include solid-phase precipitation and will soon become an operational product with a several-day lag from real-time. We invite the ARM user community to leverage this new product and welcome user feedback to further enhance the dataset.
Here, this work outlines an optimized process for converting 2,3-butanediol (BDO) into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and C4 chemicals. BDO is reactively separated from fermentation broth by forming dioxolanes, which are converted to isobutyraldehyde, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), and 1,3-butadiene. These intermediates are reduced and dehydrated over Cu/ZSM-5 to form alkenes, which can be oligomerized and hydrotreated to jet-range alkanes. Previous BDO-dioxolane-alkene processes are limited by the requirement for a continuous aldehyde source for dioxolane formation. Brønsted acidic zeolites catalyze dioxolane deacetalization to form isobutyraldehyde and MEK in a >2:1 molar ratio, providing an internal, recyclable aldehyde source. Dioxolane formation optimization was performed to achieve >95% dioxolane yields over Amberlyst-15 and minimize isobutyraldehyde recycle. The overall BDO-dioxolane-fuel process yields an alkane mixture that enables at least a 50% v/v blend with Jet-A. Techno-economic analyses and life cycle assessments for this BDO-dioxolane-fuel process yield scenarios with <$2.50 per gallon gas equivalent and >58% reduction in CO2 emissions.
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Thermocatalytic decomposition (TCD) of methane can produce hydrogen and valuable nanocarbon co-products with low to near-zero CO2 emission. In this study, a series of Pd promoted Ni catalysts, prepared with various Ni/Pd ratios on a CNT support, were evaluated for methane TCD performance. Characterization and calculations using density functional theory (DFT) were carried out to elucidate the activity–structure relationship and growth mechanism of carbon nanomaterials. It was found that the methane conversion and stability of the catalysts were highly dependent on the Ni/Pd ratio and reaction temperature. DFT calculations revealed that the diffusion of carbon in the metal sublayer required for CNT growth was more favorable in the Ni–Pd alloy lattice suggesting that the buildup of carbon in the metal alloy sublayer facilitated the formation of CNTs and CNFs. A cyclic reaction–regeneration process for self-sustained TCD was experimentally demonstrated. In each cycle, a portion of the separated CNT product was used to re-synthesize the Ni–Pd/CNT catalyst for use in the next reaction cycle. After five cycles of operation, the CH4 conversion, morphology and crystallinity of the carbon product remained unchanged.
Remanufacturing is a process that returns end-of-life equipment to as-new conditions and offers numerous environmental and economic benefits. To fully capitalize on remanufacturing, its synergistic interactions with design must be fully realized and addressed during the design stage. Although this fact is widely recognized in the literature, most of the current studies focus primarily either on the design or remanufacturing aspects of design for remanufacturing (DfRem). In an effort to offer a more integrated DfRem approach than those reported in the literature, we propose a new combined design and remanufacturing optimization (reman co-design) framework that takes a holistic approach by leveraging the intricate interplay between design and remanufacturing. Here, the aim of this formulation is to identify the optimal decisions that maximize the benefits of remanufacturing throughout the entire lifespan of a product. To showcase the utility of the new formulation, we are using a case study of a hydraulic manifold, (re)manufactured by John Deere. Using this industry example, we compare the results of reman co-design to the ones from a decoupled remanufacturing design approach. Results reveal that remanufacturing benefits are better realized and improved upon when using the developed reman co-design approach.
Atmospheric carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is required to stabilize global temperature. CDR can be achieved via ecosystem-based approaches that are cost-effective but reversible (e.g., soil and forest management) or by more durable but expensive approaches (e.g., direct air capture coupled with geologic storage). Here, we examine trade-offs between these approaches, focusing on timing, climate impacts, and cost. We simulated reversible carbon accrual for a range of CDR contract structures using a general minimalist model of ecosystem carbon cycling, and parameterized it to simulate US agricultural soil management─specifically cover cropping─as a case study. We then quantified the resulting impact on atmospheric carbon and global temperature using a climate model emulator. We find that maintaining a patchwork of reversible CDR projects by replacing lapsed projects with new projects can reduce warming by 22–195 μ°C in 2100 and that the magnitude of this cooling effect depends on how effectively the patchwork is maintained. Long-term maintenance of reversible CDR projects requires institutional stability that cannot be guaranteed over multiple decades. Consequently, effective CDR ultimately requires replacing reversible projects with durable projects. To address this problem, we modeled the cost of replacing reversible agricultural soil CDR with geologic CDR. We found that using reversible CDR as a bridge to durable CDR is potentially more cost-effective as a global cooling strategy (0.20–0.81 billion USD per μ°C avoided) than perpetual maintenance of reversible CDR (0.32–1.31 billion USD per μ°C avoided) or an immediate transition to durable CDR (1.37–2.19 billion USD per μ°C avoided). However, we emphasize that institutional commitments to maintain reversible CDR projects cannot be guaranteed. Reliance on reversible CDR as a bridge to durable CDR therefore carries an unknown amount of risk and will only function if efforts to maintain reversible CDR are robust.
This brief summarizes a collection of state- and utility-commissioned value-of-solar (VoS) studies and related literature, with a focus on who commissioned the study, which value and cost categories were discussed and/or quantified, and the methods used. Our objective is to compile information on prior VoS studies to inform state regulators and other stakeholders that may pursue related studies or integrate findings into rate design. The brief is organized into three parts: 1) an introduction to distributed solar photovoltaic (DPV) compensation; 2) a review of theoretical research on VoS; and 3) a review of VoS studies. The vast majority of VoS studies have served an informational role of quantifying the net benefits of PV. Three studies were commissioned in states or utility service territories that subsequently implemented VoS tariffs in California, New York, and Austin, Texas. When applied as a tariff, VoS aims to compensate PV output as efficiently as possible by doing so at rates that reflect the marginal benefits and costs of PV through value and cost categories that may vary temporally and/or geographically. This could lead to higher compensation in locations and times where more PV output is more valuable and consequently drive adoption in those locations to provide more societal benefits. Value and cost factors can be broadly grouped into five categories: generation, transmission, distribution, other utility, and other social categories. Those conducting VoS studies must weigh various tradeoffs when deciding which categories to include and quantify. Tradeoffs include prioritizing values based on their magnitude of value or cost impact, as well as taking into account the feasibility of data collection and accurate quantification. Values of higher magnitude and estimation feasibility are quantified in the majority of studies, including the earliest of studies conducted in the 2000s and 2010s. Additionally, some values of higher magnitude but low feasibility in the earliest of studies have become quantifiable in recent years. There are some values with low average system-wide levels but very high magnitude in specific locations or hours. The value magnitude in some cases can be tied to DPV penetration with low value in areas with little congestion and/or low penetration and vice versa. In these cases, values that are easier to quantify are often incorporated, while those that are more difficult are often addressed via a placeholder value. The placeholder value is paired with a discussion around data needs and methods to improve future estimates, as well as a conversation about when these value categories may increase in magnitude and necessitate more rigorous quantification. This brief summarizes findings from two meta-analyses of VoS studies that took place between 2005 and 2018, as well as findings from four additional studies published from 2018 to 2023. Table ES-1 summarizes the various value and cost categories included in each respective study and whether they were quantified, discussed, or omitted. Values such as avoided energy, capacity, transmission capacity, line losses, and avoided environmental costs are quantified in every study. Some categories were deemed harder to quantify and less impactful at the time of the study, so they were discussed but not quantified (e.g., ancillary services). Other categories, including many at the distribution level, were very locationally and/or temporally specific and dependent on high DPV penetration. These were sometimes quantified and at other times discussed. Notably, when it came to utility costs, integration costs were discussed in all cases, though they were deemed to have a small impact. Other utility costs were omitted for the most part; however, the utility-commissioned study (by NorthWestern Energy in Montana) included both lost utility revenue and programmatic/administrative cost categories. While there are some similarities across studies, each had fairly unique methods that are detailed in the body of this brief.
The datasets include the capacity, energy, and ancillary service values of a marginal kilowatt-hour (kWh) of generic, daily, shiftable building flexibility as a presumed market entrant in the 2030 U.S. power systems. The results should be interpreted along with the caveats listed in "Valuation of Building Flexibility: Grid Service Value for Initial Market Entrants in Projected 2030 United States Power Systems", which also documents the methods used for the study. The factors examined in the study include: grid scenario, region, original usage hour in the day (local time), and building flexibility parameters - efficiency, dissipation, and shifting window include max pre-shift and max post-shift. Filenames in the datasets: The filenames contain information on the grid scenario, and the building flexibility efficiency and dissipation. For example: MidCase_2030_efficiency1.25_dissipation0.05_value.csv contains all results under Mid RE 2020, efficiency = 1.25, and dissipation = 0.05. * MidCase = Mid RE Each .csv file contains: region: The location of the building flexibility, aligned with U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) National Energy Modeling System (NEMS) Electricity Market Module regions. max_pre_shift: Part of building flexibility shifting window parameter, indicates the max number of hours the building flexibility can shift earlier. max_post_shift: Part of building flexibility shifting window parameter, indicates the max number of hours the building flexibility can shift later. local_datetime: Original datetime of 1kWh of building energy consumption. local_orig_h: Original usage hour (1-24) of building energy consumption, ignores daylight saving. local_shift_to: The datetime to when building energy consumption shifts, if shifting happens. If no shifting occurs, this cell is left blank. energy: Net energy value of energy shifting. capacity: Net capacity value of energy shifting. shifting_value: Net energy plus capacity value of energy shifting. spin: Spin reserve value at the original datetime of consumption. flex: Flexible reserve value at the original datetime of consumption. reg: Regulation reserve value at the original datetime of consumption. total_profit: Assuming the building flexibility is capable of providing energy, capacity, and ancillary services, total profit is the maximum value of energy shifting value, spin reserve value, flexible reserve value, and regulation reserve value - one of the four choices at any given hour - because we do not allow its value to be double-counted.
Conventional hydro resources generate the majority of their value by providing energy under most conditions, but the relative fraction of value generated by providing ancillary services and capacity increases with increasing penetration of resources with zero fuel costs. Pumped storage hydropower resources generate the majority of their value by providing capacity under most conditions, but the relative fraction of value generated by providing energy increases with increasing penetration of resources with zero fuel costs. The total value of conventional hydropower generally decreases in systems with increasing penetration of resources with zero fuel costs; this is largely due to the associated decrease in average energy prices. The total value of pumped storage generally increases in systems with increasing penetration of resources with zero fuel costs, largely due to opportunities to operate in pumping mode when energy prices are low or even negative. Energy storage representation must be enhanced to ensure that models accurately capture system value streams for these resources. Current power system models have a limited ability to capture the price dynamics of ancillary services, and it is still challenging to assess the role and magnitude of ancillary service value streams in future systems. Power systems are currently in a state of rapid and dramatic evolution due to a number of different factors, including the increasing penetration of variable renewable energy (VRE) sources, such as wind and solar, and battery energy storage systems (BESS). This evolution will change the way power systems are fundamentally planned and operated. Some of these changes may be incremental, while others may be more significant, but the result will likely be parallel evolution in the definition and requirement of different grid services and therefore a subsequent shift in their relative values. This report presents a framework developed to identify such system value drivers and quantify their relative impact on several different value streams, with a specific focus on implications for conventional hydropower and pumped storage hydropower (PSH) resources. This value drivers framework (VDF) encompasses five core analytical steps: 1. Identify potential drivers and develop scenarios, 2. Execute production cost models, 3. Calibrate prices, 4. Optimize hydropower operations, and 5. Quantify value drivers.
Marine and lacustrine carbonate minerals preserve carbon cycle information, and their stable carbon isotope values (δ 13 C) are frequently used to infer and reconstruct paleoenvironmental changes. However, multiple processes can influence the δ 13 C values of bulk carbonates, confounding the interpretation of these values in terms of conditions at the time of mineral precipitation. Co-existing carbonate forms may represent different environmental conditions, yet few studies have analyzed δ 13 C values of syndepositional carbonate grains of varying morphologies to investigate their origins. Here, we combine stable isotope analyses, metagenomics, and geochemical modeling to interpret δ 13 C values of syndepositional carbonate spherules (>500 μm) and fine-grained micrite (<63 μm) from a ~1600-year-long sediment record of a hypersaline lake located on the coral atoll of Kiritimati, Republic of Kiribati (1.9°N, 157.4°W). Petrographic, mineralogic, and stable isotope results suggest that both carbonate fractions precipitate in situ with minor diagenetic alterations. The δ 13 C values of spherules are high compared to the syndepositional micrite and cannot be explained by mineral differences or external perturbations, suggesting a role for local biological processes. We use geochemical modeling to test the hypothesis that the spherules form in the surface microbial mat during peak diurnal photosynthesis when the δ 13 C value of dissolved inorganic carbon is elevated. In contrast, we hypothesize that the micrite may precipitate more continuously in the water as well as in sub-surface, heterotrophic layers of the microbial mat. Both metagenome and geochemical model results support a critical role for photosynthesis in influencing carbonate δ 13 C values. The down-core spherule–micrite offset in δ 13 C values also aligns with total organic carbon values, suggesting that the difference in the δ13C values of spherules and micrite may be a more robust, inorganic indicator of variability in productivity and local biological processes through time than the δ 13 C values of individual carbonate forms.
Defining a fuel's heating value (i.e., energy content) is fundamental for calculating engine efficiency and for life cycle analysis comparisons between different fuels. Traditional definitions of lower heating value and higher heating value account for the effect of water vapor versus liquid water in the exhaust, which is important when the fuel is used in a furnace or boiler. In an engine, it is equally important to properly account for the energy required to vaporize liquid fuel. Heat of vaporization has a small effect for common hydrocarbon fuels, typically less than 1% of lower heating value, but the effect is much larger for other important fuels such as ethanol (3.4% of lower heating value) and methanol (5.9% of lower heating value). This paper defines a new type of fuel heating value that more accurately reflects the useful fuel energy content for engines. Vaporized heating value is defined as the heating value when starting with a vaporized fuel instead of a liquid fuel. It can be calculated by adding the fuel's heat of vaporization to the traditional lower heating value. This paper illustrates the rationale and benefits of using vaporized heating value using data from the literature.