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DOE OSTI2022

Report on DOE-Supported Participation in the 18th International Congress on Photosynthesis Research (IPC 2022)

Photosynthesis is the primary natural process for conversion of solar energy to chemical energy. Solar energy is the only clean, renewable source of energy that has sufficient capacity to replace fossil fuels and meet rising global energy needs. Meeting this challenge means understanding photosynthetic energy conversion at a molecular level, a task requiring perspectives from all disciplines of science. The 18th International Congress on Photosynthesis (IPC) is facilitating just that by providing a forum for scientists from all corners of the world to come together to share ideas and build new collaborations that will improve the lives of future generations. A vibrant knowledge of each of the diverse aspects of basic and applied photosynthesis research obviously depends upon a healthy scientific exchange among the members of the research community. While senior scientists are more likely able to make the long trip to this important meeting, the travel costs for students and postdocs would otherwise prohibit participation for talented junior US scientists. At the same time, this is precisely the kind of meeting that strengthens interest and careers in the important scientific directions represented by this conference. For all scientists this is an opportunity to learn firsthand about the very latest advances in the field and to meet and brainstorm with collaborators as well as make new collaborations. For junior scientists, this funding is giving an opportunity to do these things plus it is often the first tangible experience regarding the global, international significance of their own projects. Overall, the diversity of topics and technical approaches is providing an extremely stimulating multidisciplinary environment for junior and senior scientists performing research in a variety of areas that are within the scope to the US DOE mission. In collaboration with the executive members of the North American Photosynthesis Conference Association (NAPCA and the International Society of Photosynthesis research (ISPR), a competitive selection of junior participants is being made based upon the quality of the abstracts and materials submitted by self-identified candidates that have applied following a broadcast call for applications from junior US scientists. Financial support is consisting of waivers for the registration cost of the meeting and partial living expenses at local dormitory facilities at the conference site.

08 HYDROGEN↗

DOE OSTI2015

New market potential: Torrefaction of woody biomass

Biomass was the primary source of energy worldwide until a few generations ago, when the energy-density, storability and transportability of fossil fuels enabled one of the most rapid cultural transformations in the history of humankind: the industrial revolution. In just a few hundred years, coal, oil and natural gas have prompted the development of highly efficient, high-volume manufacturing and transportation systems that have become the foundation of the world economy. But over-reliance on fossil resources has also led to environmental and energy security concerns. In addition, one of the greatest advantages of using biomass to replace fossil fuels is reduced greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2015

Global, Regional, and National Fossil-Fuel CO2 Emissions (1751 - 2011) (V. 2015)

Publications containing historical energy statistics make it possible to estimate fossil fuel CO2 emissions back to 1751. Etemad et al. (1991) published a summary compilation that tabulates coal, brown coal, peat, and crude oil production by nation and year. Footnotes in the Etemad et al.(1991) publication extend the energy statistics time series back to 1751. Summary compilations of fossil fuel trade were published by Mitchell (1983, 1992, 1993, 1995). Mitchell's work tabulates solid and liquid fuel imports and exports by nation and year. These pre-1950 production and trade data were digitized and CO2 emission calculations were made following the procedures discussed in Marland and Rotty (1984) and Boden et al. (1995). Further details on the contents and processing of the historical energy statistics are provided in Andres et al. (1999). The 1950 to present CO2 emission estimates are derived primarily from energy statistics published by the United Nations (2014), using the methods of Marland and Rotty (1984). The energy statistics were compiled primarily from annual questionnaires distributed by the U.N. Statistical Office and supplemented by official national statistical publications. As stated in the introduction of the Statistical Yearbook, "in a few cases, official sources are supplemented by other sources and estimates, where these have been subjected to professional scrutiny and debate and are consistent with other independent sources." Data from the U.S. Department of Interior's Geological Survey (USGS 2014) were used to estimate CO2 emitted during cement production. Values for emissions from gas flaring were derived primarily from U.N. data but were supplemented with data from the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration (1994), Rotty (1974), and data provided by G. Marland. Greater details about these methods are provided in Marland and Rotty (1984), Boden et al. (1995), and Andres et al. (1999).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2016

Global, Regional, and National Fossil-Fuel CO2 Emissions (1751 - 2013) (V. 2016)

Publications containing historical energy statistics make it possible to estimate fossil fuel CO2 emissions back to 1751. Etemad et al. (1991) published a summary compilation that tabulates coal, brown coal, peat, and crude oil production by nation and year. Footnotes in the Etemad et al.(1991) publication extend the energy statistics time series back to 1751. Summary compilations of fossil fuel trade were published by Mitchell (1983, 1992, 1993, 1995). Mitchell's work tabulates solid and liquid fuel imports and exports by nation and year. These pre-1950 production and trade data were digitized and CO2 emission calculations were made following the procedures discussed in Marland and Rotty (1984) and Boden et al. (1995). Further details on the contents and processing of the historical energy statistics are provided in Andres et al. (1999). The 1950 to present CO2 emission estimates are derived primarily from energy statistics published by the United Nations (2016), using the methods of Marland and Rotty (1984). The energy statistics were compiled primarily from annual questionnaires distributed by the U.N. Statistical Office and supplemented by official national statistical publications. As stated in the introduction of the Statistical Yearbook, "in a few cases, official sources are supplemented by other sources and estimates, where these have been subjected to professional scrutiny and debate and are consistent with other independent sources." Data from the U.S. Department of Interior's Geological Survey (USGS 2016) were used to estimate CO2 emitted during cement production. Values for emissions from gas flaring were derived primarily from U.N. data but were supplemented with data from the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration (1994), Rotty (1974), and data provided by G. Marland. Greater details about these methods are provided in Marland and Rotty (1984), Boden et al. (1995), and Andres et al. (1999).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2023

IRA Energy Community Data Layers

Data, geospatial data resources, and the linked mapping tool and web services reflect data for two types of potentially qualifying energy communities: 1) Census tracts and directly adjoining tracts that have had coal mine closures since 1999 or coal-fired electric generating unit retirements since 2009. These census tracts qualify as energy communities. 2) Metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) and non-metropolitan statistical areas (non-MSAs) that are energy communities for 2023 and 2024, along with their fossil fuel employment (FFE) status. Additional information on energy communities and related tax credits can be accessed on the Interagency Working Group on Coal & Power Plant Communities & Economic Revitalization Energy Communities website (https://energycommunities.gov/energy-community-tax-credit-bonus/). Use limitations: these spatial data and mapping tool may not be relied upon by taxpayers to substantiate a tax return position or for determining whether certain penalties apply and will not be used by the IRS for examination purposes. The mapping tool does not reflect the application of the law to a specific taxpayer’s situation, and the applicable Internal Revenue Code provisions ultimately control.

Census Tract↗

DOE OSTI2014

Bioenergy in Energy Transformation and Climate Management

Unlike fossil fuels, biomass is a renewable resource that can sequester carbon during growth, be converted to energy, and then re-grown. Biomass is also a flexible fuel that can service many end-uses. This paper explores the importance of bioenergy to potential future energy transformation and climate change management. Using a model comparison of fifteen models, we characterize and analyze future dependence on, and the value of, bioenergy in achieving potential long-run climate objectives—reducing radiative forcing to 3.7 and 2.8 W/m2 in 2100 (approximately 550 and 450 ppm carbon dioxide equivalent atmospheric concentrations). Model scenarios project, by 2050, bioenergy growth of 2 to 10% per annum reaching 5 to 35 percent of global primary energy, and by 2100, bioenergy becoming 15 to 50 percent of global primary energy. Non-OECD regions are projected to be the dominant suppliers of biomass, as well as consumers, with up to 35 percent of regional electricity from biopower by 2050, and up to 70 percent of regional liquid fuels from biofuels by 2050. Bioenergy is found to be valuable to many models with significant implications for mitigation costs and world consumption. The availability of bioenergy, in particular biomass with carbon dioxide capture and storage (BECCS), notably affects the cost-effective global emissions trajectory for climate management by accommodating prolonged near-term use of fossil fuels. We also find that models cost-effectively trade-off land carbon and nitrous oxide emissions for the long-run climate change management benefits of bioenergy. Overall, further evaluation of the viability of global large-scale bioenergy is merited.

Rose, Steven K.↗

DOE OSTI2024

Enhancing Site Screening for Underground Hydrogen Storage: Qualitative Site Quality Assessment - SHASTA: Subsurface Hydrogen Assessment, Storage, and Technology Acceleration Project

The global shift towards renewable energy sources to mitigate fossil fuel dependency and meet carbon emission targets by 2050 has underscored the importance of innovative solutions to address energy supply-demand imbalances. Underground Hydrogen Storage (UHS) has emerged as a promising strategy to store excess renewable energy in subsurface formations for future retrieval and utilization. This report focuses on enhancing the site screening process for UHS facilities. By drawing on insights from prior research to identify key criteria influencing site suitability, our objective is to present a comprehensive set of sixteen specific criteria essential for refining the selection of UHS sites. These criteria cover various aspects such as reservoir performance, legal access, regulatory compliance, economic viability, public acceptance, and safety and security considerations. Our proposed methodology allows users to evaluate potential sites using binary responses, transitioning from isolated factors to broader considerations that facilitate a qualitative assessment of site suitability. This method enables comparative analysis and informed decision-making, supporting stakeholders in the site selection process. Our approach is designed as a guiding framework rather than a rigid template for site screening, emphasizing the importance of customizing approaches to individual circumstances. As UHS site development project evolves, adopting a comprehensive selection methodology that integrates holistic evaluations will be essential for ensuring efficient and effective site screening processes tailored to specific project needs.

08 HYDROGEN↗

DOE OSTI2024

Enhancing Site Screening for Underground Hydrogen Storage: Qualitative Site Quality Assessment - SHASTA: Subsurface Hydrogen Assessment, Storage, and Technology Acceleration Project

08 HYDROGEN↗

DOE OSTI2022

Pandemic, War, and Global Energy Transitions

The COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s war on Ukraine have impacted the global economy, including the energy sector. The pandemic caused drastic fluctuations in energy demand, oil price shocks, disruptions in energy supply chains, and hampered energy investments, while the war left the world with energy price hikes and energy security challenges. The long-term impacts of these crises on low-carbon energy transitions and mitigation of climate change are still uncertain but are slowly emerging. This paper analyzes the impacts throughout the energy system, including upstream fuel supply, renewable energy investments, demand for energy services, and implications for energy equity, by reviewing recent studies and consulting experts in the field. We find that both crises initially appeared as opportunities for low-carbon energy transitions: the pandemic by showing the extent of lifestyle and behavioral change in a short period and the role of science-based policy advice, and the war by highlighting the need for greater energy diversification and reliance on local, renewable energy sources. However, the early evidence suggests that policymaking worldwide is focused on short-term, seemingly quicker solutions, such as supporting the incumbent energy industry in the post-pandemic era to save the economy and looking for new fossil fuel supply routes for enhancing energy security following the war. As such, the fossil fuel industry may emerge even stronger after these energy crises creating new lock-ins. This implies that the public sentiment against dependency on fossil fuels may end as a lost opportunity to translate into actions toward climate-friendly energy transitions, without ambitious plans for phasing out such fuels altogether. We propose policy recommendations to overcome these challenges toward achieving resilient and sustainable energy systems, mostly driven by energy services.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

DOE OSTI2024

Technical and Economic Assessment and Gap Analysis of Advanced Nuclear Reactor Integration with a Reference Oil Refinery

Efforts to identify the most-economic methods to decarbonize several sectors of the U.S. economy are underway. Industrial processes such as crude-oil refining rely heavily on energy-dense and easily stored and transported fossil fuels for powering their operations. Refineries use large amounts of energy, primarily derived from fossil sources to separate crude-oil components, break down heavier hydrocarbons into lighter compounds, remove impurities, reform hydrocarbon molecules, and generate steam and electricity for pumps and compressors and other various auxiliary systems. Crude-oil refining operations such as distillation, cracking, desulfurization, reforming, utilities systems and some offsite facilities collectively account for most of the energy consumption. Other operations such as hydrocracking or hydrotreating also require hydrogen for developing hydrogenation reactions which involve substantial heating to keep the reactors at high-temperature and pressure levels. All heat and energy demands are typically provided by natural gas (NG), oil, or other fuels, which makes refinery industry one of the most-difficult sectors to decarbonize. Nuclear power is a viable and energy-dense source of clean electricity, heat, and hydrogen to provide the large, sustainable energy supply that the refining industry demands. The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Integrated Energy Systems (IES) program is working to perform research and development, design, economic siting, and risk analysis. This state-of-the-art work will enable the first on-site demonstrations and commercial deployments of advanced small modular nuclear reactors (SMNRs) integrated with industries such as chemical production, refining, iron and steel making, and more. IES seeks to demonstrate the ability of advanced nuclear reactors to meet the heat and power demands of these industries while reducing carbon emissions in a sustainable and cost-competitive way. The primary objective of this research effort is to analyze industrial-scale SMNR integration intended to decarbonize refining facilities. The foreseen outcome is the provision of reliable, cost-competitive, and sustainable clean energy, alongside a reduction of carbon emissions. Specifically, the focus of this work lies on meeting the reference facilities’ heat and electricity demands with nuclear power while also supplying clean hydrogen via integrated high-temperature steam electrolysis (HTSE). This report presents a comprehensive technical and economic assessment of the integration of advanced nuclear reactors into a reference refinery, leveraging financial incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The evaluation aims to explore the potential economic benefits and challenges associated with incorporating advanced nuclear reactors into refinery operations, particularly in terms of energy efficiency, economic implications and environmental impact. By examining both the technical feasibility and economic viability, this analysis seeks to identify existing gaps and propose solutions for successful nuclear integration implementation. The findings are intended to provide valuable insights for stakeholders considering the adoption of advanced nuclear reactors in the refining sector. A refinery reference-plant was developed, using an open-source refinery model, Petroleum Refinery Lifecycle Inventory Model (PRELIM) and expert assessment, as a base case for comparison with various nuclear integration options. The capacity of 100 kbd/day (KBD) of heavy crude-oil feed was selected to represent a general coking-type refinery with deep conversion capabilities (incorporating heavy-oil upgrading with FCC, coking, and associated hydrotreating process units), using a heavy crude-oil feed, which represents about 70% of U.S. refineries configurations. A summary of all cases considered in this study is shown in Table 1.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2019

Computational screening of metal–organic frameworks for biogas purification

Biogas, which involves methane as the combustible compound, is an abundant and renewable energy resource that produces less harmful gases than conventional fossil-based liquid and solid energy sources. Although biogas is of primary interest due to its methane content, it may also include other gases, such as CO 2 , N 2 , H 2 S, and NH 3 . Studies investigating biogas purification often assume that biogas is a binary 50%/50% mixture of methane and carbon dioxide. However, together with N 2 , the toxic contaminants, H 2 S and NH 3 should be accounted for in the biogas mixture for a more realistic separation application. In this study, the computation-ready experimental metal–organic framework (CoRE-MOF) database is screened to identify a shortlist of potentially high-performing MOFs for multi-component biogas purification. Our hierarchical screening process involves (i) removal of MOFs with sub-3 Å pore limiting diameter and uncommon metal nodes, (ii) removal of MOFs that do not selectively capture the four undesired compounds, as determined from grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations for the binary mixtures of CH 4 /(CO 2 or N 2 or H 2 S or NH 3 ), and (iii) ranking of the remaining structures based on various performance metrics determined from GCMC for a five-component mixture. Finally, the relations between some of these metrics and structural properties are discussed to reveal favorable structural characteristics for biogas upgrading.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2016

Audit and Assessment Studies

Project to assess 46 low-income multifamily residences owned and managed by THRHA in up to 14 southeast Alaska communities. The Objective of project was to identify efficiency measures to reduce energy costs by 30% for low-income multifamily housing by; 1. Decreasing energy demand by increasing multifamily housing energy efficiency; 2. Reducing household energy consumption through energy conservation education and installation of energy upgrades; and 3. Projecting energy savings based on fossil fuel reduction to environmentally and economically benefit Tribal southeast communities

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

DOE OSTI2024

Is a Generator the Only Solution When the Grid Fails? Optimizing Systems for Resiliency and Carbon Reduction: Preprint

Traditionally, buildings are dependent on utility infrastructure, and when a grid failure happens, end users rely on the closest source of energy storage to sustain operation until power is restored. For buildings, that typically means using an electric generator. This electric generator either uses on-site energy storage such as fossil fuels in a tank or a gas connection which is, in turn, tied to gas wells—also a form of energy storage. Generators are popular for their ease of implementation and low capital costs; however, they have limited value outside of disruptions, and they are a source of scope 1 emissions, or direct greenhouse gas emissions from sources controlled by the building owner. In contrast, some power generation and storage systems, such as photovoltaic (PV) panels and battery energy storage systems (BESS), can serve the same purpose during grid disruptions while presenting advantages outside of power failure. This paper explores methods for storing and converting energy on-site to increase building resiliency, focusing on solutions that minimize scope 1 emissions. We analyze the cost and carbon impacts of energy efficiency measures, PV arrays, and BESS, with and without generators, in a simulation test case. We find significant benefits can be achieved both during and outside of power failure events when designing systems that integrate the on-demand capability of generators, the low carbon energy supplied by PV, and the storage capabilities of BESS. Specifically, adding even minimal BESS and PV can result in downsizing the generator, increasing generator efficiency and requiring less fuel.

ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION↗

DOE OSTI2022

Catalytic Processes to Accelerate Decarbonization in a Net-Zero Carbon World

Reducing carbon dioxide emissions is one of the critical challenges to mitigate global climate change, which is having detrimental impacts on society and the environment. Fossil fuel combustion in transportation, power generation, and industrial processes is the dominant contributor to carbon emissions. Over the past decades, sustainable solutions and strategies have been investigated and developed to enable decarbonization. Catalysis plays an essential role to address this global challenge by increasing energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, capturing carbon dioxide, and utilizing clean energy sources to displace fossil fuels. In this Review, the role of catalysis in reducing energy demand was discussed, enhancing process efficiency, displacing carbon-intensive feedstocks and products, and therefore, reducing carbon emissions. Here, recent advances in catalyst development were summarized, focusing on applications to enhance industrial processes efficiency and enable utilization of clean energy sources. Emerging approaches in catalysis were reviewed, including the manufacture of iron and steel, direct air capture of CO 2 , production of ethylene, ammonia, and sustainable aviation fuels, plastic recycling, and the synthesis of biobased plastics. The Review was concluded with suggested research directions to achieve a carbon net-zero world.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2018

Energy storage based on SrCO 3 and Sorbents—A probabilistic analysis towards realizing solar thermochemical power plants

As greenhouse gases threaten our environment, it has become increasingly necessary to replace consumption of fossil fuels with renewable energy. Without energy storage, solar cannot provide power at night during times of peak demand, resulting in a gap between supply capabilities and demand. Solar thermochemical energy storage (TCES) has potential to resolve this critical temporal issue. An 800MWh th TCES subsystem has been designed to cost-effectively convert solar energy to electricity. An evaluation of each required component is provided, including the reactor chemistry. Strontium carbonate decomposition is used to densely store high temperature thermal energy via chemical reaction, while two different CO 2 storage methods are considered. To determine the practical feasibility of these schemes, a probabilistic analysis has been performed to explore exergy and energy efficiency, and cost. It has been found that a scheme storing CO 2 via sorbents is capable of ~71% energy and ~87% exergy efficiency, and an installed cost of ~48 USD kWh th -1 .

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2021

Best Practices Guide: Benchmarking Energy Efficiency in Laboratories

Purpose and Audience A wide spectrum of laboratory owners, ranging from universities to federal agencies, have explicit goals for energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reductions in their facilities. For example, new federal buildings and major renovations of existing buildings are to reduce fossil fuel-generated energy consumption by 90% in 2025, and 100% in 2030, compared with a 2003 baseline (FEMP n.d.). Minnesota SB2030 standard requires achieving an 80% reduction from the average building baseline for commercial, institutional, and industrial buildings (SB2030 n.d). A laboratory—new or existing—is much more likely to meet energy efficiency goals if quantitative metrics and targets are explicitly specified and tracked over the life cycle of the building, from design through construction, commissioning, operations, and renovations. If efficiency targets are not explicitly and properly defined, any additional capital costs or design time associated with attaining higher efficiencies can be difficult to justify relative to other priorities. The purpose of this guide is to provide guidance on how to specify and compute energy efficiency metrics and benchmarks for laboratories, at the whole-building as well as the system level. The information in this guide can be used to incorporate quantitative metrics and targets into new construction or retrofit of existing facilities. For information on strategies and technologies to achieve energy efficiency, the reader is referred to I2SL resources, including technology best practice guides and case studies.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

DOE OSTI2022

Low-Cost Sulfur Thermal Storage for Increased Flexibility and Improved Economics of Fossil-Fueled Electricity Generating Units (Final Report)

The US electric grid relies on conventional fossil fuel power plants for reliable and secure power, but these plants suffer from physical and financial strain due to the influx of inexpensive and variable solar and wind electricity. Conventional power plants need to generate electricity flexibly and on-demand to accommodate these renewable resources on the grid. Integrating a low-cost thermal energy storage (TES) gives fossil assets the ability to regulate their output efficiently and optimize the plant operation to maximize revenue in the wholesale electricity market. Element 16’s TES concept uses sulfur, a byproduct of the oil & gas industry, as the storage media that is 10 times cheaper than molten salt used in commercial two-tank TES technology. In this project, the team completed a detailed feasibility and technoeconomic study establishing the impact, cost and performance of molten sulfur TES system integrated with fossil assets.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗

DOE OSTI2025

A fully light-driven approach to separate carbon dioxide from emission streams

Carbon capture from industrial point sources is an essential component of the global effort to mitigate climate risks. However, traditional approaches require significant energy input—often provided, counterproductively, by fossil fuel combustion. Using sunlight directly as the energy source would significantly improve the energy efficiency of carbon capture processes. Herein, we report the first fully visible-light-driven CO 2 separation system, in which carbon capture is achieved via the photoenolization/addition reaction of inexpensive 2-methylbenzophenone with CO 2 , and CO 2 release is realized through an intramolecular photodecarboxylation reaction. Finally, this system operates isothermally, works with natural sunlight, and facilitates CO 2 removal from natural gas flue emissions, providing a blueprint for other non-thermal chemical separations.

Ahmad, Bayu I. Z. [Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (Unit↗