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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 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Lighting Technology Energy Solutions (LiTES) (Final Technical Report)

The Lighting Technologies Energy Solutions (LiTES) Program Final Technical Report is a collaborative effort between NextEnergy, Consumers Energy, DTE Energy (DTE) and the Detroit Joint Apprentice Training Center (DJATC) to evaluate customer and contractor experiences deploying advanced/networked lighting controls systems (ALC/NLC). The LiTES Program, funded by the US Department of Energy (DOE), sought to reduce energy use in small and medium commercial buildings (SMCB) by accelerating the adoption of ALC/NLC through contractor training and technology deployment. Leveraging recommendations already outlined by the Design Lights Consortium Commercial Advanced Lighting Controls (DLC CALC) project, NextEnergy led an effort to train contractors, evaluate the experience of ALC/NLC demonstration projects, identify opportunities to reduce market barriers, and accelerate the increased adoption of ALC/NLC technologies within SMCB. The LiTES Program defined SMCB as commercial buildings under 100,000 square feet. The LiTES Program efforts also included evaluating current ALC/NLC utility incentives, piloting ALC/NLC incentives specific to SMCB, and identifying opportunities to better align utility incentives with current ALC/NLC technology to support accelerating the adoption of ALC/NLC in SMCB. This report shares the survey results and M&V data findings, including energy savings, market barriers, experience of installations, impact of incentives/financing programs and provides recommendations for the increased deployment of ALC/NLC systems in small and medium commercial buildings. Utility survey results, incentive alternatives and recommendations, including a cost benefit analysis outlining energy and economic impacts of the provided ALC/NLC incentives on SMCB projects are also provided.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2021

Inexpensive and Sustainable Anti-Corrosion Coating for Power Generation Applications

The goal of the project was to achieve lab-scale demonstration of a corrosion prevention technology, which will facilitate the capture of CO 2 from coal and natural gas fired power generation by reducing the cost of construction materials and maintenance. The project built on technology previously developed by LumiShield to address more broad-based corrosion issues and the results shown will be applicable to a wide range of markets requiring cost effective corrosion resistant coatings. That technology developed is a base layer to improve the performance and reduce the cost of organic anti-corrosion coatings. The impact of those changes on overall plant economics were demonstrated with the help of engineers at AECOM through an initial cost-benefit-analysis at the end of BP1 which will be updated at the end of BP2.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2021

Integration of a DER Management System in Riverside. Final report

The tasks in this project covered various aspects, including algorithm development, algorithm integration into a commercial Active Network Management (ANM) platform, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing in an industry-standard testing platform, pilot demonstration in Riverside, California, and also cost and benefit analysis. The DERMS platform in this project can host different algorithms developed on different platforms (e.g., MATLAB and Python) and it can interact with different hardware devices (e.g., different PV inverters, battery inverters, and different sensors). The DER control solution are based on an advanced model-free, layered, and clustered DER control paradigm. At the core of the DER control algorithms was the concept of Extremum Seeking (ES), which is a model-free probing-based control technique. The ES-based control algorithms were tested on major real-world inverters; both individually and in a cluster. It was shown that even legacy equipment (or when paired with a few additional advanced equipment) can support such advanced control. The monitoring algorithms utilize a heterogeneous set of legacy and advanced sensor measurements, such as behind-the-meter DER sensors, distribution-level Phase Measurement Units, distribution-substation Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), and line current sensors, with their limited availability; in order to infer practical network conditions. Sensor data are utilized to achieve resource forecasting, phase identification, and distribution system state estimation. The technology that was developed and demonstrated in this project could be transformational to utilities, including the smaller municipal utilities such as in Riverside, which may not have the resources to deploy advanced distribution system and DERMS solutions in order to support high penetration of solar power integration. This project created a real-world prototype to provide utilities with an assessment of smart grid monitoring and control technologies.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2021

Providencia Island High-Level Power System Capacity Expansion Analyses [Slides]

Results of a high level cost-benefit analysis using HOMER Pro software are presented for Providencia Island, Colombia. The analysis focuses on integrating solar photovoltaics (PV) and a battery energy storage system (BESS) into an existing diesel-only remote power system. The analysis uses fuel costs and discount rates provided by the stakeholders and NREL-derived capital cost estimates.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Development of a Portable In Situ Phosphorous Sensor

While phosphorus is a critical nutrient for all forms of life, runoff leads to phosphorus accumulation in surface water where it can cause a variety of health, environmental, and economic problems. The Department of Energy is interested in conducting long-term field experiments to monitor the impact of phosphorus in terrestrial and aquatic environments, and to better understand a cost vs. benefit analysis of reducing phosphorus pollution. Performing such long-term experiments requires affordable sensors capable of monitoring low-level phosphorus concentrations under challenging environmental conditions. However, such sensors are currently not available. The goal of this proposed project is to develop and demonstrate a low-cost portable phosphorus sensor suitable for in situ measurements. We will determine the technical requirements for a Raman-based sensor system, design and build a signal amplifier, integrate it with a Raman-based sensor, and demonstrate a proof-of-concept level sensor system. The expected accomplishments for Phase I include the identification of the technical requirements of a combined Raman laser/spectrometer and cavity enhancement system, building a proof-of-concept level sensor system capable of detecting orthophosphate compounds at the desired level of 0.25 mg P/L and organic P compounds, and verification of the sensor performance under laboratory and field conditions. In addition, we will identify initial hardening requirements that will need to be implemented during Phase II. While we plan to develop an integrated sensor system for monitoring phosphorus, the cavity-based enhancement system can also be used in combination with other (non-phosphorus) Raman sensors that we plan to develop or that are already commercially available. A recent market report highlights the increasing demand for such environmental monitoring applications, with the market for chemical detection anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.5% (2020-2025). Wide-spread monitoring of phosphorus could reduce the damage from eutrophication in freshwater, which is estimated to be $2.2 billion annually, thereby increasing biodiversity, reducing costs required for drinking water treatment, and decreasing economic losses related to recreation and angling and lake property values.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Carbon Capture, Transport, And Storage (CTS) Cost Modeling Of The Onshore Gulf Coast

The onshore Gulf of Mexico region presents significant opportunities for CO2 capture, transport, and storage due to its numerous CO2 sources, such as power plants, refineries, and its substantial CO2 storage potential. However, operators face critical decisions in designing an efficient and cost-effective CO2 pipeline network. This study examines the economic implications of two primary strategies: constructing a trunkline with excess initial capacity versus developing dedicated pipelines incrementally as new CO2 sources come online. Building a trunkline first offers the advantage of future-proofing the network, allowing for the accommodation of increased CO2 volumes from various sources over time. However, this approach incurs higher upfront costs and risks underutilizing the transport capacity in the initial stages, potentially resulting in economic inefficiencies. Conversely, constructing dedicated pipelines for each new CO2 source as it becomes operational may avoid the initial overcapacity issue but fails to capitalize on the economies of scale. This could lead to higher overall costs due to the duplication of infrastructure and increased complexity in network management. This research employs a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis, integrating factors such as capital expenditure, operational costs, projected CO2 volumes, and potential economies of scale. Through this analysis, we aim to provide operators with insights into the most economically viable strategy for CO2 pipeline network design in the region. The findings underscore the importance of strategic planning and highlight the trade-offs between immediate capacity utilization and long-term cost savings, ultimately guiding stakeholders towards informed decision-making in the development of CO2 transport infrastructure. Presented at the 41st USAEE/IAEE North American Conference, 3-6 November 2024, Baton Rouge, LA, United States.

Shih, Chung Yan↗
DOE OSTI2025

Federal Home-to-Work Electric Vehicle Program Guide

This document serves as a comprehensive resource for Federal agencies in developing their own program resources that promote the efficient and effective use of electric vehicles (EVs) for home-to-work travel while ensuring compliance with Federal regulations and sustainability objectives. One mission of the U.S. Department of Energy's Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) Fleet program is to help federal fleet managers meet or exceed statutory requirements related to energy and environmental performance while improving overall fleet efficiency, reducing costs, and meeting mission requirements. To further this mission, FEMP provides resources to support Federal agencies with increasing alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) acquisitions and reducing petroleum use. EVs are AFVs and help agencies meet federal fleet requirements. Federal fleets include government-owned EVs used for home-to-work travel. The purpose of this document is to serve as a guide for Federal agencies in developing their own internal program documents to manage government-owned EVs used for home-to-work travel. Federal agencies should consult their counsel and consider their own policies and authorities in the implementation of any policies or best practices regarding government-owned EVs used for home-to-work travel. The guide provides key considerations for agencies, including launching a pilot program to fine-tune best practices, conducting a cost-benefit analysis to compare home versus public charging, and exploring cost-effective solutions, such as installing standard outlets instead of dedicated charging stations. The guide underscores the importance of legal and financial considerations, such as verifying agency authority to install home charging infrastructure at an employee's home, ensuring the availability and appropriateness of using agency funds for home charging infrastructure, and understanding the tax implications of reimbursements.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Invertible Design Manifolds for Heat Transfer Surfaces (INVERT) (Final Technical Report)

This final report briefly reviews the main technical accomplishments of the INVERT award, summarizes existing or planned publications or transitions from the effort, and lastly reviews T2M strategies resulting from the program. Specifically, under the award, our team studied three main technical areas and performed one preliminary T2M study on the cost-benefit analysis of Inverse Design Methods and one major software release (the Maryland Inverse Design Benchmark Suite).

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Integrity Monitoring and Assessment, Prediction, Repair, and Corrosion Control of the Hanford Storage Tanks — 25213

BACKGROUND AND PROJECT TASKS Proposed work addresses focus area 1: Waste Retrieval, Transport and Closure, with particular focus on increasing volume available for tank storage 1) Refurbish/fortify existing double shell storage tanks (Tank Refurbish – Polymer Grout) 2) Robust monitoring tools for internal corrosion (Integrity Monitoring -Reference Electrodes) 3) Mitigate external corrosion (Degradation Prevention - Cathodic Protection) 4) Determine viability of constructing new tanks, and storage room creation by way of evaporation (Cost Benefit Analysis)

Shukla, Pavan K. [Savannah River National Laborato↗
DOE OSTI2025

Optimal Operation and Impact Assessment of Distributed Wind for Improving Efficiency and Resilience of Rural Electricity Systems

This project aims to empower rural utilities by developing advanced optimization models and algorithms for effectively integrating distributed wind energy alongside battery storage and other distributed energy resources (DERs). The primary objectives are to reduce peak demand, ensure reliable emergency power supply, and regulate voltage and frequency. To address operational challenges, the project introduces innovative mitigation strategies and ultrafast assessment frameworks to evaluate the impacts of distributed wind and DERs on rural grids, offering actionable solutions to potential issues. Economic viability is assessed through cost-benefit analysis using real rural utility data, ensuring the practical application of the project outcomes.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Developing a Framework for Valuation of Grid Services

The electric system is rapidly evolving and growing, raising new questions about how to define and value grid services delivered by a diverse set of resources, including customer-owned assets. This report advances a service–parameter–value framework that links what a grid service does to why it matters, and how its benefits are evidenced. We build upon prior efforts (Bender et al. 2021) and extend them to include value categories (reliability, resilience, cost & access, and security) with primary and secondary tiers, service-specific value streams that explain how benefits materialize, and metrics that make valuation traceable and comparable. We apply the framework to the six core grid services defined in (Kolln et al. 2023): Frequency Response, Regulation, Reserves, Energy, Voltage Management, and Blackstart and demonstrate it on three use cases to highlight the adaptability of these value streams. Further, we outline how the framework integrates with existing tools such as asset optimization, hosting capacity and cost-benefit analysis, and propose a path to portable qualifications and consistent stacking rules for use in tariffs and filings. Finally, we identify future pathways for research and application research needs to support standardization and decision-ready comparisons across services, assets, and architectures.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2021

Application of Mobile Energy Storage for Enhancing Power Grid Resilience: A Review

Natural disasters can lead to large-scale power outages, affecting critical infrastructure and causing social and economic damages. These events are exacerbated by climate change, which increases their frequency and magnitude. Improving power grid resilience can help mitigate the damages caused by these events. Mobile energy storage systems, classified as truck-mounted or towable battery storage systems, have recently been considered to enhance distribution grid resilience by providing localized support to critical loads during an outage. Compared to stationary batteries and other energy storage systems, their mobility provides operational flexibility to support geographically dispersed loads across an outage area. This paper provides a comprehensive and critical review of academic literature on mobile energy storage for power system resilience enhancement. As mobile energy storage is often coupled with mobile emergency generators or electric buses, those technologies are also considered in the review. Allocation of these resources for power grid resilience enhancement requires modeling of both the transportation system constraints and the power grid operational constraints. These aspects are discussed, along with a discussion on the cost–benefit analysis of mobile energy resources. The paper concludes by presenting research gaps, associated challenges, and potential future directions to address these challenges.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2020

An advanced membrane-based HMX model and its application in utilizing sensible and latent heat removed in space cooling

This paper presents a comprehensive simulation model for advanced membrane-based heat and mass exchanger (HMX) components which account for three separate fluid streams with complex flow patterns. The model was implemented with various liquid desiccants and their properties (including LiCl, CaCl and ionic liquid (IL)). Preliminary model validation is presented using data from a laboratory prototype absorber. The paper also presents implementation of the model into a sorption system modeling platform and analyzes potential benefit analysis of the HMX component in utilizing the sensible and latent heat removed in space cooling to heat water. The developed model and codes are expected to enable detailed optimization studies and identify novel configurations for the three-fluid HMX maximum performance and cost effectiveness.

Gao, Zhiming↗
DOE OSTI2022

NREL Stratus - Enabling Workflows to Fuse Data Streams, Modeling, Simulation, and Machine Learning

Integrating cloud services into advanced computing facilities provides significant new capabilities over focusing solely on traditional high performance computing (HPC) workloads. This brings complementary capabilities as well as enabling new focused roles for HPC. They are especially potent for workflows that fuse data streams, modeling and simulation ('modsim') and machine learning. A key challenge to adopting a hybrid edge-cloud-HPC model is to align optimal capability, data, and user intent on the right resources for each step in a workflow.?The NREL Stratus service provides a basis for this: Stratus layers capabilities needed to make?cloud services accessible to a lab-based scientific community on commercial offerings, and; currently supports upwards of 200 projects ranging from IOT integration to traditional modeling and simulation. This provides a real-world inventory of scientific workflow elements. A growing knowledge base enables placing these elements appropriately between the edge, cloud, and traditional HPC. This paper outlines a vision via reference architecture and the application of that architecture in a typical workflow highlighting multiple components: sensor data intake, cleaning and transforming (edge/cloud suitable); generation of synthetic data through modsim, computationally heavy ML training and hyperparameter optimization (HPC suitable), and; inference and deployment (cloud ideal). Every step in such a workflow involves a cost-benefit analysis regarding the data movement, computational efficiency, availability, latency, and resource capabilities. The reference architecture and examples outlined allow for understanding new opportunities in the context of emerging workflows that combine IOT, cloud, and HPC to bolster scientific productivity.

AI↗
DOE OSTI2022

28 NREL Stratus - Enabling Workflows to Fuse Data Streams, Modeling, Simulation, and Machine Learning: Preprint

Integrating cloud services into advanced computing facilities provides significant new capabilities over focusing solely on traditional high performance computing (HPC) workloads. This brings complementary capabilities as well as enabling new focused roles for HPC. They are especially potent for workflows that fuse data streams, modeling and simulation ('modsim') and machine learning. A key challenge to adopting a hybrid edge-cloud-HPC model is to align optimal capability, data, and user intent on the right resources for each step in a workflow.?The NREL Stratus service provides a basis for this: Stratus layers capabilities needed to make?cloud services accessible to a lab-based scientific community on commercial offerings, and; currently supports upwards of 200 projects ranging from IOT integration to traditional modeling and simulation. This provides a real-world inventory of scientific workflow elements. A growing knowledge base enables placing these elements appropriately between the edge, cloud, and traditional HPC. This paper outlines a vision via reference architecture and the application of that architecture in a typical workflow highlighting multiple components: sensor data intake, cleaning and transforming (edge/cloud suitable); generation of synthetic data through modsim, computationally heavy ML training and hyperparameter optimization (HPC suitable), and; inference and deployment (cloud ideal). Every step in such a workflow involves a cost-benefit analysis regarding the data movement, computational efficiency, availability, latency, and resource capabilities. The reference architecture and examples outlined allow for understanding new opportunities in the context of emerging workflows that combine IOT, cloud, and HPC to bolster scientific productivity.

AI↗
DOE OSTI2023

WOMBAT Tutorial

This workshop will provide a comprehensive overview to Windfarm Operations and Maintenance cost-Benefit Analysis Tool (WOMBAT), NREL's first wind O&M software model. The session will discuss how to utilize WOMBAT to answer O&M research questions covering land-based, offshore, and distributed wind farms. It will offer an introduction to the model and how it operates. The team will then offer a demonstration of the various modeling parameters by converting the CORE Wind Floating Wind Strategies O&M Assessment assumptions into an analysis-ready configuration, diving into the results, and exploring further model variations.

discrete event simulation↗
DOE OSTI2025

Hierarchical Resilience Planning for Networked Microgrids: A Case Study of Puerto Rico

Microgrids can be designed to enhance the energy resilience of communities and critical infrastructures, such as hospitals, data centers, and communication networks, which are vulnerable to frequent weather-related disruption. Coordinating multiple microgrids in a network can leverage the geographical diversity of load and generation resources while enabling resilient and cost-effective planning of the distribution system. Designing a networked microgrid is complex, involving intricate technical assessment, cost-benefit analysis, site-specific requirements, and the evaluation of existing resources. Therefore, this paper proposes a hierarchical resilience planning framework and performs an extensive techno-economic analysis for the design of a networked microgrid. Hierarchical resilience planning involves technology sizing at an individual community level to meet the critical load and satisfy resilience criteria, and resource optimization at networked microgrid level to provide a higher level of resilience and energy adequacy. A real-world case of Puerto Rico's cooperative microgrid “Microrred de la Montaña” is investigated considering localized electricity tariffs, site-specific demand profiles, solar generation, and existing hydro resources. Multiple optimization scenarios are developed based on the resiliency requirement to estimate the capacity of solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage (BES) to be installed at each substation. The results provide the optimal sizing for individual community and networked microgrid to withstand 1day and 3-day outages along with the criteria for critical load.

13 - HYDRO ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Grid-Forming PV Inverter: Technology Development and Microgrid Applications

Presently, excluding residential backup power applications, grid-forming (GFM) inverters are commercially available for battery energy storage system (BESS) and some PV plus battery systems but not yet for stand-alone PV. This tech update investigates the control design for GFM PV inverter, especially the control required to provide active power reserve and to stabilize the dc link voltage. Subsequently, the use cases of GFM PV plants in utility-level microgrids are discussed considering fully inverter-based microgrids (i.e., with PV and BESS) as well as mixed-source microgrids (i.e., with PV and diesel generator). Scenarios where active power up-reserve from GFM PV plants is beneficial are illustrated. Moreover, requirements and specifications for GFM PV plant, especially for its active power reserve function are developed. In addition, stability of an example utility-level microgrid with two GFM PV plants and a diesel generator is analyzed to shed light on the potential unstable interaction between multiple GFM resources and the countermeasures. This research aims to advance GFM PV technology to offer more flexibility in microgrid design. With GFM PV available, depending on the level of reliability required, cost-benefit analysis, etc., the GFM BESS or diesel generator may be sized smaller while leveraging the full potential of PV generation inside the microgrid.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗