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DOE OSTI2024

Wind Turbine Design Guideline DG03: Yaw and Pitch Bearings

This design guideline describes the design criteria, calculation methods, and applicable standards recommended for use in performance and life analyses of ball and roller (rolling) bearings for yaw and pitch motion support in wind turbine applications. The formulae presented here for rolling bearing analytical methods and bearing-life ratings are consistent with methods currently used by wind turbine designers and rolling bearing manufacturers. The original yaw and pitch bearing design guideline was first drafted in 1999 by industry members and finally published in 2009 by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. It was conceived as the third in a series of design guidelines, but it was the only one actually published by NREL and since has been known by the name "DG03." Other design guidelines were started, but instead of being published by NREL, they eventually became some of the International Electrotechnical Commission wind turbine standards in use today. This updated design guideline includes advances in research and field experiences made between 2009 and 2023. A better understanding of the operating conditions and damage mechanisms, advances in computational design, and publicly available test results facilitate more reliable yaw and pitch bearing designs.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2026

Extending Component Lifetime And Improving Inverter Reliability (ECLAIIR)

Inverter reliability remains one of the most persistent challenges limiting the performance, availability, and economic viability of utility‑scale photovoltaic (PV) plants. Industry data consistently show that inverters account for the highest share of corrective maintenance events and unplanned outages across PV fleets. These failures result in energy losses, increased O&M costs, and reduced confidence in long‑term solar asset performance. Motivated by these challenges, this project—Extending Component Lifetime and Improving Inverter Reliability (ECLAIIR)—was undertaken to systematically investigate inverter degradation and failure mechanisms, develop predictive maintenance capabilities, and establish data‑driven pathways to improve service life and reduce the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) for large‑scale PV systems. The primary goal of the project was to identify pre‑failure signatures in string inverters using both lab‑based accelerated lifetime testing and field‑based data and to develop predictive maintenance algorithms that can anticipate inverter faults before they occur. Through collaboration with inverter testing laboratory, solar PV plant owner, and failure‑analysis experts, the project advanced the technical understanding of inverter reliability. By instrumenting inverters with thermistors, humidity sensors, power‑quality meters, and acoustic sensors, the research established how multiple sensing modalities can reliably detect deviations from normal behavior hours to days before failure. These findings substantially enhance scientific understanding of inverter failure kinetics and provide the PV industry with the most comprehensive cross‑OEM characterization of early‑stage failure indicators reported to date. Technically, the project demonstrated the effectiveness of predictive maintenance by developing and validating the PreDICT (Predictive Diagnostics of PV Inverters Using Condition Monitoring and Trend Analysis) framework—a multi‑layer diagnostic architecture combining peer‑to‑peer analytics, historical trend modeling, and advanced machine‑learning techniques such as the Sequential Conditional Variational Autoencoder (SCVAE). This predictive model achieved more than 90% accuracy in detecting pre‑failure conditions and provided up to four days of lead time before inverter failure in field scenarios. Economically, the project’s LCOE analysis showed that predictive maintenance can reduce lifetime energy losses and minimize corrective maintenance interventions. Modeling indicated that, depending on inverter failure rates and replacement timelines, predictive maintenance can significantly reduce LCOE impacts associated with inverter downtime: from as high as 19.4% under conventional maintenance strategies to 0.1%–10.17% when predictive analytics are adopted. These results confirm that predictive maintenance is both technically feasible and economically advantageous for utilities and plant operators. The project’s findings also have broad public benefit. By improving inverter reliability and reducing downtime, predictive maintenance directly increases electricity generation from existing PV assets. Enhanced reliability lowers operational costs for utilities, which can translate over time into lower energy costs for consumers. Furthermore, the project’s technical publications, conference presentations, and industry workshops ensure that knowledge gained is shared broadly across the solar industry, supporting workforce development and enabling utilities of all sizes to adopt modern asset‑health monitoring practices. The retrofitting case study and service‑life prediction framework further support informed decision‑making for aging PV fleets, helping operators extend system life and reduce electronic waste. In summary, the ECLAIIR project significantly advanced the state of knowledge on inverter degradation, demonstrated the technical and economic value of predictive maintenance, and delivered actionable tools and insights that support more reliable, cost‑effective, and sustainable PV plant operation. The outcomes of this project will continue to inform utility practices, guide inverter design improvements, and strengthen the long‑term performance of solar assets nationwide.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2021

Sustainable Campus with PEV and Microgrid

Market penetration of electric vehicles (EVs) is gaining momentum, as is the move towards increasingly distributed, clean and renewable electricity sources. EV charging shifts a significant portion of transportation energy use onto building electricity meters. Hence, integration strategies for energy-efficiency in buildings and transport sectors are of increasing importance. This paper focuses on a portion of that integration: the analysis of an optimal interaction of EVs with a building-serving transformer, and coupling it to a microgrid that includes PV, a fuel cell and a natural gas micro-turbine. The test-case is the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore campus. The system under study is the Laboratory of Clean Energy Research (LaCER) Lab that houses the award winning Microgrid Energy Management System (MG-EMS) project. The paper analyses three different case scenarios to estimate the number of EVs that can be supported by the building transformer serving LaCER. An approximation of the actual load data collected for the building into different time intervals is performed for a transformer loss of life (LOL) calculation. The additional EV loads that can be supported by the transformer with and without the microgrid are analyzed. The numbers of possible EVs that can be charged at any given time under the three scenarios are also determined. The possibility of using EV fleet at NTU campus to achieve demand response capability and intermittent PV output leveling through vehicle to grid (V2G) technology and building energy management systems is also explored.

Singh, Reshma↗

DOE OSTI2020

Framework for assessing land‐management effects on at‐risk species: Example of SE USA wood pellet production and gopher tortoise ( Gopherus polyphemus )

Abstract Land‐management choices made for economic and societal gains intrinsically influence landscapes and species that are dependent upon them. We propose a simple analysis framework to examine critical intersections between land‐management choices and the life‐history conditions of selected species of concern, thereby facilitating the identification of mitigation practices that can reduce negative impacts on species at risk. We test the proposed framework through application to gopher tortoise ( Gopherus polyphemus ), a keystone species that is the focus of conservation efforts across the southeastern region of United States of America, where wood pellets are being produced for bioenergy. Production of these wood pellets for export to Europe and Asia has drastically increased in the past decade, raising concerns about potential harm to biodiversity since many species in the forests sourcing pellet production were already at risk prior to the development of this new commodity. Identifying the mechanisms of potential impacts of wood pellet production on species of concern is essential to establishing meaningful management recommendations that can enhance conservation efforts while supporting sustainable bioenergy. By considering the intersections between life‐history conditions of gopher tortoise and forest‐management practices related to woody biomass extraction for pellet production, we identify several mechanisms by which the wood‐pellet industry might affect this species of concern, both positively and negatively. We then identify mitigation practices that can help offset the potential impacts of logging, thinning, and dead wood removal on gopher tortoise. Our analysis framework may be transferable to other species of concern and land‐management practices across diverse landscapes. This article is categorized under: Bioenergy > Economics and Policy Bioenergy > Climate and Environment

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2023

Neonatal respiratory support strategies—short and long-term respiratory outcomes

Mechanical ventilation (MV), although life-saving, is associated with chronic respiratory morbidity in both preterm and term born infants. New ventilation modes have been developed with the aim of minimising lung injury. These include invasive and non-invasive respiratory support strategies, techniques for less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) and closed-loop automated oxygen control (CLAC) systems. Increasingly, newborn infants with signs of respiratory distress are stabilised on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and receive LISA. Early CPAP when compared to mechanical ventilation reduced the incidence of BPD and respiratory morbidity at 18 to 22 months corrected age. Nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation reduced treatment failure rates compared to CPAP, but not bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). LISA compared with intubation and surfactant delivery reduced BPD, but there is no evidence from randomised trials regarding long-term respiratory and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Synchronisation of positive pressure inflations with the infant's respiratory efforts used with volume targeting should be applied for infants requiring intubation as this strategy reduces BPD. A large RCT with long term follow up data demonstrated that prophylactic high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) improved respiratory and functional outcomes at school age, but those effects were not maintained after puberty. CLAC systems appear promising, but their effect on long term clinical outcomes has not yet been explored in randomised trials. Further studies are required to determine the role of newer ventilation modes such as neurally adjusted ventilator assist (NAVA). All such respiratory support strategies should be tested in randomised controlled trials powered to assess long-term outcomes.

Kaltsogianni, Ourania↗

DOE OSTI2023

Supply Chain Sustainability Analysis of Renewable Hydrocarbon Fuels via Hydrothermal Liquefaction, Combined Algal Processing, and Biochemical Conversion: Update of the 2022 State-of-Technology Cases

The Department of Energy's (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) aims to develop and deploy technologies to transform renewable biomass resources into commercially viable, high-performance biofuels, bioproducts, and biopower through public and private partnerships. BETO and its national laboratory teams conduct in-depth techno-economic assessments (TEA) of biomass feedstock supply and logistics and conversion technologies to produce biofuels. There are two general types of TEAs: A design case outlines a target case (future projection) for a particular biofuel pathway. It informs R&D priorities by identifying areas in need of improvement, tracks sustainability impact of R&D, and provides goals and benchmarks against which technology progress is assessed. A state of technology (SOT) analysis assesses progress within and across relevant technology areas based on actual results at current experimental scales relative to technical targets and cost goals from design cases, and includes technical, economic, and environmental criteria as available. In addition to developing a TEA for a pathway of interest, BETO also performs a supply chain sustainability analysis (SCSA). The SCSA takes the life-cycle analysis approach that BETO has been supporting for over 20 years. It enables BETO to identify energy consumption, environmental, and sustainability issues that may be associated with biofuel production. Approaches to mitigating these issues can then be developed. Additionally, the SCSA allows for comparison of energy and environmental impacts across biofuel pathways in BETO's research and development portfolio. This technical report describes the SCSAs for the production of renewable hydrocarbon transportation fuels via a range of conversion technologies in the 2022 SOTs: (1) renewable hydrocarbon fuels via hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of wet sludge from a wastewater treatment plant; (2) renewable hydrocarbon fuels via biochemical conversion of herbaceous lignocellulosic biomass; (3) renewable hydrocarbon fuels via HTL of an algae/woody biomass blend; and (4) renewable hydrocarbon fuels via combined algae processing (CAP).

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2021

Supply Chain Sustainability Analysis of Renewable Hydrocarbon Fuels via Indirect Liquefaction, Ex Situ Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis, Hydrothermal Liquefaction, Combined Algal Processing, and Biochemical Conversion: Update of the 2020 State-of-Technology Cases

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) aims to develop and deploy technologies to transform renewable biomass resources into commercially viable, high-performance biofuels, bioproducts, and biopower through public and private partnerships (U.S. Department of Energy, 2016). BETO and its national laboratory teams conduct in-depth techno-economic assessments (TEA) of biomass feedstock supply and logistics and conversion technologies to produce biofuels. There are two general types of TEAs: A design case outlines a target case (future projection) for a particular biofuel pathway. It enables identification of data gaps and research and development needs and provides goals and benchmarks against which technology progress is assessed. A state of technology (SOT) analysis assesses progress within and across relevant technology areas based on actual results at current experimental scales relative to technical targets and cost goals from design cases, and includes technical, economic, and environmental criteria as available. In addition to developing a TEA for a pathway of interest, BETO also performs a supply chain sustainability analysis (SCSA). The SCSA takes the life-cycle analysis approach that BETO has been supporting for about 20 years. It enables BETO to identify energy consumption, environmental, and sustainability issues that may be associated with biofuel production. Approaches to mitigate these issues can then be developed. Additionally, the SCSA allows for comparison of energy and environmental impacts across biofuel pathways in BETO’s research and development portfolio. This technical report describes the SCSAs for the production of renewable hydrocarbon transportation fuels via a range of conversion technologies in the 2020 SOTs: (1) renewable high octane gasoline (HOG) via indirect liquefaction (IDL) of woody lignocellulosic biomass (note that the IDL pathway in this SCSA represents the syngas conversion design [Harris et al. 2021]); (2) renewable gasoline (RG) and diesel (RD) blendstocks via ex situ catalytic fast pyrolysis of woody lignocellulosic biomass [Abhijit et al. 2021]; (3) RD via hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of wet sludge from a wastewater treatment plant; (4) renewable hydrocarbon fuels via biochemical conversion of herbaceous lignocellulosic biomass (Davis et al. 2021; Lin et al. 2021); (5) renewable diesel via HTL of a blend of algae (Davis and Klein, 2021) and woody biomass (Hartley et al. 2020); and (6) renewable diesel via combined algae processing (CAP) (Wiatrowski and Davis, 2021). This technical report focuses on the environmental performance of these six biofuel production pathways in their 2020 SOT cases. The results of these renewable hydrocarbon fuel pathways in these SCSA analyses update those for the respective 2019 SOT cases (Cai et al. 2020). They also provide an opportunity to examine the impact of technology improvements in both biomass feedstock production and biofuel production that have been achieved in 2020 SOTs on the sustainability performance of these renewable transportation fuels. The SCSA results also reflect updates to Argonne National Laboratory’s Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies (GREET®) model, which was released in October 2020 (Wang et al. 2020). These GREET updates include the production of natural gas, electricity, and petroleum-based fuels that can influence biofuels’ supply chain greenhouse gas (GHG) (CO 2 , CH 4 , and N 2 O) emissions, water consumption, and air pollutant emissions. GHG emissions, water consumption, and nitrogen oxides (NO x ) emissions are the main sustainability metrics assessed in this analysis. In this analysis, we define water consumption as the amount of water withdrawn from a freshwater source that is not returned (or returnable) to a freshwater source at the same level of quality. Life-cycle fossil energy consumption and net energy balance, which is the life-cycle fossil energy consumption deducted from the renewable biofuel energy produced, are also assessed.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2026

Technology Impact and Resource Assessment of Existing and Planned U.S. Biofuel Production: Life Cycle Water Consumption, Water Stress, Land Use, and Criteria Air Pollutants

Biofuels have the potential to strengthen the U.S. energy supply, enhance energy security, and promote economic development. As the United States continues to expand biofuel production, quantifying resource requirements and location-specific constraints is crucial for planning, siting, and technology development to support long-term viability. Accordingly, this work assesses the life cycle resource consumption (water consumption, and land use), water stress and criteria air pollutants associated with expanded U.S. biofuel production over the 2020–2035 period, based on producers’ plans. We perform a bottom-up technology impact assessment and resource assessment by integrating facility-level production statistics with Argonne’s Research and Development (R&D) GREET model and county-level water-stress characterization factors from Available Water Remaining for the United States (AWARE-US) model. Results suggest that by 2035, biofuels could meaningfully contribute to U.S. energy demand, driven primarily by first-generation and waste-based feedstocks with plans for substantial capacity expansion, although cellulosic and e-fuel technologies remain limited. However, growth must be managed to minimize impacts on water resources and land use. These impacts vary by fuel type and facility location, specifically, projected expansion increases water consumption and can elevate water-stress impacts in certain regions like Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Idaho, California and North Texas. Direct land use also increases overall, particularly for first-generation feedstocks such as corn and soybeans. These findings underscore the need for continued technological improvements and innovative strategies to manage resource demands as the industry scales and to support complementary deployment within the evolving U.S. energy system.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Mondo: integrating disease terminology across communities

Precision medicine aims to enhance diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis by integrating multimodal data at the point of care. However, challenges arise due to the vast number of diseases, differing methods of classification, and conflicting terminological coding systems and practices used to represent molecular definitions of disease. This lack of interoperability artificially constrains the potential for diagnosis, clinical decision support, care outcome analysis, as well as data linkage across research domains to support the development or repurposing of therapeutics. There is a clear and pressing need for a unified system for managing disease entities⁠—including identifiers, synonyms, and definitions. To address these issues, we created the Mondo disease ontology—a community-driven, open-source, unified disease classification system that harmonizes diverse terminologies into a consistent, computable framework. Mondo integrates key medical and biomedical terminologies, including Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM), Orphanet, Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), National Cancer Institute Thesaurus (NCIt), and more, to provide a comprehensive and accurate representation of disease concepts with fully provenanced and attributed links back to the sources. Mondo can be used as the handle for curation of gene–disease associations utilized in diagnostic applications, research applications such as computational phenotyping, and in clinical coding systems in clinical decision support by pointing the clinician to the numerous knowledge resources linked to the Mondo identifier. Mondo's community-centric approach, stewarded by the Monarch Initiative's expertise in ontologies, ensures that the ontology remains adaptable to the evolving needs of biomedical research and clinical communities, as well as the knowledge providers.

biomedical informatics↗

DOE OSTI2025

Polylactic acid (PLA)-based multifunctional and biodegradable nanocomposites and their applications

Polylactic acid (PLA)-based nanocomposites are emerging as multifunctional, biodegradable materials, offering sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. This review examines recent advancements in PLA nanocomposites, focusing on enhanced mechanical strength, thermal stability, and biodegradability achieved through nanofillers like metallic particles, carbon-based materials, and ceramics. Techniques such as in situ polymerization, melt mixing, and electrospinning enable application-specific improvements. PLA's limitations, including brittleness and low barrier properties, are addressed to support diverse applications: in packaging (e.g., extended shelf life), biomedicine (e.g., degradable implants), and electronics (e.g., flexible devices). Despite challenges with filler dispersion and thermal resistance, continued innovations expand PLA's potential across multiple industries, contributing to a sustainable, circular economy.

Biodegradable polymers↗

DOE OSTI2026

Tracing U.S. fuel life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions in a multi-sector dynamics model using LC-GCAM

Model-based analysis of fuel pathways is essential for informing energy and environmental policy. Two major model types are typically used: multi-sector dynamics models, which capture the broader energy-economy, such as GCAM (Global Change Analysis Model), and life cycle assessment models, such as GREET (Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation). Each has distinct strengths and limitations, and recent studies increasingly adopt hybrid approaches to harness the advantages of both. However, such integration is often time-consuming and complicated by inconsistencies in system boundaries and technology definitions. We present LC-GCAM, a new tool that enables estimation of life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions and primary energy use for any fuel pathway represented in GCAM. We apply LC-GCAM to 300 scenarios designed to explore key uncertainties affecting the life-cycle performance of future fuel options in the U.S. freight sector. To evaluate LC-GCAM, we compare its results with those from GREET for nine fuel types in a 2030 reference scenario. When input assumptions are modestly aligned, LC-GCAM and GREET estimates typically agree within 10% (absolute sum-based mean absolute percentage error). LC-GCAM offers a flexible and efficient approach to generating life-cycle metrics within an integrated modeling framework, supporting robust policy analysis across a wide range of interacting energy system uncertainties.

Wolfram, Paul↗

DOE OSTI2021

Stable Solid Electrolyte Interphase Layer Formed by Electrochemical Pretreatment of Gel Polymer Coating on Li Metal Anode for Lithium–Oxygen Batteries

Lithium (Li)-oxygen (O2) batteries (LOBs) exhibit the highest theoretical specific energy density among candidates of the next-generation energy storage systems, but the instability of Li metal anode (LMA), air electrode, and electrolyte largely limit the practical energy density of these batteries. Herein, we report an effective method to protect LMA against side reactions between LMA and crossover contaminants such as highly reactive oxygen moieties. A solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer rich in inorganic components was formed on a LMA coated with polyethylene oxide thin-film through an in-situ electrochemical pre-charging step under oxygen atmosphere. This uniformly distributed stiff SEI layer interacted with flexible polymer matrix and formed a submicron-sized gel-like polymer layer. This polymer supported SEI layer leads to much longer cycle life (130 vs. 65 cycles) as compared to those of pristine cell under the same testing conditions (1.0 mAh cm-2 at 0.2 mA cm-2 in the voltage range of 2 to 5 V without any catalysts). It is also very effective during low voltage (2 to 4.5 V) cycling with a redox mediator (0.1 and 0.15M (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl) oxidanyl). Therefore, this approach can be used to stabilize LMA/electrolytes interphase and improve the cycle life of rechargeable LOBs.

lithium-oxygen batteries, lithium metal anodes, ar↗

DOE OSTI2023

A Case Study of Tunable White LED Lighting with Networked Lighting Controls (Emory University Cognitive Empowerment Program)

Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) partnered to create the Charlie and Harriet Schaffer Cognitive Empowerment Program (CEP) facility in northeast Atlanta. Together with the funders they are building a program to help individuals experiencing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to maintain their physical and cognitive health, and independence as long as possible. In addition to applying effective strategies and therapies, the two research groups are investigating the responses of the MCI members to treatments that involve acoustical conditions, exercise and movement, and lighting changes that may support retention or relearning of skills. Care partners and family members receive support and instruction to improve home and work life, promoting joy, purpose, and wellness in the family groups. The lighting system uses tunable-white LEDs, employing luminaires with both warm and cool-color emitters that can be dimmed separately to produce any white correlated color temperature (CCT) between 2700 K and 6500 K. All luminaires were dimmable to achieve subdued or lively surroundings for different treatments, time-of-day, and mood. A central networked digital control system was employed to allow tuning of multiple spaces together (for example, bright, cool morning light could be programmed for extra stimulation, or lighting in all spaces at the end of the day could be reduced in both light output and CCT to promote relaxation and not interfere with the melatonin cycle of occupants). Almost all spaces were equipped with individual room control of dimming and color temperature with touch screens to allow users to tune the lighting as desired, but each room’s controls could also be specially programmed through the server in case the research staff were investigating lighting settings on learning, for example. The server incorporates a timeclock, and it is able to send signals to switch off all lighting after occupancy hours, or enable occupancy sensors to control the lighting. The bulk of the construction work was completed in January 2020. It was clear from an initial walk-through that although the lighting system produced the expected high light level with low-glare qualities of light, that there were issues and inconsistencies to be resolved. These were noted in an initial punchlist visit and expected to be resolved when the tech representatives from the agency visited with the electrical contractor in the following few weeks. What followed was 2.5 years of identifying unexpected lighting performance in terms of light output, color, scheduling, and occupancy. This report documents the issues encountered in the effort to get the lighting and controls systems to operate as intended. It concludes with guidance for design professionals and manufacturers to help avoid problematic complexity in future projects.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2023

SPERLU Selective Process for Efficient Removal of Lignin and Upgrading (Final Technical Report)

To meet the growing demand for bio-based chemicals and improve the profitability and efficiency of the emerging biorefinery industry, lignin is an abundant and attractive feedstock. Spero Renewables has developed a proprietary and patent-pending technology, the Selective Process for Efficient Removal of Lignin and Upgrading (SPERLU). The technology is a catalytic deconstruction and upgrading of lignin in lignocellulosic biomass or commercially available technical lignin to produce multi-functional phenol (MFP) products. The SPERLU process has been demonstrated and vetted on a lab scale to convert commercially available technical lignin to MFPs in yields of 60-90% (based on lignin). The MFP products can be separated and further upgraded through catalytic or biological means. Spero performed a detailed kinetic study of the SPERLU process and used the resulting kinetic data to design and construct a mini-pilot-scale reactor for routine production of hundreds of grams of MFP products. Spero’s lignin-based MFPs have been demonstrated for use as a drop-in replacement for bisphenol A (BPA) in the synthesis of thermoset polymers. Spero’s lignin-based thermoset polymers exhibit excellent mechanical properties and can be used in many applications. Additionally, a collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) was used to evaluate the feasibility of upgrading SPERLU products through biological means into valuable chemicals. A comprehensive technoeconomic analysis (TEA) and Life-cycle analysis (LCA) have been completed and support the case for commercialization of the SPERLU technology. Through this project Spero has significantly de-risked the SPERLU technology and is actively planning larger scale pilot projects.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Integration of Experimental Hydroprocessing and FCC Data with Process (Aspen Plus) and Refinery Optimization (Aspen PIMS) Models

NREL's Economic, Sustainability, and Market Analysis (ESMA) team develops process models in Aspen Plus to support techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life-cycle assessment (LCA) of conversion pathways from renewable and circular resources to fuels and chemicals. These tools are being applied to assess probable operational constraints or bottlenecks associated with refinery co-processing and repurposing opportunities. The team also utilizes optimizable refinery models to quantify opportunities for biofuel and bioproduct pathways through integration with existing refining infrastructure. The goals of analysis are to model the transition of refineries to renewable and circular feedstocks and quantify the costs production and CO2 abatement through utilization of existing refineries. At the core of the ESMA team's work is the process data derived from conversion experiments on hydroprocessing and fluid catalytic cracking performed at NREL. The objective of this presentation is to highlight new analysis approaches and capabilities in pathway analysis and refinery optimization modeling with specific emphasis on integration of experimental data.

BIOMASS FUELS,ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

DOE OSTI2020

Innovative Projects on RW Recycling from the French 'Investments for the Future' Program - 20023

The extent and duration of French dismantling operations require to anticipate at the earliest possible stage the management of the large volumes of radioactive waste that will be generated, and to engage collectively in sustainable innovation processes. To anticipate all constraints and requirements related to radioactive waste management and secure the long-term compatibility with waste disposals, the French State has decided to give to Andra, within the 'Investissements d'Avenir' program, an endowment to support innovation at all steps of radioactive waste life cycle with a special emphasis on the dismantling process. Currently, some 30 R and D projects dealing with the optimization of dismantling radioactive waste management are underway. They aim at providing strong innovations in terms of characterization, processing, conditioning and disposal of post dismantling radioactive waste. A specific focus will be made on those dealing with radioactive waste and radionuclides recycling. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

DOE OSTI2020

Life-Cycle Baseline Customization for the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program - 20304

One of the responsibilities of the federal government is to estimate sound and defensible life-cycle baseline costs for use in federal budget estimates and to meet federal financial reporting requirements. To accomplish this, the US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Legacy Management (LM) and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) have partnered together to ensure that the liabilities documented in each Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) site's life-cycle baseline are specifically tailored. FUSRAP was created in the mid-1970's to clean up radiological contamination resulting from the early development of nuclear weapons. DOE was responsible for FUSRAP until October 1997, when Congress transferred the administration and execution of FUSRAP site cleanups to USACE. By 1997, DOE had completed the cleanup of 25 of the 46 sites that were active within the program and had begun cleanup at 13 additional sites. USACE was assigned responsibility for the cleanup of the 21 remaining FUSRAP sites, and at 8 additional sites that had since been referred for cleanup. The LM mission for the FUSRAP sites is to perform long-term surveillance and maintenance (LTS and M). Currently, LM provides long-term stewardship for 34 completed FUSRAP sites. Another 20 sites are under active remediation by USACE. Within the last 5 years, USACE has completed the cleanup at five FUSRAP sites and the LTS and M responsibility has been transferred to LM. By 2029, USACE will compete remediation at eight additional sites and LTS and M for those sites will transfer to LM. Because responsibilities for the FUSRAP sites transfer between USACE and LM upon completion of remedial actions, both agencies maintain life-cycle baselines for different stages of the project and both must have a strong understanding of the needs and requirements for each site. This understanding ensures that the life-cycle baselines form a complete and accurate picture of what is required for the site and for the FUSRAP program. LM focuses on several things when customizing the life-cycle baseline estimates for the FUSRAP sites, including (1) Understanding the unique requirements for each site. By reviewing site-specific documents prepared by USACE, such as Feasibility Studies and Records of Decision, and partnering with USACE to gain additional insight about site conditions and requirements for stewardship, as well as potential risks, LM can better develop the life-cycle baselines. (2) Developing site-specific labor breakdowns. This ensures the required labor mix is baselined for specific activities by comparing the labor mix required to perform activities at (a) other LM-managed FUSRAP sites and (b) non-FUSRAP LM sites and (c) by USACE at active FUSRAP sites. (3) Taking a tiered approach to life-cycle baseline planning. Estimates for sites transferring to LM in the near term (5 years) are more definitive than for sites transferring in the out-year period. Remedial actions at the near-term sites are at or near completion, providing LM a strong understanding of the LTS and M requirements and remaining liabilities. This in turn allows for site-specific customization of the baseline. (4) Using a robust risk management approach to ensure that liabilities specific to each site are identified, evaluated by probability and severity, and documented in relation to the impact to cost or schedule. To ensure the most accuracy within all the baselines, the FUSRAP life-cycle baselines are updated as needed to support program, project, and contract management needs. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

DOE OSTI2022

Radiation Effects on Line Heat Detection Cable AP Hot Cells Fire Detection at Brookhaven National Laboratory

Hot cells are used to safely shield workers from high radiation environments while allowing a process to take place within the cell's shielded enclosure, often with the assistance of remote manipulators. The interior of a cell may not be accessible by personnel for years at a time, either due to the lingering radiation environment or due to the constant use of these specialized pieces of equipment. High radiation levels are known to cause undesirable effects and changes to different materials in varying degrees. Selecting equipment for a radiation environment requires an evaluation of materials used (preferably completed assembles), to ensure all interactions of materials are known and ensure that the equipment will have a high degree of reliability and functionality over the intended life of the facility. Hot cells contain systems to support the primary purpose of the enclosure. Fire detection is one such support system. Safety of hot cell operations often establish limits on the amounts of combustibles with the cells, but the presence of some combustible materials is unavoidable. Fire detection is provided to quickly detect a fire and summon manual intervention before damage is too great. Detection may also be used to initiate fire suppression systems. As a safety system, fire detection needs to remain functional to protect the facility throughout the facility's life. Equally important is that the false alarms from the fire detection are minimized to retain confidence in the alarm system and avoid unnecessary interruptions in the hot cell operations. There are many types of fire detection available with various pros and cons. Not all types of fire detection are suited for hot cell application.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗