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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 145 records · Page 8
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DOE OSTI2024

Port Electrification Handbook: A Reference to Aid U.S. Port Energy Transitions

Port electrification can take many forms, such as electrifying cargo handling equipment or deploying a microgrid to power critical port infrastructure. To help evaluate the growing challenge of increased electrification and its impacts on the system, the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Electricity’s Microgrids R&D [research and development] program created this Port Electrification Handbook through a project led by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The goals of this handbook are the following: help port operators and planners evaluate different electrification technologies, explain how these technologies could aid and impact ports and surrounding communities, provide step-by-step considerations for port electrification.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2026

A Systematic Review on Coordinated Restoration Strategies for Power Distribution Grids

Power distribution grids are increasingly exposed to High-Impact Low-Probability (HILP) events, which cause widespread disruptions with severe societal and economic impacts. The growing complexity of modern grids, driven by the integration of distributed energy resources and smart grid technologies, has introduced new challenges to effective service restoration. While significant research has explored individual restoration strategies, such as network reconfiguration and microgrid formation, limited attention has been given to methods in which they can be effectively coordinated. Furthermore, the absence of systematic review papers addressing this issue hampers the development of cohesive restoration frameworks capable of addressing the operational complexities of modern grids. This paper presents a systematic review synthesizing existing knowledge on power grid restoration, identifying key limitations, and highlighting opportunities for coordinated strategies. By addressing research gaps and emphasizing the integration of diverse approaches, this study provides critical insights for advancing grid resiliency and recovery, offering a foundation for future research and practical applications in the face of HILP events.

Systematic review↗
DOE OSTI2024

Impact of Geothermal District Heating System on Flexibility of Microgrid in Tuttle, Oklahoma: Preprint

Flexibility is the capability of the power grid to maintain a balance between electricity generation and variable demand. This study presents preliminary results evaluating the impact of geothermal district heating systems on the flexibility of a conceptual microgrid in Tuttle, Oklahoma. Heating demand profiles were modeled using EnergyPlus for the district that includes two schools and 250 single-family houses. Then, geothermal energy production was modeled using GEOPHIRES to estimate how much heating demand in the district can be supplied by five different geothermal system scenarios. The results indicated that geothermal energy production varied depending on the resource temperature at different depths, system configurations, and flow rates. For the grid flexibility analysis, electricity consumptions in the five geothermal systems were estimated for pump operations to circulate water from the wells to radiators, while electricity consumption by air-source heat pump in the base case was estimated to supply the same heating load. Electricity consumption in the geothermal systems was significantly lower than those in base cases. The electricity saved by the geothermal system was then incorporated into the microgrid electrical load profiles where variable renewable electricity generation is significantly high. The results visually showed that geothermal district heating system can improve grid flexibility as a baseload during the winter season. The results also highlighted potential opportunities to save energy costs that will be further analyzed in future study.

Cambium↗
DOE OSTI2025

Impact of Geothermal District Heating System on Flexibility of Microgrid in Tuttle, Oklahoma

Flexibility is the capability of the power grid to maintain a balance between electricity generation and variable demand. This study presents preliminary results evaluating the impact of geothermal district heating systems on the flexibility of microgrid in Tuttle, Oklahoma. Heating demand profiles were modeled using EnergyPlus for the district that includes two schools and 250 single-family houses. Then, geothermal energy production was modeled using GEOPHIRES to estimate how much heating demand in the district can be supplied by five different geothermal system scenarios. The results indicated that geothermal energy production varied depending on the resource temperature at different depths, system configurations, and flow rates. For the grid flexibility analysis, electricity consumptions in the five geothermal systems were estimated for pump operations to circulate water from the wells to radiators, while electricity consumption by air-source heat pump in the base case was estimated to supply the same heating load. Electricity consumption in the geothermal systems was significantly lower than those in base cases. The electricity saved by the geothermal system was then incorporated into the microgrid electrical load profiles where variable renewable electricity generation is significantly high. The results visually showed that geothermal district heating system can improve grid flexibility as a baseload during the winter season. The results also highlighted potential opportunities to save energy costs that will be further analyzed in future study.

Cambium↗
DOE OSTI2024

Understanding Line Losses and Transformer Losses in Rural Isolated Distribution Systems

Rural, isolated power systems in the mainland U.S. and in states like Alaska and Hawaii are powered by assets like diesel generators. These rural, isolated power systems also cannot operate at the higher band of medium voltage (like 69kV). They are primarily in the 12 to 14 kV range to keep the cost of the distribution investments lower. Because of this mid-band medium voltage range, the line losses and distribution transformers losses consume significant diesel consumption (almost 10 percent of the peak load). This work considers one such power system powering an isolated system and presents key findings online losses, and transformer losses. Understanding and documenting the impacts is critical for these communities operating their power systems and take actions to reduce expensive diesel consumption. In this paper, we will present one such typical grid and model it in electromagnetic transients (EMT) domain. We used the tower structure, under ground cabling installation to develop high fidelity models of lines. We also used high fidelity models of distribution transformers to present the no-load losses and full load loses. We will also present technical solutions available commercially off-the-shelf to reduce these losses and reduce diesel consumption. This work will be a primer for communities to understand the technical challenges and to understand the possible solution available to solve such challenges for rural, isolated power system operators.

blackstart↗
DOE OSTI2026

Science Uses Deployment Operations-Advanced Wireless: Exploring Open Radio Access Network Technologies for Energy Science

Open Radio Access Network is emerging as a solution to the increasing demand for more flexible, cost-effective, and advanced mobile network infrastructures. This evolution is driven by advancements in wireless technologies and the growing complexity of deploying and managing these networks. O-RAN represents a significant shift in wireless technology, building upon the 3rd Generation Partnership Project framework to foster openness, flexibility, and interoperability. By decoupling hardware and software components, Open Radio Access Network enables a multi-vendor ecosystem that encourages innovation and diverse solutions. Open Radio Access Network's potential extends beyond traditional wireless applications, with growing interest in its role in advancing energy systems, particularly in the context of smart grids, microgrids, and the integration of renewable energy sources. While the role of open-wireless technologies in driving energy transformation is increasingly recognized, further exploration is needed. Vendors and utilities are investigating how Open Radio Access Network technologies can optimize energy use cases and improve the performance of 5G and beyond applications. This report outlines efforts under the Science Uses Deployment Operations Advance Wireless project, a collaboration between the National Laboratory of the Rockies' Cybersecurity Research Center, Argonne National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the Department of Energy's Energy Science Network research and operations staff. The focus of this project is on due diligence, through testing and evaluation, preparing for the deployment of advanced wireless infrastructure for scientific use cases, with an emphasis on Open Radio Access Network technology, its components, integrations, and its ability to support vertical stack application across the energy sector. Additionally, the report highlights the value cases for utilities, underscoring how adopting open wireless standards can accelerate the evolution of energy systems, foster innovation, and improve the integration of critical energy technologies.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2024

Improved microgrid resiliency through distributionally robust optimization under a policy-mode framework

Critical energy infrastructure are constantly under stress due to the ever increasing disruptions caused by wildfires, hurricanes, other weather related extreme events and cyber-attacks. Hence it becomes important to make critical infrastructure resilient to threats from such cyber-physical events. However, such events are hard to predict and numerous in nature and type and it becomes infeasible to make a system resilient to every possible such cyber-physical event. Such an approach can make the system operation overly conservative and impractical to operate. Furthermore, distributions of such events are hard to predict and historical data available on such events can be very sparse, making the problem even harder to solve. To deal with these issues, in this paper we present a policy-mode framework that enumerates and predicts the probability of various cyber-physical events and then a distributionally robust optimization (DRO) formulation that is robust to the sparsity of the available historical data. The proposed algorithm is illustrated on an islanded microgrid example: a modified IEEE 123-node feeder with distributed energy resources (DERs) and energy storage. Simulations are carried to validate the resiliency metrics under the sampled disruption events.

Nazir, Mohammad Nawaf↗
DOE OSTI2025

Decoding the Desorption Mechanism of 2LiH:1Mg(NH2)2 Using Metal Borohydrides

The complex metal hydride 2LiH:1Mg­(NH2)2 has emerged as a promising material for stationary hydrogen storage applications, such as seasonal storage or energy backup systems, due to its high volumetric and gravimetric capacities and robust reversibility. However, its widespread adoption is hindered by sluggish reaction rates, performance degradation upon cycling, and improper end-use cases. To address these problems and better understand the desorption pathway, we used metal borohydrides (MBH4; M = Li–Cs) as chemical probes. A thorough analysis of the bulk behavior of all six materials, including hydrogen cycling experiments, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, FTIR, pXRD, solid-state NMR, and ab initio DFT simulations, shows that the borohydride additives decrease the activation energy of hydrogen release by about 20 kJ/mol for MBH4@2:1 materials versus pristine. Furthermore, more surface-sensitive studies show that the amide-to-imide desorption pathway in these materials, while essentially complete in the bulk, is incomplete in the near-surface region, suggesting an “inverse core–shell” desorption mechanism for amide dehydrogenation to imide. The kinetic enhancements produced by MBH4 additives (M = K, Rb, and Cs) are attributed to the destabilization of the amide N–H bond and interaction with the LiH/Mg­(NH2)2 interface to promote H–H bond formation. An inverse core-shell mechanism is also operative in the hydrogen desorption for the 2LiH:1LiNH2 system, suggesting this may be a general feature of amides. Given the fast dehydrogenation rate and large gravimetric capacity, these materials satisfy these requirements for telecom backups and seasonal microgrid storage applications.

Absorption↗
DOE OSTI2026

Performance Evaluation of a Microgrid System with Grid-Forming and Grid-Following Inverters with Diesel Generators: Insights From Hardware Experiments

This paper presents a comprehensive performance evaluation of a microgrid system integrating grid-forming (GFM) inverters, grid-following (GFL) inverters, and a diesel generator, focusing on their interactions and behavior under various dynamic events. The study is conducted using a pure hardware setup comprising two GFM inverters, one GFL inverter, a diesel generator, load banks, a point of common coupling (PCC), and an emulated main grid. The evaluation specifically examines dynamic scenarios, including voltage jumps, phase jumps, rate of change of frequency (ROCOF), synchronization, and islanding operations, which pose critical challenges to system stability. Among all the tests conducted, the overloading and phase jump tests proved to be the most challenging. The capacity of the DC side is crucial for withstanding overloading and grid disturbance tests; otherwise, GFM inverters frequently trip due to DC undervoltage. Throughout all grid disturbance tests, the diesel generator consistently stands out as the most robust and reliable GFM unit in the system. Overall, insights from these hardware experiments shed light on the response characteristics of different generation types during grid disturbances and identify potential stability concerns in such hybrid microgrid systems.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Distributed Coordination of Networked Microgrids for Voltage Support in Bulk Power Grids

The increasing deployment of distributed energy resources (DERs) and microgrids (MGs) in power distribution systems has enabled the adjustment of reactive power consumption as seen at the substation, which can be used to provide voltage support for the bulk power system (BPS). Leveraging this new capability will provide greater resiliency to the power system as a whole. Here, the goal of this paper is to develop and compare three different algorithms, namely distributed optimal power flow, distributed consensus algorithm, and fully decentralized collaborative autonomy for unbalanced distribution systems for microgrid coordination. These algorithms use networked MGs to support the BPS voltage when a contingency at the bulk grid results in abnormally low voltages, which may be a precursor to voltage collapse. Our comparative analysis includes both qualitative and quantitative assessments of the three algorithms and a discussion of the trade-offs between the decentralized and distributed methods in normal and disrupted conditions. Each algorithm was evaluated on the modified IEEE 13-bus system and a real power distribution system at Chattanooga, Tennessee, that encompasses more than 4500 buses. Each algorithms excels differently and may be suited for different scenarios depending on the condition, operations, and priorities of the power and communication systems.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2024

DC Microgrid Reliability Enhancement with Adaptive Converter Thermal Management

Due to the different device selections, aging levels, and thermal dissipation performance, some converters may take additional thermal stress on switching devices than others in paralleled converter systems, which will reduce system reliability. To address this problem, this paper proposes a power-sharing strategy with adaptive thermal management. First, the temperature-based power loss model and electrical-thermal model are established. Based on that, a high-accuracy IGBT junction temperature estimate considering the power loss-temperature coupling can be achieved. Further, the thermal-sharing for all the switching devices in paralleled converters can be achieved with the proposed adaptive thermal management strategy. The proposed strategy can change the power-sharing ratio adaptively according to the system operation conditions, which will contribute to the system reliability enhancement. The effectiveness of the proposed strategy is verified through PLECS thermal simulation and joint real-time simulation with Dspace and RT-box.

DC microgrid↗
DOE OSTI2026

Grid Forming and Following Background, Future, and Strategies

The landscape of the U.S. power structure with respect to microgrid configuration strategies that utilize grid forming and grid following converters is becoming relevant. Inverter based control and coordination strategies are every changing due to critical failures and limitations. Understanding current state of grid forming and following converter technology and their normal operational guidelines will lead into the next stage of future research. Grid forming and following converter control strategies and ratio of assets review two case studies to develop an understanding of the current landscape.

29 - ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Self-Aware Local Autonomous and Semi-Cooperative Control for Cross-Layered Resilience (SLAC3R)

The objective of this work is to develop and demonstrate novel, adaptive, lightweight algorithms that enable the decision-making agents in a large cyber-physical network to act both autonomously and in collaborative harmony to enforce assured resilience across spatiotemporal layers, even under unforeseen adversarial scenarios (e.g., high- impact-low-probability events). Towards this end, the proposed solution will serve as minimally invasive add-on layers that bridge the existing (faster, reactive) local myopic controls and (slower, predictive) centralized optimization. Importantly, the proposed algorithms will enable the multi-agent network to autonomously and collaboratively enforce resilient operation under no or limited communication environment typical of severe cyber- physical adversarial events. The expected outcome of this effort is a suite of prototype, open-source, software algorithms for safety-aware local autonomous and semi-cooperative control (SLAC3R), demonstrated on networked microgrids (via RD2C/Thrust-1 OPAL-RT testbed).

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Klickitat Valley Health Central Utility Plant Modernization

This project replaced legacy heating and cooling equipment at Klickitat Valley Health (KVH), a rural hospital in Goldendale, Washington. Work included constructing a new chiller building, installing modern hydronic piping systems, replacing the main Emergency Department air handler (Air Handlining Unit (AHU-1)), upgrading electrical systems, and converting the Emergency Department wing from electric reheat to hydronic heating and cooling. Commissioning, testing, adjusting, and balancing were completed under this grant. These upgrades improve energy efficiency, operational resilience, and system reliability while preparing the campus for future electrification and renewable energy integration. They also support growth in healthcare services for a rural population. The project directly reduces energy costs and provides a foundation for future decarbonization measures, including a FEMA-funded microgrid and a large-scale ground source heat pump (GSHP) project. These follow-on initiatives would not have been possible without the hydronic backbone built through this project.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2026

Techno-Economic Assessment of Data Center Load Demand Powered by Small Modular Reactors and Distributed Energy Resources

The rapid increase in data center energy demand, driven by AI and large-scale data processing, poses significant challenges to global energy infrastructure. Data centers require substantial and reliable energy for continuous operations and high-performance computing. Current electrical grids face issues such as transmission bottlenecks and aging infrastructure, making it difficult to meet these demands. Integrating inverter-based-resources (IBRs) like solar and wind presents both opportunities and challenges due to their intermittent nature. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) offer a promising solution with their enhanced safety, modularity, reliability, and scalability, providing consistent base load power ideal for data center operations. This study presents a comprehensive techno-economic assessment of powering data center load demand using a combination of SMRs and IBRs with grid-connected and islanded mode. This study utilized Idaho National Laboratory’s (INL) HPC data center hourly load profiles and Xendee microgrid optimization platform to conduct the analysis. In this configuration, SMRs serves as the primary base load power source, consistently providing a steady supply of electricity necessary to meet the minimum load demand of the data center with support from the IBRs. Key performance indicators such as Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE), Net Present Value (NPV) has been calculated to assess the economic feasibility. The findings from this research will underscore the strategic benefits of integrating SMR plant with DERs – particularly for critical infrastructure load such as data centers.

14 - SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Advanced District Energy Controls for Improved Efficiency and Resilience

District energy (DE) systems have efficiently provided heat and cooling to buildings in the US for over a century by leveraging economies of scale through shared generation assets. However, optimizing DE boiler and chiller plants is complex due to the intricate mix of equipment and multiple operating flows. Sophisticated controls are necessary to achieve highest efficiencies.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2024

Operation of Grid Forming Converters as Self Excited Induction Generators Under Non-Ideal Loading Conditions

Self-excited induction generators offer a robust solution for power production for standalone as well as grid-connected systems. In general, self-excited induction generators require excitation capacitors which make use of the machine magnetization characteristics for voltage build up process as well as operation at a specific frequency. In this paper, a self-excited induction machine is modeled with both the electrical and mechanical dynamics. This modeled virtual machine's dynamics are utilized for voltage build up process for a standalone photovoltaic converter connected to a local load for a microgrid application. The modeled machine's parameters are used from the name plate rating from the manufacturer. However, in a microgrid the accommodation of unbalanced and/or nonlinear harmonic rich load is a necessity, therefore, in this work the virtual self-excitation capacitors of the modeled machine are varied based on the machine characteristics. With the objective of ensuring harmonic free point of common coupling voltage, the modeled virtual self-excitation capacitors are varied to accomplish change in terminal frequency and the virtual load torque is varied to obtain voltage magnitude change. To verify the efficacy, the overall system is modeled in MATLAB/Simulink and PLECS domain and most important case studies are presented.

grid forming converters (GFM)↗
DOE OSTI2025

Unified Universal Control and Coordination of Inverter-Based Resources, and Validation for a PV + Battery Hybrid Plant

As renewable energy deployment grows, hybrid power plants (HPPs) combining photovoltaic (PV) and battery systems must evolve to offer both energy and grid stability services. These systems typically include a mix of grid-following (GFL) and grid-forming (GFM) inverters, presenting unique coordination and control challenges. This Department of Energy–funded project developed and validated a Unified Universal Control and Coordination (UUCC) framework for such PV + battery hybrid plants, enabling seamless and stable operation, including ultrafast black start, autonomous synchronization, and robust frequency and voltage regulation, under different grid conditions. The project significantly advanced the understanding of inverter-based resource (IBR) control by developing and validating three complementary system-level approaches for hybrid GFL/GFM operation: 1. A combined Virtual Resistance (VR)-based GFL and Virtual Oscillator Control (VOC)-based GFM method, where each inverter type is governed by a specialized control strategy. Together, these achieve stable, fast-response coordination, eliminating inrush current and enabling smooth black start and grid synchronization across a wide range of grid strengths. 2. A Deadbeat-based UUCC strategy, which uses discrete-time, switching-cycle-level control for both GFL and GFM inverters. This approach replaces traditional PI/PLL control with a control parameter-free, high-bandwidth framework that supports stable LVRT and instantaneous synchronization under all conditions. 3. A benchmark comparison with Siemens’ commercial GFM microgrid controller, which provided a fast baseline platform. The commercial approach decoupled v & f control was implemented on a commercial microgrid controller.The baseline commercial benchmark helped highlight superior transient response and black start performance offered by the deadbeat and VOC approaches. These technical contributions offer substantial improvements over conventional inverter control schemes, which often rely on slow phase-locked loop (PLL)-based synchronization, require careful control parameters tuning, and prone to unstable in weak grids with GFL inverters and in stiff grid with GFM inverters therefore challenging for hybrid GFL+GFM under all grid conditions. The deadbeat-based UUCC framework enables simpler, faster, and more robust operation of hybrid IBR systems using wide-bandgap (WBG) devices such as SiC power semiconductors. The rapid expansion of hybrid distributed energy resources (DERs), including residential and commercial PV-BESS installations such as Tesla Powerwall, PV with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capability, and other integrated configurations, presents complex operational challenges for medium-voltage radial distribution feeders. These networks are subject to frequent disturbances such as faults, switching operations, rapid reclosing sequences, and feeder reconfigurations, all of which introduce dynamic stress on IBRs. In addition, planned feeder segmentation and deliberate islanding for resilience will require DERs that can autonomously perform blackstart, establish voltage and frequency references, and resynchronize with the main grid. The advanced deadbeat-based UUCC control and blackstart functionalities developed in this project directly address these requirements, enabling decentralized and autonomous operation of inverter-dominated DERs in distribution systems under a wide range of fault and reconfiguration scenarios. From a public benefit perspective, these innovations enable more reliable and cost-effective integration of renewable energy into distribution networks. The ability to autonomously black start and stabilize grids under varying grid conditions support accelerates recovery from outages and support decentralized resilient energy systems. By reducing system complexity and improving performance, this project lays critical groundwork for future inverter-dominated power grids that are clean, reliable, and accessible to all.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗