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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 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Cost analysis of distributed storage in AC and DC microgrids

Building and microgrid designs with highly-distributed electrical storage have potential advantages over today's conventional topologies with centralized storage. Herein this paper studies the capital cost benefits of several residential behind-the-meter distributed-storage topologies, including AC and DC versions of systems with load-packaged batteries and resilient sub-networks. The study begins by defining the block configuration of each topology. This work then develops a model for the cost of the power electronics necessary to interface with the storage elements. Finally, the analysis develops a model for the total cost of each storage topology, incorporating the installation and soft costs. The results suggest that while the cost of power electronics is lower in centralized topologies, the total cost is lower for distributed storage due to the avoided costs of installation and permitting. This paper also explores the benefits of load-packaged batteries for savings in electrical infrastructure.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2023

A simple way to integrate distributed storage into a wholesale electricity market

Abstract Current plans to decarbonize the electric supply system imply that the generation from wind and solar sources will grow substantially. This growth will increase the uncertainty of system operations due to the inherent variability of these renewable sources, and as a result, more reserve capacity will be required to provide the ramping (flexibility) needed for reliable operations. This paper assumes that all of the increased uncertainty comes from wind farms on the grid, and it shows how distributed storage managed locally by aggregators can provide the ramping needed without introducing a separate market for flexibility. This can be accomplished when the aggregators minimize the expected daily cost of the energy purchased from the grid for their customers by submitting optimal bids into the wholesale market with high and low price thresholds for discharging and charging the storage. This model is illustrated using a stochastic multi-period security constrained optimal power flow together with realistic data for a reduction of the network in the Northeast Power Coordinating Council region of the United States. The results show that the bidding strategy for distributed storage provides ramping to the grid just as effectively as storage managed by a system operator.

Lamadrid, Alberto J.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Principled Schedulability Analysis for Distributed Storage Systems Using Thread Architecture Models

In this article, we present an approach to systematically examine the schedulability of distributed storage systems, identify their scheduling problems, and enable effective scheduling in these systems. We use Thread Architecture Models (TAMs) to describe the behavior and interactions of different threads in a system, and show both how to construct TAMs for existing systems and utilize TAMs to identify critical scheduling problems. We specify three schedulability conditions that a schedulable TAM should satisfy: completeness, local enforceability, and independence; meeting these conditions enables a system to easily support different scheduling policies. We identify five common problems that prevent a system from satisfying the schedulability conditions, and show that these problems arise in existing systems such as HBase, Cassandra, MongoDB, and Riak, making it difficult or impossible to realize various scheduling disciplines. We demonstrate how to address these schedulability problems using both direct and indirect solutions, with different trade-offs. To show how to apply our approach to enable scheduling in realistic systems, we develop Tamed-HBase and Muzzled-HBase, sets of modifications to HBase that can realize the desired scheduling disciplines, including fairness and priority scheduling, even when presented with challenging workloads.

Computer Science↗
DOE OSTI2024

Federated Access from DOE Labs to Distributed Storage in the EIC Era of Computing

The Electron Ion Collider (EIC) collaboration and future experiment is a unique scientific ecosystem within Nuclear Physics as the experiment starts right off as a crosscollaboration between Brookhaven National Lab (BNL) & Jefferson Lab (JLab). As a result, this muti-lab computing model tries at best to provide services accessible from anywhere by anyone who is part of the collaboration. While the computing model for the EIC is not finalized, it is anticipated that the computational and storage resources will be made accessible to a wide range of collaborators across the world. The use of federated ID seems to be a critical element to the strategy of providing such services, allowing seamless access to each lab site computing resources. However, providing Federated access to a Federated storage is not a trivial matter and has its share of technical challenges. In this contribution, we focus on the steps we took towards the deployment of a distributed object storage system that integrates with Amazon S3 and Federated ID. We will first cover for and explain the first stage storage solutions provided to the EIC during the detector design phase. Our initial test deployment consisted of Lustre storage using MinIO, hence providing an S3 interface. High Availability load balancers were added later to provide the initial scalability it lacked. Performance of that system will be shown. While this embryonic solution worked well, it had many limitations. Looking ahead, the Ceph object storage is considered a top-of-the-line solution in the storage community - since the Ceph Object Gateway is compatible with the Amazon S3 API out of the box, our next phase will use a native S3 storage. Our Ceph deployment will consist of erasure coded storage nodes to maximize storage potential along with multiple Ceph Object Gateways for redundant access. We will compare performance of our next stage implementations. Finally, we will present how to leverage OpenID Connect with the Ceph Object Gateway’s to enable Federated ID access. We hope this contribution will serve the community needs as we move forward with cross-lab collaborations and the need for Federated ID access to distributed compute facilities.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Storage Futures Study - Distributed Solar and Storage Outlook: Methodology and Scenarios

This presentation discusses the fourth report in NREL’s Storage Futures Study (SFS) publications. The SFS is a multiyear research project that explores the role and impact of energy storage in the evolution and operation of the U.S. power sector. The SFS is designed to examine the potential impact of energy storage technology advancement on the deployment of utility-scale storage and the adoption of distributed storage, and the implications for future power system infrastructure investment and operations. This report describes the expanded capabilities of the Distributed Generation Market Demand (dGen) model to analyze the economics of distributed (behind-the-meter) PV paired with battery storage systems and presents projections of adoption for the contiguous United States out to 2050 under a range of scenarios. These scenarios use technology cost and performance assumptions consistent with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s 2020 Standard Scenarios paired with updated battery cost projections and existing policies. Additional scenarios evaluate sensitivities to the value of backup power and DER compensation mechanisms, collectively characterizing the future potential for behind-the-meter storage and identifying key drivers of adoption. Adoption projections of DER and battery storage at high spatial and temporal resolution, as presented in this report, can enable informed planning of technical infrastructure that can help planners capture the benefits and mitigate challenges to support the ongoing trend toward distributed electricity generation.

backup power↗
DOE OSTI2025

Optimizing Distributed Energy Storage Sizing in Puerto Rico: Leveraging Increased Distributed Generation for Enhanced Resilience

Distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage systems (BESS) adoption has increased rapidly in Puerto Rico since Hurricane Maria in 2017 as customers seek local resilient energy solutions. To investigate how to best leverage these many distributed PV and BESS systems, in this paper, we introduce a modeling framework that can be used by entities planning resilience investments to provide insights about the sizing and operational needs to achieve desired resilience benefits.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2021

Systems and methods for randomized, packet-based power management of conditionally-controlled loads and bi-directional distributed energy storage systems

The present disclosure provides a distributed and anonymous approach to demand response of an electricity system. The approach conceptualizes energy consumption and production of distributed-energy resources (DERs) via discrete energy packets that are coordinated by a cyber computing entity that grants or denies energy packet requests from the DERs. The approach leverages a condition of a DER, which is particularly useful for (1) thermostatically-controlled loads, (2) non-thermostatic conditionally-controlled loads, and (3) bi-directional distributed energy storage systems. In a first aspect of the present approach, each DER independently requests the authority to switch on for a fixed amount of time (i.e., packet duration). The coordinator determines whether to grant or deny each request based electric grid and/or energy or power market conditions. In a second aspect, bi-directional DERs, such as distributed-energy storage systems (DESSs) are further able to request to supply energy to the grid.

Frolik, Jeff↗
DOE OSTI2022

Analysis of Distributed Energy Storage as a Core Grid Infrastructure via Production Cost Modeling

Energy storage plays a pivotal role in enabling power system operation with more flexibility and resilience. Unlike current practice that considers energy storages as attached ancillary devices, this paper focuses on storages as a core infrastructure by looking at their spatial distribution in the system. A sensitivity analysis based on production cost modeling is conducted to demonstrate the benefits of distributed energy storages. First, the modeling of energy storages in production cost modeling is presented. Second, potential optimal locations of distributed energy storages in a power system are discussed. Finally, multiple scenarios with various numbers and locations of additional distributed energy storages in the WECC 2030 model are created. The production cost modeling results of these scenarios show that distributed energy storages have higher utilization compared to the centralized ES units and therefore provide significantly more benefits in terms of reduction in generation cost, emission cost, and volatility of location marginal prices. A saturation effect is observed suggesting the selection of optimal locations will further improve the benefits.

Nguyen, Quan H.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Enhancing flexibility for climate change using seasonal energy storage (aquifer thermal energy storage) in distributed energy systems

Long-term energy storage is expected to play a vital role in the deep decarbonization of building energy sectors, while enhancing the flexibility of buildings to withstand future climate variations. However, it is challenging to design distributed multi-energy systems (DMES) while taking into account the uncertainties introduced by climate change, since stochastic optimization of such systems is difficult. The present study introduces a stochastic optimization model to address this bottleneck, taking into account DMES including aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) as the long-term thermal storage. For the first time, a novel optimization algorithm links ATES with the DMES optimization model with the support of a simplified geotechnical model. Subsequently, a case study was conducted, focusing on a residential district in Chicago where the impact of future climate condition, energy demand, and solar and wind energy potentials were evaluated using Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) data (up to 2080) and the EnergyPlus model. The study revealed that ATES is an attractive way to improve the renewable energy penetration level and minimize the dependence on fossil fuels with reasonable support from the grid to assist the fluctuations in both demand and generation. Furthermore, ATES notably reduces fuel consumption and dependence while greatly enhancing the flexibility of the energy system to withstand fluctuations in demand and renewable energy generation brought by future climate variations. These qualities will make ATES an important part of distributed energy systems, even though it is not currently the lowest cost alternative due to lack of technology maturity. Furthermore, the design platform introduced in the present study can be used to design DMES enhancing flexibility to accommodate future climate variations.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Estimating the impact of tariff-driven behind-the-meter storage operation on distribution grid investments

Increasing growth of distributed solar photovoltaics (PV) and electric vehicles (EV) can strain local distribution networks and require costly upgrades. Distributed battery storage, often deployed alongside PV, can be used to mitigate those costs, depending on how batteries are operated. This study evaluates the potential deferral value of distributed battery storage across a range of tariff structures, focusing on the rate structures most commonly available to residential customers today and related variants. Deferrals are evaluated with a least-cost distribution grid expansion optimization model to identify requirements on line reconductoring, transformer upgrades, and voltage regulator installations under each tariff. Results show that TOU rates and net billing tariffs can yield meaningful deferral value, depending on specific tariff structure features. Under the best performing tariff structure tested, storage produced a median annualized deferral value of $7.18 per kW of storage capacity ( kW S ) across all feeders in the sample, though deferral values were considerably larger for feeders with peak loads that coincide with utility system peak, i.e., timing of TOU peak period. In contrast, under an unrestricted TOU design with no restrictions on grid charging or discharging, the median deferral value was $0/ kW S illustrating the critical importance of tariff structure details.

Rodriguez-Garcia, Luis↗
DOE OSTI2025

Coordination of Energy Storage and Distributed Generation for Voltage Control and Peak-valley Filling

The increasing penetration of distributed energy resources (DERs) in distribution network (DN) poses challenges on voltage control. In addition, the growing integration of DERs also reshapes the traditional load profile. To comprehensively address the voltage control and peak-valley filling in DN, this paper proposes a model predictive control (MPC) based optimization framework. The proposed method can achieve coordinated voltage control and peak-valley filling by adjusting the reactive power output from distributed generations (DGs) and the charging/discharging of energy storage systems (ESS). The performance of the proposed method is demonstrated by simulations on a modified IEEE-123 bus system.

Zhang, Zhengfa [University of Tennessee, Knoxville↗
DOE OSTI2022

Storage Futures Study: Key Learnings for the Coming Decades

This report is the final in NREL's Storage Futures Study, a multiyear research project that explored the role and impact of energy storage in the evolution and operation of the U.S. power sector. The SFS examined the potential impact of energy storage technology advancement on the deployment of utility-scale storage and the adoption of distributed storage, and the implications for future power system infrastructure investment and operations. The research findings and supporting data were published across a series of six reports, culminating in this final, seventh publication that draws upon findings from across the study, previous work, and additional analysis to identify eight key learnings about the future of energy storage and its impact on the power system. The key learnings can help policymakers, technology developers, and grid operators prepare for the coming way of energy storage deployment.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Storage Futures Study: Key Learnings for the Coming Decades

The Storage Futures Study (SFS) is a multiyear research project that explored the role and impact of energy storage in the evolution and operation of the U.S. power sector. The SFS examined the potential impact of energy storage technology advancement on the deployment of utility-scale storage and the adoption of distributed storage, and the implications for future power system infrastructure investment and operations. The research findings and supporting data were published across a series of six reports, culminating in the final, seventh publication that draws upon findings from across the study, previous work, and additional analysis to identify eight key learnings about the coming decades. This presentation is from an NREL webinar to discuss the eight key learnings.

decarbonization↗
DOE OSTI2023

UnifyFS: A User-level Shared File System for Unified Access to Distributed Local Storage

We introduce UnifyFS, a user-level file system that aggregates node-local storage tiers available on high performance computing (HPC) systems and makes them available to HPC applications under a unified namespace. UnifyFS employs transparent I/O interception, so it does not require changes to application code and is compatible with commonly used HPC I/O libraries. The design of UnifyFS supports the predominant HPC I/O workloads and is optimized for bulk-synchronous I/O patterns. Furthermore, UnifyFS provides customizable file system semantics to flexibly adapt its behavior for diverse I/O workloads and storage devices. In this paper, we discuss the unique design goals and architecture of UnifyFS and evaluate its performance on a leadership-class HPC system. In our experimental results, we demonstrate that UnifyFS exhibits excellent scaling performance for write operations and can improve the performance of application checkpoint operations by as much as 3× versus a tuned configuration.

Brim, Michael↗
DOE OSTI2021

Distributed Solar and Storage Adoption Modeling

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is analyzing the rapidly increasing role of energy storage in the electrical grid through 2050 through its Storage Futures Study. In one phase of the study, NREL used the laboratory's Distributed Generation Market (dGen) model to examine the various future distributed storage capacity adoption scenarios, results, and implications.

agent-based modeling↗
DOE OSTI2022

Solid-State Transformer and Hybrid Transformer With Integrated Energy Storage in Active Distribution Grids: Technical and Economic Comparison, Dispatch, and Control

Solid-state transformer (SST) and hybrid transformer (HT) are promising alternatives to the line-frequency transformer (LFT) in smart grids. The SST features medium-frequency isolation, full controllability for voltage regulation, reactive power compensation, and the capability of battery energy storage system (BESS) integration with multiport configuration. The HT has a partially-rated converter for fractional controllability and can integrate a small BESS. Fast grid-edge voltage fluctuations from increased solar photovoltaic (PV) and electric vehicle (EV) penetration are difficult to manage for mechanical load tap changers. Hence, along with the trend towards more BESS in the grid, the controllability and the storage integration capability of the SST and HT are of strong interest. However, a review of literature shows existing SST and HT research is mostly at converter level, while system-level assessments are scarce. Assessing technical and economic impacts is critical to understanding the benefits and role of the SST and HT to guide future research, which is presented for the first time in this article. Experimental results from medium-voltage (MV) SST and MV HT prototypes are shown to confirm equipment-level feasibility, where the voltage controllability waveforms of a MV HT prototype are reported for the first time. Comparative simulations are performed on a modified IEEE 34-bus system. Here, a grid-model-less decentralized grid-edge voltage control method and a day-ahead BESS dispatch method are proposed for the SST and HT. The simulations show that the SST and HT with integrated storage can host more PV, achieve peak shaving, mitigate voltage fluctuation and reverse power flow, and support energy arbitrage for operational cost reduction, as compared to the LFT. Moreover, comprehensive analyses of net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR) are performed under different installed PV capacities, HT’s partial converter ratings, and BESS capacities. Sensitivities to future cost reductions of the PV and BESS are studied. Although the NPV and IRR are currently negative, 60% capital cost reduction or 150% revenue increase will make the SST and HT economically viable in the use case studied.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗