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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 OSTI2024

Climate change and its influence on water systems increases the cost of electricity system decarbonization

The electric sector simultaneously faces two challenges: decarbonization to mitigate, and adaptation to manage, the impacts of climate change. In many regions, these challenges are compounded by an interdependence of electricity and water systems, with water needed for hydropower generation and electricity for water provision. Here, we couple detailed water and electricity system models to evaluate how the Western Interconnection grid can both adapt to climate change and develop carbon-free generation by 2050, while accounting for interactions and climate vulnerabilities of the water sector. We find that by 2050, due to climate change, annual regional electricity use could grow by up to 2% from cooling and water-related electricity demand, while total annual hydropower generation could decrease by up to 23%. To adapt, we show that the region may need to build up to 139 GW of additional generating capacity between 2030 and 2050, equivalent to nearly thrice California's peak demand, and could incur up to $\$$150 billion (+7%) in extra costs.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Getting brighter: Impacts of improved day-ahead solar forecasts in high-solar, high-storage electricity systems

This paper analyzes the impacts of improved day-ahead solar forecasts on costs and dispatch in the solar-rich Southeast U.S. It uses an optimized high-solar, high-storage resource portfolio in which solar generation capacity accounts for 45 % of total installed capacity (34 %–36 % of generation) and energy storage capacity (43 GW) is equivalent to 33 % of peak demand. In a base scenario, improved day-ahead solar forecasts reduce production costs by $\$87$ million per year ($\$0.13$ per MWh load, $2023$$). This level of savings is within the range or lower than earlier studies of solar forecast improvements at lower levels of solar generation (<25 % of total generation). In this study, solar expansion was accompanied by two important sources of flexibility for managing solar forecast error: energy storage and day-ahead solar curtailment. Furthermore, the analysis finds that regional coordination complements day-ahead solar forecast improvements while natural gas commitment flexibility is a substitute for forecast improvements, as the improved solar forecast leads to sub-optimal commitment of thermal units. Day-ahead solar forecast improvements reduce reserves required to manage forecast error by 30 %. Fewer reserves to manage large, infrequent solar forecast errors could be an important benefit of improved solar forecasts.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1964

Snap-8 electrical system.

Snap-8 electrical system and design modifications incorporated early in 1963, including alternator and pump motor changes

NUCLEAR-ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY↗
DOE OSTI2025

An interregional optimization approach for time series aggregation in continent-scale electricity system models

Modeling electric power systems with high shares of weather-dependent resources requires tradeoffs between temporal, spatial, and operational resolution. Many studies perform time series aggregation using clustering algorithms to reduce the temporal dimension, but when modeling continent-scale electricity systems that are large enough to contain multiple independent weather systems, this approach requires large numbers of representative periods to minimize errors in regional wind and solar capacity factors. Here, a new optimization-based approach for representative period selection and weighting is introduced that minimizes regional errors in average renewable capacity factors and electricity demand. The method delivers higher regional fidelity with fewer representative periods than alternative clustering methods when applied to wind, solar, and demand profiles for the contiguous United States. When representative periods are selected from multiple weather years, the optimized method reproduces regional averages with lower error than a complete 365-day time series from any single weather year. The method identifies only representative (as opposed to outlying) periods but can be combined with an iterative "stress period" identification approach to guide efficient decision-making considering both average and high-risk weather conditions.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Interconnected Risks in Electricity Systems: Understanding Research Challenges, Needs, and Partnerships

The U.S. federal government has a potential role in mitigating the most poorly addressed risks across electricity markets and interdependent systems. Electricity system risks stem from extreme acute shocks (e.g., cyberattacks, extreme weather, and supply chain disruptions) and chronic stressors (e.g., global economic competition, uncertainties surrounding emerging technologies, climate change, and related conflicts). These acute shocks and chronic stressors can result in dire consequences for society, underscoring the need for better information for decision makers in both public and private sectors. Best practices and a shared understanding of risk management and risk quantification must be rapidly developed and disseminated. Informed by a quantitative treatment of risk to electrical infrastructure and interdependent systems, decision makers can more prudently and efficiently prioritize mitigation initiatives to maximize benefits to government, businesses, and the public.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2024

Application of Banking Scoring and Rating for Coherent Risk Measures in Electricity Systems ABSCORES

This project developed a framework for asset and system risk management that can be incorporated into current electricity system operations to improve economic efficiency and establish an Electric Assets Risk Bureau. We leveraged scoring and ratings from banking and financial institutions alongside current optimization methods in dispatching power systems to help system operators and electricity markets schedule resources. This approach is based on the observation that there are major discrepancies between the power scheduled by a system operator and the actual power generated/consumed. These discrepancies—exacerbated by unplanned contingencies (e.g., natural disasters)—are caused by multiple factors, including the different financial, environmental and risk preferences of power producers, consumers, and aggregators. We developed a framework that counteracts two failures in electricity system operations: imperfect information and missing markets for products. The technical approach included five tasks. Tasks 1 and 2 supported the development of risk scores at the asset level with historical data collected for this project. Tasks 3, 4, and 5 incorporated scoring into decision-making at the system level. The proposed effort achieved PERFORM's Program Objectives because the proposed outputs and algorithms do not exist in the electricity industry and are an innovative approach to managing risk. Since the acknowledged need to better assess and act upon risk profiles for grid assets has not been met by the industry, this project will also impact ARPA-E's Mission Areas, including improving energy efficiency and giving the U.S. a technological lead in advanced energy technologies.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
NASA NTRS2019

Evaluation of Electrical System Requirements for Implementing Turbine Electrified Energy Management

Turbine Electrified Energy Management (TEEM) is a concept concerned with the management of energy in an electrified propulsion system. The management of energy in the hybrid-electric architecture has potential to benefit the turbomachinery and the aircraft it powers. The concept is particularly useful for improving operability during transient operation and could be leveraged to design a better performing engine. The concept utilizes electric machines coupled to the engine shafts and an electric power distribution system that includes energy storage. A controller is used to decide when and how energy is moved around the electrified propulsion system, particularly when considering energy conversion between mechanical and electrical forms. Prior work has shown that the electric machines can be used to supply/or extract supplemental power to/from the engine shafts to improve their operability and achieve or enable propulsion efficiency and performance benefits. However, the previous studies did not consider the practical constraints of the electrical machines and energy storage devices that are required for implementing the TEEM system architecture concept. This paper presents an integrated engine and electrical system model that is used to evaluate the electrical system requirements. The model captures the physics of the conceptual, Advanced Geared Turbofan 30,000lbf (AGTF30) engine, which features advanced technologies such as a compact gas turbine and a variable area fan nozzle. For this work, the engine is augmented with electrical system components that allow for the implementation of the TEEM concept. The evaluation presented suggests the potential of the TEEM concept to provide performance benefits for a turbofan engine.

hybrid electric propulsion↗
NASA NTRS2019

Evaluation of Electrical System Requirements for Implementing Turbine Electrified Energy Management

Turbine Electrified Energy Management (TEEM) is a concept concerned with the management of energy in an electrified propulsion system. The management of energy in the hybrid-electric architecture has potential to benefit the turbomachinery and the aircraft it powers. The concept is particularly useful for improving operability during transient operation and could be leveraged to design a better performing engine. The concept utilizes electric machines coupled to the engine shafts and an electric power distribution system that includes energy storage. A controller is used to decide when and how energy is moved around the electrified propulsion system, particularly when considering energy conversion between mechanical and electrical forms. Prior work has shown that the electric machines can be used to supply/or extract supplemental power to/from the engine shafts to improve their operability and achieve or enable propulsion efficiency and performance benefits. However, the previous studies did not consider the practical constraints of the electrical machines and energy storage devices that are required for implementing the TEEM system architecture concept. This paper presents an integrated engine and electrical system model that is used to evaluate the electrical system requirements. The model captures the physics of the conceptual, Advanced Geared Turbofan 30,000lbf (AGTF30) engine, which features advanced technologies such as a compact gas turbine and a variable area fan nozzle. For this work, the engine is augmented with electrical system components that allow for the implementation of the TEEM concept. The evaluation presented suggests the potential of the TEEM concept to provide performance benefits for a turbofan engine.

electrified↗
NASA NTRS1972

Shock and vibration technology with applications to electrical systems

A survey is presented of shock and vibration technology for electrical systems developed by the aerospace programs. The shock environment is surveyed along with new techniques for modeling, computer simulation, damping, and response analysis. Design techniques based on the use of analog computers, shock spectra, optimization, and nonlinear isolation are discussed. Shock mounting of rotors for performance and survival, and vibration isolation techniques are reviewed.

Eshleman, R. L.↗