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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 OSTI2025

Net Present Value Optimization of a Natural Gas Combined Cycle Plant with CO 2 Capture using a Water-Lean Solvent Considering Transient Electricity Price for Multiple Regions

Global CO 2 emissions are increasing at about a 1.5% rate per year. Fossil fuel-based plants are one of the main contributors to this rise. In the power generation industry, fossil fuel plants are dominant, and many plants are under development. In this study, a natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) power plant with postcombustion capture using a leading water-lean solvent is considered. For optimal design and operating schedule, large-scale dynamic optimization is undertaken for net present value (NPV) optimization. The first principle dynamic model of NGCC is developed, including a model of the highly efficient H-class gas turbines. For computational tractability of the dynamic optimization problem, a reduced-order model is developed by using the Hankel singular value decomposition. A waterlean solvent, N-(2-ethoxyethyl)-3-morpholinopropan-1-amine, is used for carbon capture. A model of the capture system is developed in Aspen Plus, which is used to develop a reduced-order model by using ALAMO, a machine learning software. In addition, a reduced model of the CO 2 compression system with a dehydration unit is also considered. The integrated system is used for NPV optimization by using the Python-based PYOMO platform. The PCC process is analyzed for three configurations-conventional packed bed, rotating packed bed (RPB), and a combination of RPB and direct contact cooler. The NPV optimization is performed for 14 regional markets by considering year-long clustered and continuous locational marginal price data with a 1 h interval. Optimization results show that the PCC can achieve 90% CO 2 capture with a positive NPV for six regions. Sensitivity studies conducted by using the PCC configurations indicate that the process is economically feasible for 9 regions out of 14 regional electricity markets with NPV values in the range of 33−540 $MM.

cabon capture↗
NASA NTRS2007

Application of Risk within Net Present Value Calculations for Government Projects

In January 2004, President Bush announced a new vision for space exploration. This included retirement of the current Space Shuttle fleet by 2010 and the development of new set of launch vehicles. The President's vision did not include significant increases in the NASA budget, so these development programs need to be cost conscious. Current trade study procedures address factors such as performance, reliability, safety, manufacturing, maintainability, operations, and costs. It would be desirable, however, to have increased insight into the cost factors behind each of the proposed system architectures. This paper reports on a set of component trade studies completed on the upper stage engine for the new launch vehicles. Increased insight into architecture costs was developed by including a Net Present Value (NPV) method and applying a set of associated risks to the base parametric cost data. The use of the NPV method along with the risks was found to add fidelity to the trade study and provide additional information to support the selection of a more robust design architecture.

Grandl, Paul R.↗
DOE OSTI2022

A Review of Non-Regulatory Energy Efficiency Measures in the United States

Increasing energy efficiency is ubiquitous in many economies, and several mechanisms for achieving this increase, from mandatory policies to voluntary initiatives, have been proposed and implemented. In the United States, the Department of Energy, during the development of its energy conservation standard rules, evaluates the benefits from several of these mechanisms. In this report, we review how estimates of benefits from two types of voluntary energy efficiency initiatives – rebates and voluntary energy efficiency targets (VETs) – compare to the same benefits estimated for minimum energy efficiency standards (MEPS) established in the United States for residential appliances, commercial and industrial equipment, and lighting applications (referred to simply as “products” for the remainder of this report) between 2010 and 2020. Our results show that, overall, these two voluntary measures are estimated to provide, altogether, 36% of the total energy savings estimated to be provided by new efficiency standards, with a total net-present value that corresponds to 52% of the net-present value estimated for standards. When considering all energy conservation rules reviewed in this report, the energy savings a rebate program is estimated to achieve ranges from less than 1% to 86% of the savings from new standards set for the same type of product and at the same level of energy efficiency. As for VETs, the energy savings range from less than 1% to 78% of the savings from standards. Results vary widely across types of products due to (a) the relevance of the monetary incentive relative to incremental upfront costs considered for each type of product, and (b) the estimated level of market barriers associated with each type of product. While voluntary energy efficiency initiatives are not as effective as MEPS in transforming the market and raising the bar of energy efficiency for energy consuming goods in an economy, when applied in tandem with MEPS they can be powerful instruments for promoting and increasing energy efficiency in the economy.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Deep Learning for Modeling Enhanced Geothermal Systems

Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) offer a vast potential to expand the use of geothermal energy. Heat is extracted from this engineered system by injecting cold water into a subsurface fractures, which are in contact with the hot dry rock, and pulled through the production wells. Creating EGS requires improving the natural permeability of hot crystalline rocks. To develop economically viable EGS reservoirs, significant technical barriers (e.g., better stimulation technologies without adequate water and/or permeability) and non-technical barriers (e.g., land access and permitting) must be overcome. In this short conference paper, we present a workflow to address a part of this challenge – “How to develop economically viable EGS using existing technologies?”. Our workflow called the GeoThermalCloud (GTC) for EGS, leverages recent advances in machine learning, deep learning, and cloud computing. This GTC framework is open-source and available at https://github.com/SmartTensors/GeoThermalCloud.jl. The GTC framework provides trained deep learning (DL) models to estimate the net present value of a given EGS design scenario. The Geothermal Design Tool (https://github.com/GeoDesignTool/GeoDT.git), a fast and simplified multi-physics solver, is used to develop a database for training DL models. The database consists of EGS design parameters (inputs to DL model) and their net present value (output of DL model) in uncertain geologic systems. The EGS design parameters for constructing this training database are based on Utah FORGE but include the options of more wells and deeper depths. The DL models are trained by ingesting the EGS design parameters and estimating the corresponding net present value. Such an emulation allows us to screen various EGS designs quickly and identify good development strategies by coupling them with optimization techniques. Our preliminary results show promise in DL emulation of net present value. However, a lot more work is needed to improve the predictive capability of DL models (i.e., extensive hyperparameter tuning is necessary). This will be the primary focus of our future work.

artificial neural networks, geothermal↗
DOE OSTI2025

Prospects for silvicultural enhancement of fire resistance in mesic westside forests of the Pacific Northwest

Increasing wildfire activity in mesic, temperate Pacific Northwest forests west of the Cascade Range crest has stimulated interest in understanding whether alternative forest management practices could reduce risk of stand-replacing fire. To explore how management can enhance fire resistance in these forests and assess tradeoffs among resistance enhancement, carbon sequestration and storage, and economic returns, we conducted 40-year simulations of stand development with BioSum, a framework for conducting landscape analysis with the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS), utilizing a statistically representative and spatially balanced sample of Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) plots. Simulation outcomes under business-as-usual silviculture were contrasted with fire-aware silviculture, and treatment optimization logic was developed and applied to represent landscape-scale outcomes under business-as-usual and fire-focused management scenarios. Simulation results indicate that fire-aware prescriptions and fire-focused management can meaningfully enhance stand- and landscape-scale fire resistance of westside forests under less than extreme fire weather, but at the cost of lower economic returns and reduced net carbon storage and sequestration over the 40-year analysis window. Shifting from business-as-usual regeneration harvests with short rotations to fire-aware, episodic selection harvest improved fire resistance the most, especially in young privately-owned forests, and with only modest tradeoffs in carbon and economic outcomes. While fire-aware treatments generally reduced net present value from forest operations over business-as-usual, most treatments still generated positive net present value and could be implemented without subsidy. Fire-aware prescriptions that removed and utilized non-merchantable harvest residues instead of burning them, via either pile or broadcast burning, partially mitigated carbon emissions associated with fire-aware treatments, with about the same improvement in fire resistance. Given the currently limited institutional and financial capacity to implement fire resistance enhancing treatments at scale, the insights from this analysis may aid managers seeking to elevate fire resistance to prioritize where and how to manage.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗
NASA NTRS1981

A normative price for energy from an electricity generation system: An Owner-dependent Methodology for Energy Generation (system) Assessment (OMEGA). Volume 1: Summary

The utility owned solar electric system methodology is generalized and updated. The net present value of the system is determined by consideration of all financial benefits and costs (including a specified return on investment). Life cycle costs, life cycle revenues, and residual system values are obtained. Break even values of system parameters are estimated by setting the net present value to zero. While the model was designed for photovoltaic generators with a possible thermal energy byproduct, it applicability is not limited to such systems. The resulting owner-dependent methodology for energy generation system assessment consists of a few equations that can be evaluated without the aid of a high-speed computer.

Chamberlain, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1981

A normative price for energy from an electricity generation system: An Owner-dependent Methodology for Energy Generation (system) Assessment (OMEGA). Volume 2: Derivation of system energy price equations

The methodology presented is a derivation of the utility owned solar electric systems model. The net present value of the system is determined by consideration of all financial benefits and costs including a specified return on investment. Life cycle costs, life cycle revenues, and residual system values are obtained. Break-even values of system parameters are estimated by setting the net present value to zero.

Chamberlain, R. G.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Conversion of food waste to renewable energy: A techno-economic and environmental assessment

Increasing quantities of food waste have become a concern due to high disposal costs in landfills and high greenhouse gas emissions. With this increase in food waste generation, there is also an increasing demand for renewable natural gas to supplement traditional fossil fuel combustion and offset the impacts of climate change. Collecting food waste from landfills and turning it into renewable natural gas using anaerobic digestion could be a win-win option for both food waste disposal and renewable energy production. While some literature exists on the energy potential, economic feasibility, and environmental benefit of food waste disposal via anaerobic digestion, no existing study simultaneously evaluates the energy, economic and environmental effect of food waste to renewable energy via anaerobic digestion, especially on a plant and city scale. Further, this study is focused on the techno-economic and environmental assessment of food waste to energy via anaerobic digestion in order to fill this gap. Four anaerobic digestion pathways are considered in this study: flare, pipeline natural gas, combined heat and power, and combined cycle for efficient power generation. Using a city of 1M people the results show that renewable natural gas from food waste could supply the natural gas usage for 1.9% of residential use, 2.7% of commercial use, 1.1% of industrial use, 167.5% of the compressed natural gas vehicle fleet, 0.7% of electric power generation, or 2.5% of industrial high-temperature heating processes. All pathways except pipeline natural gas will have a positive net present value in the baseline scenario, and the pipeline natural gas pathway will become economically viable with a net present value of 31 USD/t of food waste with renewable energy credits. Lastly, all of the pathways achieve negative greenhouse gas emissions, which indicates that anaerobic digestion is a more environmentally friendly method for the handling of food waste than landfills.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Demonstration of Scaled-Production of Rare Earth Oxides and Critical Materials from U. S. Coal-Based Sources (Final Report)

The project objective was to demonstrate scaled production of high purity rare earth oxides (REO), nominally exceeding 90% grade, from coal refuse sources using innovative technologies that reduce cost and improve environmental outcomes relative to traditional rare earth processing technologies. The project utilized a critical material pilot plant constructed and tested as part of a previous U.S. Department of Energy project. Target performance criteria was a 50% reduction in production cost based on previous optimum values, 150% increase in recovery and greater than 2% concentrates of rare earth oxides, cobalt and manganese. Concentrate production goals were to produce a rare earth mix oxide product at a rate of 200 grams per day having a minimum purity of 50% as well as products of cobalt and manganese having a minimum purity of 2%. A previous pilot plant investigation identified acid cost as the major contributor to an operating cost that made the recovery of rare earth and other critical metals from bituminous coal sources economically challenging. As such, acid cost reduction was a major target using bio-oxidation reactors to produce sulfuric acid from naturally occurring coal pyrite. Based on laboratory data, a bio-oxidation circuit was designed for the pilot plant to produce 7.5 l/min of acid using two 11-m3 (3000 gallon) reactors equipped with 40 hp aerators for air dispersion. The pilot-scale tests revealed that acid concentration equivalent to as high as 1.0 M sulfuric acid could be continuously produced. However, the bio-acid contained exceptionally high iron concentrations, which complicated downstream processing of the pregnant leach solution (PLS). A TEA of the bio-oxidation circuit showed that production cost was approximately $0.13 per kg acid equivalent if produced using a four-day retention time in the reactors. This value represents a 48% reduction from that of purchased bulk sulfuric acid. Calcination (or roasting) studies were conducted on coarse refuse from West Kentucky No. 13 and Fire Clay coal seam sources. The test results revealed the potential to increase recovery by nearly 100% using temperatures between 500°C to 700°C with light REE recovery value being the most improved. Acid baking of the calcined products using sulfuric acid at 250°C increased heavy rare earth recovery from around 40% to 80% while decreasing the acid requirements by over 50%. The existing pilot plant was upgraded for the pilot scale demonstration of REE and CM recovery. The primary feedstocks were West Kentucky No.13 and heap leach pregnant leach solution (PLS) while a secondary feedstock was a lignite waste material from a construction sand operation. The pilot scale operation started with PLS generation through leaching followed by iron and aluminum removal, nominally at 3.3 and 4.5 pH, respectively. Leaching lixiviants used for the test were industrial grade sulfuric acid or bio-acid generated at the pilot scale facility. For most of the tests, the solid feed rate was 200 lb/hr whereas lixiviant was added at 2 gpm to provide an optimal residence time of 45 minutes. Following the contaminant removal step, several different process schematics were tested with the goal of maximizing REE recovery and purity. In the first test, direct processing of aluminum precipitation raffinate for REE recovery using oxalic acid at pH 1.5 was investigated. Overall REE recovery was approximately 45%. Unfortunately, elevated calcium content in the PLS significantly impacted the RE-Oxide product grade. Similarly, high calcium content decreased both the product purity and grades of CM products. As such, a new flowsheet was tested with the same initial process schematic but different precipitation stages for REEs and CMs at pH 6.0 and 9.0, respectively. It was noted that the overlapping precipitation behavior of Co, Ni and Zn with REEs limited the applicability of this process schematic. While this change increased the RE-Oxide grade from 36% in the first test to 87%, the loss of critical metals to the REE cake and bypass of the REEs to the CM cake significantly impacted the recovery of both REEs and CMs. Therefore, the modified process flowsheet combined oxalic acid precipitation stage raffinate and redissolved CM cake filtrate to maximize both the recovery and purity of the products. Consequently, a RE-Oxide product with 85% purity and CM cakes with over 19% Co, 38% Ni, 14% Zn and 9% Mn content were generated with significantly higher recoveries. While the modified process flowsheet improved recoveries and grades, elemental losses observed in separate precipitation and redissolution losses inspired the adaptation of a single precipitation stage at pH 9.0 for both REEs and CMs. This change was anticipated to maximize the REE recovery while minimizing the costs associated with separated redissolution and processing stages. As expected, REE recovery in this new circuit arrangement was over 56% with a product grade of over 87% RE-Oxide content. Similarly, Co, Ni, Mn, and Zn recoveries of 54%, 40%, 67%, and 66%, respectively, were achieved. Unfortunately, the elevated calcium content present in the solution due to its precipitation at pH 9.0 caused a decrease in the CM cake quality. Therefore, the final process flowsheet involved the addition of calcium oxalate precipitation following the oxalic acid precipitation stage, which effectively eliminated calcium contamination of the CM products. Finally, the pilot scale experiments conducted using bio-acid achieved comparable REE leaching recoveries to the conventional sulfuric acid leaching. Elevated iron concentration in the solution caused the co-precipitation of REEs with the iron and aluminum cake, resulting in the REE losses. Furthermore, elevated iron content bypassing the iron and aluminum precipitation stages contaminated the metal sulfide and manganese cake, respectively. A techno-economic analysis was performed based on a commercial facility capable of treating 500 tph of coal-based material. The production cost for West Kentucky No. 13 coarse refuse material ranged from approximately $500-$700/kg of total rare earth oxide whereas the lignite source had significantly lower production cost of $100-$300/kg. The significant difference in cost was due to the easier leaching characteristics of the lignite material and the higher feed concentrations. All process scenarios resulted in a negative net present value (NPV). For the lignite feedstock, laboratory REE leach recovery values were about 30% higher than the pilot plant data. Using the lab leach results, a positive net present value was achieved and the production cost decreased from $100-$300 $/kg to less than $150/kg of total REO.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2025

Beyond Price-Taker: Multiscale Optimization of Wind and Battery Integrated Energy Systems

Integrating renewable energy into the electric grid is challenging due to the intermittency and variability of wind and other non-dispatchable resources. Integrated energy systems (IESs) combine multiple energy technologies (e.g., fossil, nuclear, renewables, storage) to reduce costs and improve flexibility and reliability. However, standard techno-economic analysis (TEA) methods often overestimate the benefits of IESs because they fail to account for energy market adjustments. This paper systematically studies the limitations of the prevailing price-taker assumption for TEA and optimization of hybrid energy systems. As an illustrative case study, we retrofit an existing wind farm in the RTS-GMLC test system (which loosely mimics the Southwest U.S.) with battery energy storage to form an IES. We show that the standard price-taker model overestimates the electricity revenue and the net present value (NPV) of the IES up to 178% and 30.4%, respectively, compared to our more rigorous multiscale optimization. These differences arise because introducing storage creates a more flexible resource that impacts the larger wholesale electricity market. Moreover, this work highlights the impact of the IES has on the market via various strategic bidding, and underscores the importance of moving beyond price-taker for optimal storage sizing and TEA of IESs. We conclude by discussing opportunities to generalize the proposed framework to other IESs, and highlight emerging research questions regarding the complex interactions between IESs and markets.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Integrated Operations for Nuclear Business Operation Model Analysis and Industry Validation

The purpose of this report is to refine and analyze five work reduction opportunities first presented in INL/EXT-21-64134, Process for Significant Nuclear Work Function Innovation Based on Integrated Operations Concepts. This report seeks to further refine and analyze five work reduction opportunities first presented in the original report. Researchers selected five work reduction opportunities from the full Integrated Operations for Nuclear (ION) suite. A selected group of utilities then verified details and inputs from the original report. Categories for verification included capital cost, technology requirements, and savings. Researchers then modeled the data points and data ranges using probabilistic analysis which predicts the likelihood of positive or negative net present value. Research results show four out of the five work reduction opportunities have a greater than fifty percent chance of a positive net present value outcome when analyzed independently. When the five work reduction opportunities are grouped and analyzed together the model indicates a sixty percent chance that the outcome of all five taken together will be positive. The nuclear industry should interpret these results as encouraging. In line with the ION model, positive financial analysis supports the investment of capital dollars into existing nuclear power plants along the ION model. Implementation of the five work reduction opportunities in this report is likely to result in substantive long-term savings for the owners and operators of domestic nuclear power plants.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Technoeconomic Analysis of Microwave-Assisted Dry Reforming Integrated with Chemical Looping for Production of Methanol

Methanol is a key component in producing formaldehyde, acetic acid, and methyl tert -butyl ether (MTBE) and supports a wide array of industries, including plastics, textiles, and automotive. It also plays a growing role in renewable energy solutions. However, the conventional production of methanol involves steam reforming of methane, which is very energy-intensive and produces significant quantities of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. In this research, a chemical looping scheme is combined with dry reforming of natural gas in a novel microwave reactor to produce an industrial quantity of methanol. A heat exchanger network is developed to substantially reduce hot and cold utility usage. The effect of the cost of purchasing carbon dioxide from an external source for dry reforming, the capital cost of the microwave reactor, and the cost of electricity on the net present value is analyzed. Technoeconomic comparison with the conventional industrial process that produces methanol via steam reforming of methane indicates that the chemical looping generates a significant positive net present value along with a substantial reduction in carbon dioxide emissions while producing methanol significantly below the U.S. Department of Energy’s goal of $800/ton.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

TRAILS Output Files

Overview This data repository contains ZIP files that store compressed versions of the output of running the WaterPaths utility planning and management tool in the DU Re-Evaluation mode (to download the tool, please see this GitHub repository). The tool was used to simulate the six-utility North Carolina Research Triangle problem. Details on the contents of each ZIP file can be seen below. Data details Temporal range: Weekly data for 2,344 weeks from 2015 to 2060 (45 years). Spatial range: Six water utilities in the North Carolina Research Triangle region (0: Chapel Hil/OWASA, 1: Durham, 2: Cary, 3: Raleigh, 4: Pittsboro, and 5: Chatham) File types: CSV and OUT Different solutions available The solution numbers correspond to the different pathway strategies (henceforth referred to as "solutions") discussed in paper's main and supporting text (abstract and link to the paper here). They are as follows: Sol92: The Durham-focused pathway strategy Sol132: The Raleigh-focused pathway strategy Sol140: The regionally-robust pathway strategy Objectives files These files can be accessed by unzipping solXX_objectives_pathways.zip that contains 1,000 Objectives_RDMXX_solsXX_to_XX.csv files. Each CSV file will consist of a row representing all the objective values for that specific solution, while every six columns represents the reliability, restriction frequency, infrastructure net present value ($ mil), peak financial cost, worst-case cost, and unit cost ($ per MG; in that order) for each of the six utilities. There will be 1,000 such files, denoting the performance of the six utilities across the 1,000 deeply uncertain states of the world (DU SOWs). Pathway files These files can be accessed by unzipping solXX_objectives_pathways.zip that contains 1,000 Pathways_sXX_RDMXX.out file. Each OUT corresponds to the set of infrastructure being triggered in a specific DU SOW, and each file will have the name file will consist of four tab-delimited columns that are described as follows: Realization: The realization in which an infrastructure options being triggered utility: The utility currently triggering infrastructure week: The week in which a specific infrastructure option is being triggered infra.: The infrastructure option being triggered If the OUT file contains only the header line, no infrastructure was triggered for that specific DU SOW. Policies files These files can be obtained by unzipping Policies.zip. Each of the 1,000 CSV files within the unzipped folder will contain weekly water use restriction policies for all 1,000 hydroclimatic realizations within a specific DU SOW. The column structure is as follows: 0rest_m: restriction multiplier for utility 0 (values between 0 and 1) 1rest_m: restriction multiplier for utility 1 (values between 0 and 1) 2rest_m: restriction multiplier for utility 2 (values between 0 and 1) 3rest_m: restriction multiplier for utility 3 (values between 0 and 1) 4rest_m: restriction multiplier for utility 4 (values between 0 and 1) 5rest_m: restriction multiplier for utility 5 (values between 0 and 1) 0transf: transfer volume for utility 0 (in MGD) 1transf: transfer volume for utility 1 (in MGD) 2transf: transfer volume for utility 2 (in MGD) 3transf: transfer volume for utility 3 (in MGD) 4transf: transfer volume for utility 4 (in MGD) 5transf: transfer volume for utility 5 (in MGD) Water Sources files These files can be obtained by unzipping WaterSources_subset.zip. Each of the 100 CSV files within the unzipped folder will contain weekly state variables at each water source for all 1,000 hydroclimatic realizations within a specific DU SOW. The column structure is as follows: Xvolume: available water volume from source X (in MGD) Xs_area: surface area of source X (in ACF) Xdemand: demand drawn from a water source from source X (in MGD) Xup_spill: upstream spillage from source X (in MGD) Xww_inflow: wastewater inflow from source X (in MGD) Xcatch_inflow: upstream catchment inflow to source X (in MGD) Xevap: evaporation multiplier for source X (values between 0 and 1) Xds_spill: downstream spillage from source X (in MGD) X_Y_alloc_cap: the allocated capacity from source X to utility Y (values between 0 and 1) X_Y_alloc_dem: the allocated demand from source X to utility Y (values between 0 and 1) Xtrmt_alloc_Y: the allocated treatment capacity from source X to utility Y (values between 0 and 1) Utilities files These files can be obtained by unzipping Utilities_subset.zip. Each of the 100 CSV files within the unzipped folder will contain weekly state variables at each utility for all 1,000 hydroclimatic realizations within a specific DU SOW. The column structure is as follows: Xst_vol: total available storage volume of utility X (in MG) Xcapacity: total storage capacity of utility X (in MG) Xnet_inf: : net inflow for all storage infrastructure for utility X (in MGD) Xst_rof: short term ROF for utility X (values between 0 and 1) Xst_stor_rof: short-term storage ROF for utility X (values between 0 and 1) Xst_trmt_rof: short-term treatment ROF for utility X (values between 0 and 1) Xlt_rof: long-term ROF for utility X (values between 0 and 1) Xlt_stor_rof: long-term storage ROF for utility X (values between 0 and 1) Xlt_trmt_rof: long-term treatment ROF for utility X (values between 0 and 1) Xrest_demand: restricted demand for utility X (in MGD) Xunrest_demand: unrestricted demand for utility X (in MGD) Xunfulf_demand: unfulfilled demand for utility X (in MGD) Xwastewater: wastewater return for utility X (in MGD) Xtreat_capacity: total treatment capacity for utility X (in MG) Xcont_fund: reserve (contingency) fund balance for utility X Xins_pout: insurance payout for utility X (% annual volumetric revenue) Xins_price: insurance price for utility X (% annual volumetric revenue) Xinfra_npv: infrastructure net present value for utility ($mil) Xst_vol: total available storage volume of utility X (in MG) Xdebt_serv: debt service for utility X (usually once per year if the infrastructure is triggered; % annual volumetric revenue) Xstor_vol: total stored volume (in MGD) Xobs_ann_dem: observed annual demand for utility X (in MGD) Xproj_dem: projected annual demand for utility X (in MGD) Xpv_debt_serv: present value of debt service payments for utility X (% annual volumetric revenue) Xgross_rev: gross revenue for utility X ($mil) Acknowledgment IM3 is a multi-institutional effort led by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science as part of research in MultiSector Dynamics, Earth and Environmental Systems Modeling Program.

Artificial Intelligence↗
DOE OSTI2024

Screening Tool for Equitable Adoption and Deployment of Solar (STEADy Solar)

The Screening Tool for Equitable Adoption and DeploYment of Solar (STEADy Solar) is a database and mapping tool designed to promoting clean energy investments for low-income communities across the United States. The tool indicates locations that may be eligible for the Investment Tax Credit bonus adders defined in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and combines this information with demographics, social vulnerability, solar technical potential, solar economics (modeled net present value), and building counts by use-type. It can be used by states, municipalities, community-based organizations, developers, and researchers to identify sites where solar projects may be economical and where federal incentives may be available to support equitable adoption of solar. Specific values include: Areas eligible for the Energy Communities Tax Credit Bonus Program (including brownfield site counts) Areas eligible for the Low Income Communities Bonus Credit Program (including Tribal Lands, and covered affordable housing project counts) Areas categorized as disadvantaged by Justice40 Commercial and Residential Solar economics characterized by the Net Present Value and Simple Payback Period Total Population, Race, and Ethnicity Median Household Income, Poverty rate, Household Tenure Social Vulnerability Count of buildings, developable rooftop solar capacity (in kWdc) and estimated annual generation potential (in kWh) on four building types: Government General Services, Government Emergency Response, Grade Schools, and Colleges/Universities. The linked report describes the STEADy dataset metadata and presents high level insights from the data. The downloadable and formatted excel dataset makes it easy for users to gain insights for their locations. Supporting .csv and shapefiles provide users with the full data to run their own analyses on equitable solar siting.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1976

Cost benefit analysis of space communications technology: Volume 1: Executive summary

The questions of (1) whether or not NASA should support the further development of space communications technology, and, if so, (2) which technology's support should be given the highest priority are addressed. Insofar as the issues deal principally with resource allocation, an economics perspective is adopted. The resultant cost benefit methodology utilizes the net present value concept in three distinct analysis stages to evaluate and rank those technologies which pass a qualification test based upon probable (private sector) market failure. User-preference and technology state-of-the-art surveys were conducted (in 1975) to form a data base for the technology evaluation. The program encompassed near-future technologies in space communications earth stations and satellites, including the noncommunication subsystems of the satellite (station keeping, electrical power system, etc.). Results of the research program include confirmation of the applicability of the methodology as well as a list of space communications technologies ranked according to the estimated net present value of their support (development) by NASA.

Holland, L. D.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Economic Evaluation of a Coupled Nuclear Power Plant and Hydrogen Production Facility: A Case Study

This study optimized the design sizes and operation of a power-to-hydrogen-to-power integrated energy system to allow a baseload power plant to operate flexibly in the energy market. In collaboration with a utility industry partner, the system, consisting of an electrolyzer, compressors, storage tank, and fuel cell, was optimized under conditions specific to the proposed project at the site of a nuclear power plant. The Design Integration and Synthesis Platform to Advance Tightly Coupled Hybrid Energy Systems (DISPATCHES) maximized net present value by optimizing sizing of components and dispatch decisions. Revenues included sale of electricity, capacity payments typical of the New York Independent System Operator, and the section 45V hydrogen production tax credit of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the tax credit was assumed to be available to legacy plants in the absence of clear guidance at present). Under default assumptions which excluded many capital expenditures, the base case optimized solution had a net present value of $\$$1.4 million over a 30 year lifetime, with a 0.365 MW fuel cell operating nearly continuously and 85% of revenues supplied by the hydrogen production tax credit (which was counted as a revenue regardless of profit, thus assuming credit monetization or offset of taxes within the larger firm was possible in all years). Beyond the base case, a sensitivity study elucidated drivers of the economics as capacity payment rate and hydrogen production tax credit rate vary. Additional sensitivity studies also extended results to variation of other, previously fixed parameters, including the fuel cell capital cost, and to imposition of further constraints. Optimization was also repeated for the default assumptions but recognizing tax credits upon use of hydrogen rather than upon its production, producing no change in the optimal solution. Most notably, capacity payments above $\$$15/kW-month drove optimal fuel cells multiple times larger than those with the default estimated capacity payment of $\$$2.5/kW-month (approaching 11 vs. 0.365 MW), and these larger fuel cells operated rarely (capacity factors of ~0.03). Furthermore, when the hydrogen production tax credit was provided for only 10 years, under the specific assumptions of this study (e.g., neither site preparation costs nor electrolyzer capital cost counted), the optimal solution avoided economic loss by ceasing system operation after the 10th year. Viewed broadly, this study demonstrated the capabilities of DISPATCHES, which can be user-adapted to serve other industrial case studies.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2024

Economic assessment of a multistage surface-heated vacuum membrane distillation process for the treatment of hypersaline produced water

Here, the treatment and disposal of hypersaline produced water remains a challenge, particularly for oil and gas producers in the Permian basin where production wells generate significant amounts of wastewater, and the traditional method of injecting wastewater into disposal wells is coming under increasing scrutiny. Here we investigate the viability of using solar energy to power a multi-stage, surface heated, vacuum membrane distillation (SHVMD) with energy recovery to treat hypersaline produced wastewater from Midland, Texas. Membrane distillation is a process that can desalinate waters with high total dissolved solids concentration, and when incorporated into a system with surface heating and energy recovery can achieve high water recovery rates. Model results show that a 6-stage SHVMD system with a 54.4 % water recovery rate and a gained output ratio (GOR) of 3.28 has the potential to be economically viable when used to treat hypersaline produced water in the Permian basin. Assuming energy costs of $\$0.03$/kWh thermal and $\$0.12$kWh electric , we estimate a project net present value (NPV) of $\$225,525$ and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 13.5 % when an air cooled condensor is used to cool the distillate and a NPV of $\$570,791$ and IRR of 24.52 % when a liquid coooling source is available.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Cost-Benefit Analysis For Indonesia Building Sector: Whole-Building Cooling Solutions

The Net Zero World (NZW) Initiative Collaborative Work Program with the Government of Indonesia (GoI) includes technical assistance and investment mobilization facilitation to accelerate deployment of energy efficiency technologies and solutions for the building sector. A February 2023 U.S.–Indonesia Joint Workshop on Decarbonizing the Building Sector yielded a NZW Indonesia Building Decarbonization Working Group (NZW IBDWG) with four sub-working groups (SWG): SWG-A National Center, SWG-B Capacity Building, SWG-C Investment and Financing, and SWG-D Pilot Projects. Technical analysis of whole-building cooling solutions for tropical climates of Indonesia was conducted by SWG-A to quantify energy savings, carbon dioxide reductions, and comfort improvements offered by 12 passive or low-energy cooling strategies: ceiling fans with and without thermostat setbacks; cool roofs; cool walls; exterior awnings; exterior shades; interior shades; insulated roofs; insulated walls; low-e windows; solar window films; and natural ventilation. Leveraging the results from SWG-A, cost-benefit analysis (CBA) was conducted by SWG-C to assess the consumer and national costs and impacts associated with these 12 cooling solutions. The evaluation involved estimating life-cycle costs (LCC), payback period (PBP), net present values (NPV), annual electricity burden change for low-income households, and reduced national annual power-sector generation demand by 2030, 2040, 2050, and 2060. This evaluation can help guide Indonesia’s Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) investments in policies and programs to advance research, development, deployment, and commercial adoption (RDDCA) of efficient residential building sector cooling technologies and solutions in Indonesia. Four key energy conservation measures (ECM) have been identified to reduce air-conditioning (AC) energy demand in single-family housing in Indonesia: ceiling fan with temperature setback (to 28.1 °Celcius from 25 °C); insulated walls; insulated roof; and cool roof. This study found that low-income households with AC installations in Indonesia currently face a high energy cost burden of approximately 10%. However, by implementing a ceiling fan with temperature setback, this burden could decrease to 2.5% today and further reduce to 1.3% by the year 2060. The PBP for a ceiling fan with temperature setback is one year, indicating one of the lowest LCC and best NPV. In the planned upcoming phase of CBA, a series of building cooling improvement scenarios can be further defined, incorporating more than one ECM in combination with socio-economic factors evaluated in the initial CBA phase. Additionally, the analysis of ECM effects in multifamily housing can be expanded. This broader national analysis aims to encompass a holistic and comprehensive system-level perspective, including factors such as avoided power sector infrastructure investments, domestic job creation, domestic manufacturing job creation, and gross domestic product (GDP) growth.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗