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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 199 records · Page 11
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1977

A computer software system for integration and analysis of grid-based remote sensing data with other natural resource data

This report describes a computer-based information system designed to assist in the integration of commonly available spatial data for regional planning and resource analysis. The Resource Analysis Program (RAP) provides a variety of analytical and mapping phases for single factor or multi-factor analyses. The unique analytical and graphic capabilities of RAP are demonstrated with a study conducted in Windsor Township, Eaton County, Michigan. For this study, soil, land cover/use, topographic and geological maps were used as a data base to develop an eleven map portfolio. The major themes of the portfolio are land cover/use, nonpoint water pollution, waste disposal, and ground water recharge.

Tilmann, S. E.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Plan It Together: Optimizing Across Generation, Transmission, Distribution, and Distributed Energy Resources

Integrated planning holds the promise of unlocking lower total system cost solutions by connecting previously siloed planning processes. This article summarizes the state of bulk and local grid planning today and details multiple new analytical approaches that can enable more holistic planning methods to develop comprehensive solutions to generation, transmission, distribution, and distributed energy resource needs. These include both iterative approaches as well as cooptimization techniques. In addition to the benefits of these methods, the technical and institutional challenges and associated solutions are also discussed.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2021

Modeling and Impact of Hyperloop Technology on the Electricity Grid

This paper provides an overview of hyperloop technologies, including a brief discussion of key components of a hyperloop system that determine the electric power requirements as a function of time. At-scale hyperloop systems do not yet exist, so a model was used to generate a set of load profiles for conceptual hyperloop realizations at four locations in the United States: two systems in California and one each in Colorado and Ohio. In all four cases, the modeled hyperloop load profiles included pulses in both active and reactive power. Grid modeling was performed to estimate the grid impacts and for dis-cussing grid integration challenges. The paper discusses how energy storage systems might be used to eliminate the pulsating load characteristics or significantly reduce it to accommodate current grid planning guidelines

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2020

Preparing Distribution Utilities for Utility-Scale Storage and Electric Vehicles: A Novel Analytical Framework

Emerging distributed energy resources (DERs)—such as solar photovoltaics (PV), battery energy storage systems (BESS), and electric vehicles (EVs)—are expected to increase substantially in India in the coming years following policy-driven targets of the Government of India to modernize its electricity system, reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), and improve air quality. These emerging technologies can pose challenges to distribution utilities, forcing overhauls in planning and operational practices. They can also create challenges in power system infrastructure planning and cause more frequent system operational violations (e.g., network voltage bounds and loading thresholds) if not properly integrated. The impacts on the localized power distribution grid from these emerging technologies manifest in increased infrastructure investments and erratic shifts in demand patterns. These impacts are not yet well understood, and analytic solutions are not readily available. To address these challenges, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), in collaboration with BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd. (BRPL), developed an advanced power distribution system impact analysis framework of BRPL’s distribution system. This framework helps analyze the readiness of the power distribution network to accommodate emerging technologies and the potential opportunities they might introduce. The framework has been predominantly set up to evaluate distributed PV, BESS, and EVs. In this collaboration between NREL and BRPL, we developed and evaluated the framework on two distribution feeders in the BRPL territory for various scenarios of BESS and EVs. BESS are evaluated for their effectiveness on the grid to mitigate present and future feeder overloading scenarios, and they are subsequently analyzed for their costs compared to the costs of traditional upgradation measures. Scenarios include assessing the effects of EV density on grid infrastructure upgrades and interlinking EV management with BESS integration.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2021

The North American Renewable Integration Study (NARIS): A U.S. Perspective

The North American electric power system is undergoing significant change, with renewable resources now contributing more generation than ever before. This transformation is poised to continue given decreasing technology costs and ambitious decarbonization goals at the federal, state, local, corporate, and consumer levels. The North American Renewable Integration Study (NARIS) aims to inform grid planners, utilities, industry, policymakers, and other stakeholders about challenges and opportunities for continental system integration of large amounts of wind, solar, and hydropower to support a low-carbon future grid. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) conducted a detailed, continent-wide analysis with planning scenarios of transmission, generation, and demand to reach 80%–92% carbon reductions (from 2005) for the Canadian electric power system, and up to 80% reductions continent-wide. We used a suite of models to study future scenarios and gain insights, including potential impacts on costs, emissions, resource adequacy, and the specific technologies that help enable the transition to a low-carbon grid. Our analysis had a particular focus on the potential role of cooperation among the three North American countries and between regions within each country, and how transmission can support sharing of supply and demand diversity. The NARIS project began in 2016. This report describes a U.S. perspective in coordination with the U.S. Department of Energy, and a companion report describes a Canadian perspective in coordination with the Natural Resources Canada. NARIS was an extension of a previous body of work, including the Western Wind and Solar Integration Study, the Eastern Renewable Generation Integration Study, Interconnections Seam Study, and the Pan Canadian Wind Integration Study. NARIS analyzed the entire continent in detail while studying higher renewable generation than previous studies. The scenarios in NARIS were informed by the goals in the Mid-Century Strategies for the Paris Agreement in each country.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

The North American Renewable Integration Study (NARIS): A Canadian Perspective

The North American electric power system is undergoing significant change, with renewable resources now contributing more generation than ever before. This transformation is poised to continue given decreasing technology costs and ambitious decarbonization goals at the federal, state, local, corporate, and consumer levels. The North American Renewable Integration Study (NARIS) aims to inform grid planners, utilities, industry, policymakers, and other stakeholders about challenges and opportunities for continental system integration of large amounts of wind, solar, and hydropower to support a low-carbon future grid. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) conducted a detailed, continent-wide analysis with planning scenarios of transmission, generation, and demand to reach 80%–92% carbon reductions (from 2005) for the Canadian electric power system, and up to 80% reductions continent-wide. We used a suite of models to study future scenarios and gain insights, including potential impacts on costs, emissions, resource adequacy, and the specific technologies that help enable the transition to a low-carbon grid. Our analysis had a particular focus on the potential role of cooperation among the three North American countries and between regions within each country, and how transmission can support sharing of supply and demand diversity. The NARIS project began in 2016. This report describes a Canadian perspective in coordination with the Natural Resources Canada, and a companion report describes a U.S. perspective in coordination with the U.S. Department of Energy. NARIS was an extension of a previous body of work, including the Western Wind and Solar Integration Study, the Eastern Renewable Generation Integration Study, Interconnections Seam Study, and the Pan Canadian Wind Integration Study. NARIS analyzed the entire continent in detail while studying higher renewable generation than previous studies. The scenarios in NARIS were informed by the goals in the Mid-Century Strategies for the Paris Agreement in each country.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Strategic Planning for Energy-Resilient Communities

Distributed energy resources (DERs) offer flexibility and community benefits in both blue- and black-sky conditions. Outside of a power disruption, they can provide significant cost savings and reduce grid stress during times of high demand. During a disruption to the central grid, these technologies can meet critical energy needs through the use of battery storage. However, communities must consider many planning and design dimensions and tradeoffs to integrate energy systems that meet financial and resilience goals. This presentation, given at the 2026 State Energy Conference of North Carolina, defines resilience in an energy context, discusses strategies and best practices for planning resilient energy systems and sites, including resilience hubs and microgrids, highlights NLR tools and capabilities for helping communities in this space, and features successful case studies in North Carolina related to energy resilience.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Renewable Energy Integration in Remote Alaska Communities

This guide was developed through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project (ETIPP) technical assistance (TA) projects for Nikolski and St. George. Both communities had wind turbine projects that failed due to integration and maintenance issues. Due to these failures, Nikolski and St. George sought help to investigate renewable energy alternatives and associated integration strategies, with a focus on technologies that could be easily maintained within the community. The primary objective of this guide was to interview subject matter experts and document lessons learned to address potential renewable energy and storage integration issues in remote Alaskan communities. This guide is intended to provide information to rural Alaskan communities considering renewables with the purpose of sharing best practices and case studies to facilitate the successful implementation of future renewable energy projects.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Advancing Geothermal Research: Fiscal Year 2024 Accomplishments Report

Geothermal resources have delivered renewable electricity for more than 100 years, and renewable heat for far longer, but recent research and advancements have shown that geothermal is more than a 24/7 clean energy source. With the ability to also provide cooling and storage - plus the potential to access critical minerals, capture and sequester carbon, produce green hydrogen, and more - geothermal technologies and resources are emerging as key solutions to the climate crisis. In fiscal year 2024 (FY24), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) broadened its research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) portfolio and partnerships with exciting innovations such as next-generation geothermal technologies for power, geothermal energy networks for heating and cooling, subsurface thermal energy storage, well repurposing, and more. In support of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Geothermal Technologies Office's (GTO) mission to increase geothermal energy deployment through research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that enhance exploration and production, NREL led impactful research in geothermal technologies and resources, market acceleration, and grid integration while also demonstrating leadership in the sector and increasing stakeholder engagement and outreach efforts.

annual report↗
DOE OSTI2024

Planning and Operations in Electricity Markets Under System Transformation

United States electricity markets, planning mechanisms, and operational procedures are currently evolving in concert with three key trends. First, a range of new resources—solar, wind, energy storage, hybrid co-located storage, and distributed energy—are coming online and require new solutions to ensure they are efficiently integrated into existing systems. Second, consumers now face more opportunities to participate in markets by providing demand response and engaging in two-way interactions with the grid. Third, there is an increasing need for enhanced coordination between generation and transmission planning as well as across transmission and distribution systems.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Enhanced Power Grid Maintenance Planning and Quantum-Inspired Combinatorial Prospects

Efficient and reliable scheduling of maintenance for power generation and transmission infrastructure is essential for minimizing operational costs and ensuring grid stability. This paper introduces an integrated optimization framework for coordinated maintenance scheduling of generators and transmission lines under resource and reliability constraints. The model minimizes a composite cost function including maintenance and generation costs, as well as penalties for delayed maintenance, while satisfying N−1 security constraints, operational limits, and crew availability. Case studies on the IEEE 300-bus test system demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach in producing feasible and cost-effective maintenance schedules. To address scalability and combinatorial complexity, the model is mapped into a Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO) problem, enabling exploration of solution approaches based on Quantum Imaginary Time Evolution (QITE). While the QUBO reformulation provides a foundation for future quantum-inspired optimization, this study focuses primarily on the development and demonstration of the classical optimization framework and illustrates the potential applicability of QITE in large-scale maintenance scheduling.

Chen, Yang [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000271693874)↗
DOE OSTI2022

Case Study: Hybridizing Nuclear Energy Systems in the U.S.

This case study was presented at the ICTP-IAEA VIRTUAL Course on Nuclear-Renewable Integrated Energy Systems: Phenomenology, Research and Development. It provides preliminary results on an analysis of hybridizing the two nuclear power plants owned by Xcel Energy and located in Minnesota. The analysis extends previous analyses that provided only price-taker results. Those assume adjusting the generation sold to the grid does not impact locational marginal electricity prices nor do they estimate impacts on the total net cost to serve the load. This presentation summarizes the new technique that was developed to both optimize the size and operations of the hybridized system and the resulting impacts on the grid when it is operated optimally.

ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Integrated Assessment Modeling of Grid Resilience: GCAM-to-PCM Scoping

Deep decarbonization towards a net-zero emissions future and the associated growth in power demand, renewables, and changes in water availability will require significant evolution in grid planning. Many obstacles threaten the viability of near-term generation capacity build out, including the need for large-scale transmission expansion. Current very-long term planning tools do not adequately model physical representations of economic dispatch and system topology down to inter- and intra-regional transmission and distribution infrastructure. This project attempts to fill that gap.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2024

The Best of Both Worlds: Combined Thermal and Battery Storage for Widespread Building Decarbonization

To meet 2050 decarbonization targets, widespread building electrification is a critical complement to clean power generation. Behind-the-meter storage (BTMS) (e.g., battery electric energy storage [EES] and thermal energy storage [TES]) integrated with buildings or building end uses to store and supply energy at optimal times can minimize burdens associated with operation, planning, and upgrades to the electrical grid sometimes triggered by building electrification. Such BTMS systems can serve the dual purpose of providing enhanced resilience at the building and grid level, and support the deployment of renewable generation needed for wide-scale decarbonization. While TES can cost-effectively shed and shift thermal loads, it cannot generally backup or shift non-thermal building end uses. EES, by contrast, is more expensive, but applicable to all end uses (i.e., thermal and electrical loads). Combined together, these storage systems can be traded off against one another to perform optimally in meeting demand flexibility, decarbonization goals, and energy resilience of the buildings at a lower total system cost. This paper proposes a framework to define BTMS benefits, provides four illustrative electrification scenarios using TES and EES, and discusses the combined TES/EES benefits with building energy modeling results. The paper also highlights potential barriers to adoption of BTMS and a path forward.

buildings↗
DOE OSTI2021

Modeling and Optimizing Pumped Storage in a Multi-stage Large Scale Electricity Market under Portfolio Evolution

To leverage the fast-ramping capability of resources to provide great value to the grid, electricity system operators such as the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) continue to evolve their approaches for integrating energy storage resources, including pumpedstorage hydro (PSH), into the electricity markets. However, new challenges arise in modeling and optimizing these energy-limited resources across multiple market clearing processes and planning studies with uncertainties and imperfect information. For instance, current market practices of PSH owners specifying pumping/generating hours can result in sub-optimal generation dispatch. Letting grid operators optimize PSH with the consideration of multiple operating modes and energy limitation constraints can potentially bring economic benefits to both the system and the PSH owners. However, in multi-stage clearing process of electricity markets, utilizing the PSH flexibility to deal with realized uncertainties can cause deviation in the multi-stage scheduling processes. The resulting financial risks from the schedule deviation may not be acceptable to PSH owners. In addition, to effectively utilize this energy limited resource, the state of charge (SOC) constraints of PSH needs to be continuously optimized and the marginal cost of deviation need to reflect the expected cost to purchase or sell energy at future times to compensate for deviations. This project aims to develop a prototype enhanced PSH model and improved price signals in the multi-stage market clearing process with proper consideration of the unique characteristics of PSH, in order to better align underlying PSH capabilities with evolving grid needs, particularly including the needs for more frequent and larger cycling to manage variability and uncertainty from renewables.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
NASA NTRS1977

A computer software system for integration and analysis of grid-based remote sensing data with other natural resource data. Remote Sensing Project

A computer-based information system is described designed to assist in the integration of commonly available spatial data for regional planning and resource analysis. The Resource Analysis Program (RAP) provides a variety of analytical and mapping phases for single factor or multi-factor analyses. The unique analytical and graphic capabilities of RAP are demonstrated with a study conducted in Windsor Township, Eaton County, Michigan. Soil, land cover/use, topographic and geological maps were used as a data base to develope an eleven map portfolio. The major themes of the portfolio are land cover/use, non-point water pollution, waste disposal, and ground water recharge.

Tilmann, S. E.↗
DOE OSTI2024

The Grid Value of Ocean Current Energy in Florida

Ocean current energy technology has been proposed as a potential contributor to Florida's energy portfolio. There has been limited investigation of how this energy would be valued when integrated into the Florida electrical grid. This study assesses three future grid scenarios to evaluate the impact of adding zero-cost ocean current energy to each. The Resource Planning Model, a tool developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, is used to identify the least-cost generation mix through 2050, with and without ocean current energy. The first scenario is a base case and assumes existing policies in which the addition of ocean current energy does not retire fossil-based technologies but variable generation technologies. In the second scenario, solar and storage technologies are lower cost, and the addition of ocean current generation enables those technologies along with wind to retire existing natural gas units earlier. In the third scenario, which requires a 95% reduction in carbon emissions from 2020 levels by 2050, ocean current energy can play a role in decarbonization along with other variable generation technologies. This analysis is intended to inform stakeholders on the opportunity, potential challenges, and overall value to the grid of ocean current technology from a reliability and availability focused perspective.

capacity expansion model↗
DOE OSTI2024

The Grid Value of Ocean Current Energy in Florida: Preprint

Ocean current technology has been proposed as a potential contributor to Florida's energy portfolio. There has been limited investigation of how this energy would be valued when integrated into the Florida electrical grid. This study assesses three future grid scenarios to evaluate the impact of adding ocean current to each. NREL's capacity expansion model, Resource Planning Model, is used to identify the least-cost generation mix through 2050, with and without ocean current. The first scenario, Business as Usual, Base case assuming current policies, ocean current does not replace fossil-based technologies. In the second scenario, we allow solar and storage to have lower costs than the first scenario which allows ocean current to retire gas earlier and more variable generation technologies to be deployed. In the third scenario, the Florida carbon constraint 95 by 2050 from 2020 levels case, ocean current can play a bigger role in decarbonization than the two other cases when coupled with other technologies.

capacity expansion model↗