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At least 253 records · Page 14

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

DOE OSTI2022

Tuning Catalyst Activation and Utilization Via Controlled Electrode Patterning for Low-Loading and High-Efficiency Water Electrolyzers

An anode electrode concept of thin catalyst-coated liquid/gas diffusion layers (CCLGDLs), by integrating Ir catalysts with Ti thin tunable LGDLs with facile electroplating in proton exchange membrane electrolyzer cells (PEMECs), is proposed. The CCLGDL design with only 0.08 mg Ir cm -2 can achieve comparative cell performances to the conventional commercial electrode design, saving ~97% Ir catalyst and augmenting a catalyst utilization to ~24 times. CCLGDLs with regulated patterns enable insight into how pattern morphology impacts reaction kinetics and catalyst utilization in PEMECs. A specially designed two-sided transparent reaction-visible cell assists the in situ visualization of the PEM/electrode reaction interface for the first time. Oxygen gas is observed accumulating at the reaction interface, limiting the active area and increasing the cell impedances. In this work, it is demonstrated that mass transport in PEMECs can be modified by tuning CCLGDL patterns, thus improving the catalyst activation and utilization. The CCLGDL concept promises a future electrode design strategy with a simplified fabrication process and enhanced catalyst utilization. Furthermore, the CCLGDL concept also shows great potential in being a powerful tool for in situ reaction interface research in PEMECs and other energy conversion devices with solid polymer electrolytes.

08 HYDROGEN↗

DOE OSTI2020

Improved CO 2 utilization efficiency using membrane carbonation in outdoor raceways

Membrane carbonation, the delivery of CO 2 by diffusion through non-porous hollow fiber membranes, was successfully integrated into outdoor raceways (5.6 m 2 , 900 L) and operated continuously for up to 45 days. Biomass productivity associated with membrane carbonation was similar to using traditional sparging, but the average carbon utilization efficiencies for membrane carbonation was 3-fold higher than for sparging when 100% CO 2 was delivered to both systems. Here, when the pH setpoint was 8.5, growth on ammonium bicarbonate using membrane carbonation achieved a carbon utilization efficiency of 106 ± 45% due to uptake of some carbon from bicarbonate. Using nitrate as the N source had a 78 ± 55% carbon utilization efficiency, due to dissolved inorganic carbon accumulation as the medium alkalinity increased. Lowering the pH setpoint to 8.0 created a carbon-rich environment that decreased the carbon utilization efficiency to 51 ± 27% due to CO 2 off-gassing, but it still was 3-fold higher than with sparging.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2022

Customer trust in their utility company and interest in household-level battery storage

Here we seek to contribute to understanding household interest in battery storage, particularly the role of customer trust in their utility company. Using data from a survey of California households, we examine whether customers’ trust in their utility company is associated with their interest in battery storage. We find that customer trust that their utility company acts in their best interest is associated with lower levels of interest. Trust that the utility company is competent has some effect. Perceptions that battery storage has financial and environmental benefits and low nonmonetary costs are also associated with higher levels of interest.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

DOE OSTI2018

Methane utilization in Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum 20Z R : a systems approach

Biological methane utilization, one of the main sinks of the greenhouse gas in nature, represents an attractive platform for production of fuels and value-added chemicals. Despite the progress made in our understanding of the individual parts of methane utilization, our knowledge of how the whole-cell metabolic network is organized and coordinated is limited. Attractive growth and methane-conversion rates, a complete and expert-annotated genome sequence, as well as large enzymatic, 13 C-labeling, and transcriptomic datasets make Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum 20Z R an exceptional model system for investigating methane utilization networks. Here we present a comprehensive metabolic framework of methane and methanol utilization in M. alcaliphilum 20Z R . A set of novel metabolic reactions governing carbon distribution across central pathways in methanotrophic bacteria was predicted by in-silico simulations and confirmed by global non-targeted metabolomics and enzymatic evidences. Our data highlight the importance of substitution of ATP-linked steps with PPi-dependent reactions and support the presence of a carbon shunt from acetyl-CoA to the pentose-phosphate pathway and highly branched TCA cycle. The diverged TCA reactions promote balance between anabolic reactions and redox demands. As a result, the computational framework of C 1 -metabolism in methanotrophic bacteria can represent an efficient tool for metabolic engineering or ecosystem modeling.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2020

Piecewise Linear Optimization for Public EV Charging Depots in Different Utility Environments

With the proliferation of electric vehicles (EVs), EV supply equipment technology is being pushed to increasingly higher power levels, such as extreme fast charging (XFC) at 300kW or more. As more public XFC depots are connected to electric distribution systems, utility operators will mitigate their impact with pricing schemes and programs such as demand response, demand charges, and time-varying prices. In this paper we describe an XFC management system that combines an on-site battery energy storage system and an optimization application that minimizes the cost to operate the depot in light of the utility pricing programs. We have designed the optimizer specially to use fast and simple linear programming so that it can be deployed to low-cost computing platforms. We also describe how several utility pricing schemes are integrated into a single piecewise model, reducing the engineering effort to implement the optimizer in different utility environments.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

DOE OSTI2024

UTILITY CONTRIBUTION TO ARC FLASH STUDIES

The utility contribution input to an arc flash study has a significant effect on the output incident energy. Accurate input data can be difficult to obtain from serving utilities or is not consistently available. Defaulting to infinite bus can provide non-conservative results. This focus session poster will discuss the challenges with utility contribution with examples and suggest approaches to calculate conservative incident energy when the utility contribution data is not made available.

Arc flash study, utility contribution data, incide↗

DOE OSTI2026

Substitution or Shared Utilization? Intrahousehold Vehicle Use in Mixed-Powertrain Households

While previous research has focused heavily on understanding the factors deriving alternative fuel vehicle adoption rates, there remains a significant gap in understanding how households distribute mileage across different powertrains. This study utilizes data from the 2022 Next Generation National Household Travel Survey to investigate vehicle miles traveled within a sample of 150 plug-in electric vehicle (PEV)-owning households (in which at least one battery electric vehicle is present), characterizing how different powertrains are integrated into daily mobility. Leveraging a Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) framework the study jointly models the utilization of PEVs, hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), and internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) while accounting for household-level substitution effects. The results provide evidence of an asymmetric substitution effect. In households with mixed-powertrain configurations, the ICEV captures a substantially higher share of household miles (compared with the PEV), acting as a utility sponge. Conversely, the model identifies specific socioeconomic and geographic cohorts that prioritize PEV as the primary household workhorse, indicating a systematic sorting effect. Although the sample size limits broader generalizability, these findings suggest that PEVs are used for frequent, specific routine-intensive roles, whereas the ICEV remains a specialized utility vehicle. These insights highlight distinct intrahousehold vehicle use behaviors that are often obscured by aggregate fleetwide statistics.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2019

Creative Outcome as Implausible Utility

Two perspectives are used to reframe Simonton’s recent three-factor definition of creative outcome. The first perspective is functional: that creative ideas are those that add significantly to knowledge by providing both utility and learning. The second perspective is calculational: that learning can be estimated by the change in probabilistic beliefs about an idea’s utility before and after it has played out in its environment. The results of the reframing are proposed conceptual and mathematical definitions of (a) creative outcome as the product of two overarching factors (utility and learning) and (b) learning as a function of two subsidiary factors (blindness reduction and surprise). Learning will be shown to depend much more strongly on surprise than on blindness reduction, so creative outcome may then also be defined as “implausible utility.”

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2015

Utilization Analysis in Low-Temperature Geothermal Play Fairway Analysis for the Appalachian Basin (GPFA-AB)

This submission of Utilization Analysis data to the Geothermal Data Repository (GDR) node of the National Geothermal Data System (NGDS) is in support of Phase 1 Low Temperature Geothermal Play Fairway Analysis for the Appalachian Basin. The submission includes data pertinent to the methods and results of an analysis of the Surface Levelized Cost of Heat (SLCOH) for US Census Bureau Places within the study area. This was calculated using a modification of a program called GEOPHIRES, available at http://koenraadbeckers.net/geophires/index.php. The MATLAB modules used in conjunction with GEOPHIRES, the MATLAB data input file, the GEOPHIRES output data file, and an explanation of the software components have been provided. Results of the SLCOH analysis appear on 4 .png image files as mapped risk of heat utilization. For each of the 4 image (.png) files, there is an accompanying georeferenced TIF (.tif) file by the same name. In addition to calculating SLCOH, this Task 4 also identified many sites that may be prospects for use of a geothermal district heating system, based on their size and industry, rather than on the SLCOH. An industry sorted listing of the sites (.xlsx) and a map of these sites plotted as a layer onto different iterations of maps combining the three geological risk factors (Thermal Quality, Natural Reservoir Quality, and Risk of Seismicity) has been provided. In addition to the 6 image (.png) files of the maps in this series, a shape (.shp) file and 7 associated files are included as well. Finally, supporting files (.pdf) describing the utilization analysis methodology and summarizing the anticipated permitting for a deep district heating system are supplied. UPDATE: Newer version of the Utilization Analysis has been added here: https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/878

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2026

Utility Finder (U-Finder) Tool

U-Finder allows users to search for and identify local utility partners and electric vehicle charger incentives by state or ZIP code. U-Finder pulls from the Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level Database of Electric Retail Service Territories to identify utility service territories. Utility incentive listings are provided by utility associations, and state government incentive listings are pulled from the Alternative Fuels Data Center Laws and Incentives website. ![U Finder landing page](ufinder-landing.png)

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

DOE OSTI2026

Utility Rate Database

The Utility Rate Database is a free storehouse of rate structure information from utilities in the United States. The database includes rates for utilities based on the authoritative list of U.S. utility companies maintained by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

DOE OSTI2016

Advanced Grid-Friendly Controls Demonstration Project for Utility-Scale PV Power Plants

A typical photovoltaic (PV) power plant consists of multiple power electronic inverters and can contribute to grid stability and reliability through sophisticated 'grid-friendly' controls. The availability and dissemination of actual test data showing the viability of advanced utility-scale PV controls among all industry stakeholders can leverage PV's value from being simply an energy resource to providing additional ancillary services that range from variability smoothing and frequency regulation to power quality. Strategically partnering with a selected utility and/or PV power plant operator is a key condition for a successful demonstration project. The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Solar Energy Technologies Office selected the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to be a principal investigator in a two-year project with goals to (1) identify a potential partner(s), (2) develop a detailed scope of work and test plan for a field project to demonstrate the gird-friendly capabilities of utility-scale PV power plants, (3) facilitate conducting actual demonstration tests, and (4) disseminate test results among industry stakeholders via a joint NREL/DOE publication and participation in relevant technical conferences. The project implementation took place in FY 2014 and FY 2015. In FY14, NREL established collaborations with AES and First Solar Electric, LLC, to conduct demonstration testing on their utility-scale PV power plants in Puerto Rico and Texas, respectively, and developed test plans for each partner. Both Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas expressed interest in this project because of the importance of such advanced controls for the reliable operation of their power systems under high penetration levels of variable renewable generation. During FY15, testing was completed on both plants, and a large amount of test data was produced and analyzed that demonstrates the ability of PV power plants to provide various types of new grid-friendly controls.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2016

Planning for a Distributed Disruption: Innovative Practices for Incorporating Distributed Solar into Utility Planning

The rapid growth of distributed solar photovoltaics (DPV) has critical implications for U.S. utility planning processes. This report informs utility planning through a comparative analysis of roughly 30 recent utility integrated resource plans or other generation planning studies, transmission planning studies, and distribution system plans. It reveals a spectrum of approaches to incorporating DPV across nine key planning areas, and it identifies areas where even the best current practices might be enhanced. (1) Forecasting DPV deployment: Because it explicitly captures several predictive factors, customer-adoption modeling is the most comprehensive forecasting approach. It could be combined with other forecasting methods to generate a range of potential futures. (2) Ensuring robustness of decisions to uncertain DPV quantities: using a capacity-expansion model to develop least-cost plans for various scenarios accounts for changes in net load and the generation portfolio; an innovative variation of this approach combines multiple per-scenario plans with trigger events, which indicate when conditions have changed sufficiently from the expected to trigger modifications in resource-acquisition strategy. (3) Characterizing DPV as a resource option: Today's most comprehensive plans account for all of DPV's monetary costs and benefits. An enhanced approach would address non-monetary and societal impacts as well. (4) Incorporating the non-dispatchability of DPV into planning: Rather than having a distinct innovative practice, innovation in this area is represented by evolving methods for capturing this important aspect of DPV. (5) Accounting for DPV's location-specific factors: The innovative propensity-to-adopt method employs several factors to predict future DPV locations. Another emerging utility innovation is locating DPV strategically to enhance its benefits. (6) Estimating DPV's impact on transmission and distribution investments: Innovative practices are being implemented to evaluate system needs, hosting capacities, and system investments needed to accommodate DPV deployment. (7) Estimating avoided losses associated with DPV: A time-differentiated marginal loss rate provides the most comprehensive estimate of avoided losses due to DPV, but no studies appear to use it. (8) Considering changes in DPV's value with higher solar penetration: Innovative methods for addressing the value changes at high solar penetrations are lacking among the studies we evaluate. (9) Integrating DPV in planning across generation, transmission, and distribution: A few states and regions have started to develop more comprehensive processes that link planning forums, but there are still many issues to address.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2020

Distributed Solar Utility Tariff and Revenue Impact Analysis: A Guidebook for International Practitioners

Depending on a range of technical, economic, policy, regulatory, and market-related factors, the adoption of DPV may have a net positive or negative financial impact on utilities and ratepayers. This guidebook provides a methodological approach for quantifying the net financial impact of DPV on utilities (in the form of “net revenue losses”) and ratepayers (in the form of “net tariff impacts”). Written for technical staff at utilities, regulatory bodies, energy ministries, research institutes, and civil society organizations who wish to better understand the financial impacts of DPV in their jurisdiction, this guidebook can be used to inform important decisions regarding DPV compensation, tariff design, and regulatory cost allocations, among other aspects. It is focused exclusively on customer-sited DPV systems and adopts a primarily cost-based (as opposed to an equally valid value-based) perspective to understanding DPV financial impacts. The approach for calculating net revenue losses can be applied in nearly any utility jurisdiction, regardless of institutional arrangements, business models, or regulatory paradigms.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

DOE OSTI2021

Enhancement of the Acoma Utility Authority

The goal of this project was to establish an energy utility department within the existing Pueblo of Acoma Utility Authority (PAUA). The ultimate goal is for PAUA to establish a self-sustaining energy utility department within its existing organization, to help fulfill its mission of providing safe and reliable utilities services to the community at an affordable cost, while promoting conservation and efficiency.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

DOE OSTI2018

Operational Performance Characterization of a Heat Pump System Utilizing Recycled Water as Heat Sink and Heat Source in a Cool and Dry Climate

The wastewater leaving from homes and businesses contains abundant low-grade energy, which can be utilized through heat pump technology to heat and cool buildings. Although the energy in the wastewater has been successfully utilized to condition buildings in other countries, it is barely utilized in the United States, until recently. In 2013, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science at Denver, the United States implemented a unique heat pump system that utilizes recycled wastewater from a municipal water system to cool and heat its 13,000 m 2 new addition. This recycled water heat pump (RWHP) system uses seven 105 kW (cooling capacity) modular water-to-water heat pumps (WWHPs). Each WWHP uses R-410A refrigerant, has two compressors, and can independently provide either 52 °C hot water (HW) or 7 °C chilled water (CHW) to the building. This paper presents performance characterization results of this RWHP system based on the measured data from December 2014 through August 2015. The annual energy consumption of the RWHP system was also calculated and compared with that of a baseline Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system which meets the minimum energy efficiencies that are allowed by American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) 90.1-2013. The performance analysis results indicate that recycled water temperatures were favorable for effective operation of heat pumps. As a result, on an annual basis, the RWHP system avoided 50% of source energy consumption (resulting from reduction in natural gas consumption although electricity consumption was increased slightly), reduced CO 2 emissions by 41%, and saved 34% in energy costs as compared with the baseline system.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

DOE OSTI2023

Estimating the Drivers of the Cost of Saved Electricity in Utility Customer-Funded Energy Efficiency Programs

Energy efficiency programs funded by utility customers provide an electricity resource in most U.S. states, but their scale and cost of saving electricity varies significantly by state. In this paper, we explore the drivers of the cost of saved electricity in these programs with an econometric model and nearly a decade of data reported by efficiency program administrators. We found strong evidence for economies of scale and weak evidence for diseconomies of scale, which suggests that states with low levels of efficiency savings relative to retail sales can increase the size of their efficiency programs without large increases to the cost of saved electricity. We discuss examples of energy efficiency forecasting and potential modeling in light our econometric analysis and identify methodological improvements relevant to utilities and grid operators. This paper provides insights into the economics of customer-funded efficiency programs that will support regulators, utilities, and policymakers to utilize energy efficiency as a resource.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

NASA NTRS2014

Microorganism Utilization for Synthetic Milk Production

A desired architecture for long duration spaceflight, such as aboard the International Space Station (ISS) or for future missions to Mars, is to provide a supply of fresh food crops for the astronauts. However, some crops can create a high proportion of inedible plant waste. The main goal of this project was to produce the components of milk (sugar, lipid, protein) from inedible plant waste by utilizing microorganisms (fungi, yeast, bacteria). Of particular interest was utilizing the valuable polysaccharide, cellulose, found in plant waste, to naturally fuel- through microorganism cellular metabolism- the creation of sugar (glucose), lipid (milk fat), and protein (casein) to produce a synthetic edible food product. Environmental conditions such as pH, temperature, carbon source, aeration, and choice microorganisms were optimized in the laboratory and the desired end-products, sugars and lipids, were analyzed. Trichoderma reesei, a known cellulolytic fungus, was utilized to drive the production of glucose, with the intent that the produced glucose would serve as the carbon source for milk fat production and be a substitute for the milk sugar lactose. Lipid production would be carried out by Rhodosporidium toruloides, yeast known to accumulate those lipids that are typically found in milk fat. Results showed that glucose and total lipid content were below what was expected during this phase of experimentation. In addition, individual analysis of six fatty acids revealed that the percentage of each fatty acid was lower than naturally produced bovine milk. Overall, this research indicates that microorganisms could be utilized to breakdown inedible solid waste to produce useable products.

Utilization↗