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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 325 records · Page 18
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Mitigating Voltage Instability in the Saudi Grid for a Decarbonized, Fully Solar Power System

Lately, solar photovoltaic (PV) has received significant interest due to its economic and environmental benefits. As the integration of renewable energy sources (RES) increases into existing power grids, challenges such as the decrease in short circuit ratio (SCR) are introduced. Here, this paper investigates a case study of the Saudi power grid, examining the voltage stability as the grid transitions from traditional power generation to 100% penetration of solar PV gradually. Moreover, the paper explores the relationship between the increase in solar penetration and the potential effects on the short circuit MVA (SCMVA), which could significantly impact the overall SCR of the system. To meet the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) recommendation of maintaining SCR at a particular level, synchronous condensers (SC)s were integrated into the grid. The effectiveness of utilizing SCs to maintain the system voltage at optimal levels in a fully solar grid is also considered. In addition, this paper covers the weak grid analysis via utilizing the Newton-Raphson load flow method, along with PV and QV curve analyses. The purpose behind that is to determine weak bus locations in need of voltage improvements, and to meet the amount of reactive power to be injected. Finally, the amount of power being delivered by SCs will be added progressively in three scenarios to show the enhancements on SCR more precisely.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2025

LLUDA (Low-cost Logging for Ubiquitous Decarbonization and Analysis) [SWR-24-131]

This repository features an Arduino-based GPS logger, called LLUDA, which uses the Adafruit Ultimate GPS FeatherWing with the Adafruit Feather M0 Adalogger, designed to capture and log GPS data in CSV format onto an SD card (embedded inside the Feather M0 Adalogger). The FeatherWing is powered through the vehicle's auxiliary power (from cigarette lighter) socket via a micro USB cable. The data it collects can be used to analyze vehicle operations and support vehicle modeling applications, helping to assess the potential for electrification.

Fakhimi, Setayesh [National Renewable Energy Labor↗
DOE OSTI2021

The Role of Concentrating Solar-Thermal Technologies in a Decarbonized U.S. Grid

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Solar Futures Study explores the roles solar energy technologies could play in the future U.S. energy markets under different scenarios. This report discusses the role of concentrating solar-thermal (CST) technologies in those future scenarios with an emphasis on concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP), which refers to converting thermal energy to electricity. The report begins with an overview of the CSP resource and market status. Next we discuss the results from the grid-scale capacity planning modeling under future scenarios considered in the Solar Futures Study, focusing on the results for CSP and presenting several sensitivity model results not discussed in the main report. We then discuss likely CST research and industry directions over the next decade. Finally we discuss three potential future markets for CST beyond electricity generation -- industrial process heat, solar fuels production, and electric thermal energy storage.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Environmental and Circular Economy Implications of Solar Energy in a Decarbonized U.S. Grid

This report addresses environmental and circular economy (CE) considerations related to solar technologies via novel analysis of the three Solar Futures core scenarios as well as synthesis of published research. We organize these issues into the three basic life cycle phases of a solar technology: manufacturing, operation (including site selection and construction), and EOL. Related environmental justice issues are also explored. Finally, we recommend research and development (R&D) activities that could help clarify challenges and identify solutions. Because PV deployment is projected to be much larger than CSP deployment, we offer a more detailed analysis of PV-related issues.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

An Analysis of PNM's Renewable Reserve Requirements to Meet New Mexico's Decarbonization Goals

Over the next three years, the Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) plans to increase utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity from today’s roughly 330MW to about 1600MW. This massive increase in variable generation—from about 15% to 75% of peak load—will require changes in how PNM operates their system. We characterize the 5 and 30-minute solar and wind forecast errors that the system is likely to experience in order to determine the level of reserves needed to counteract such events. Our focus in this study is on negative forecast error (in other words, shortfalls relative to forecast) – whereas excess variable generation can be curtailed if needed, a shortfall must be compensated for to avoid loss of load. Calculating forecast error requires the use of the same forecasting methods that PNM uses or a reasonable approximation thereof. For wind, we use a persistence forecast on actual 5-minute 2019 wind output data (scaled up to reflect the amount of wind capacity planned for 2025). For solar, we use a formula incorporating the clear sky index (CSI) for the forecast. As the solar on the grid now is a small fraction of what is planned for 2025, we generated 5-minute solar data using 2019 weather inputs. We find that to handle 99.9% of the 5-minute negative forecast errors, a maximum of 275MW of variable generation reserve during daylight hours, and a maximum of 75MW during non-daylight hours, should be sufficient. Note that this variable generation reserve is an additional reserve category that specifies reserves over and above what are currently carried for contingency reserve. This would require a significant increase in reserve relative to what PNM currently carries or can call upon from other utilities per reserve sharing agreements. This variable generation reserve specification may overestimate the actual level needed to deal with PNM’s planned variable generation in 2025. The forecasting methodologies used in this study likely underperform PNM’s forecasting – and better forecasting allows for less reserve. To obtain more precise estimates, it is necessary to consider load and use the same forecasting inputs and methods used by PNM.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Dynamic Decarbonization through Autonomous Physics-Centric Deep Learning and Optimization of Building Operations (Abstract only)

This project directly addresses the primary goal of Area of Interest 2 in the CRADA call: to advance optimization-based integrated energy management systems in commercial and residential buildings. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and its industry partner PassiveLogic aim to accomplish this by reaching three key objectives. First, to ensure a broad impact in the building controls industry, PNNL will extend its open-source library for predictive control synthesis by augmenting its capabilities with data-driven self-learning of building models and auto-calibration of predictive controllers. The effort will focus on building use cases selected in collaboration with PassiveLogic. The team will specifically address the development of methods for data-driven adaptation of building models, investigation of model architectures that best address specific building types, and automated synthesis of differentiable predictive controllers that optimize diverse objectives. Second, PNNL will collaborate with PassiveLogic to integrate the aforementioned methods with PasiveLogic’s advanced controls platform. The collaborative integration effort will inform the developments under the first objective by providing specific data on the attainable performance of model learning on resource-constrained edge computing platforms. This software integration effort will increase the technical maturity of the developed libraries by exploring the use of software integration tools and methods. Third, PNNL and PassiveLogic will work to improve the technology readiness of the developed predictive controllers by testing their performance in relevant test environments, such as high-fidelity simulation, hardware in the loop, and actual test buildings.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2023

TCF Project - Printable low-cost catalyst for Industrial decarbonization (LLNL/MilliporeSigma)

This proposal centers in catalysts for the generation of hydrogen as a renewable energy source and other value- added carbon utilization. The goal of this project is to commercialize an LLNL-developed, low-cost 3D printable graphene oxide/MoS 2 ink tailored for DIW fabrication of a 3D catalyst electrode for hydrogen evolution. LLNL and MS will scale up and field test the catalyst inks for hydrogen evolution, benchmark them against non-3D printed electrodes, and adjust the compositions based on feedback to improve the technology's market potential and customer/user demands.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Detailed Simulation Study to Evaluate Future Transportation Decarbonization Potential

This report is the ninth revision of a continuous-improvement, scenario-based study on program benefits from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office and Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office. With each revision of the study, Argonne made improvements to the assumptions, control strategies at the vehicle level, methodologies, powertrain selections, and the number of vehicles analyzed. In 2019, separate reports were published on the analysis of light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles. From 2020 onwards, summaries for both light- and heavy-duty vehicles are consolidated into one report. The first part of the report covers the impact of technology progress on light-duty vehicles and the second part of the report is devoted to the technology progress assumed for medium- and heavy-duty trucks.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Decarbonizing Cooking Appliances With Hydrogen

A novel hydrogen compatible heterogeneous burner prototype was engineered, fabricated, and evaluated for applications in cooking appliances. The key features targeted and accomplished under this effort included fuel flexibility, tolerance to high hydrogen concentrations (up to 85% in atmospheric design and 100% in premixed design), wide range of thermal power ratings, thermal cycling, reliability, and most importantly safety. The burner was operated in the range of 3000 – 12,000 Btu/h under all practical operating conditions (cold start, hot restart, fuel concentration variance). The heterogeneous oxidation burner technology was evaluated for overall performance targeting safety, reliability, emissions, fuel flexibility, and energy efficiency in a commercial RV and residential cooking range appliance prototypes. The burner demonstrated safe and reliable performance generating infrared heating energy without the consumption of any parasitic energy while using low-cost materials. Performance evaluation testing of the novel IR burner demonstrated fuel flexibility with hydrogen blended natural gas while significantly eliminating air pollutants like NOx and methane and increasing the energy efficiency by up to 20%.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Decarbonizing the U.S. Economy by 2050: A National Blueprint for the Buildings Sector

Residential and commercial buildings are among the largest sources of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States, responsible for more than one-third of total U.S. GHG emissions. There are nearly 130 million existing buildings in the United States, with 40 million new homes and 60 billion square feet of commercial floorspace expected to be constructed between now and 2050. Today, most buildings consume large amounts of energy and cause significant climate pollution to meet our basic needs. Buildings account for 74% of U.S. electricity use and building heating and cooling drives peak electricity demand. Moreover, buildings are where electric vehicles (EVs), solar, storage, heat pumps, water heaters, and other distributed energy resources integrate with the electricity system. Consequently, the buildings sector will play a key role in achieving economywide net-zero emissions by 2050.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2024

Carbon Capture through Membranes - Leveraging Multiphysics Modeling, Dimensional Analysis and Machine Learning to Scale up and Optimize Devices and Processes for Decarbonization

We study the separation performance using membrane modules through dimensional analysis (DA). We formulate the main process equations to identify relevant dimensionless numbers inherent in the physics. In particular, we identify that the critical step in the separation process is mass transfer through the selective layer. Remarkably, the dimensionless feed flow (DFfeed) emerges as a crucial factor in describing this process. Not only does DFfeed directly appear in the governing equations, but it also holds a physical significance associated with the time scales for the mass transfer across the feed side and through the selective layer. Regarding the output performance variables, we consider the recovery, stage cut, productivity and purity. In this context, we profit from experimental data and CFD simulations to evaluate the separation performance of the modules when varying the input flowrate, the scale of the module, and the CO2 permeance. These datasets enable us to establish correlations between performance metrics and the dimensionless feed flow (DFfeed). Using simple power functions of DFfeed, we obtain R2 coefficients exceeding 0.99, indicating the accuracy of the correlations built in the present work. In the future, we wish to use DA to understand key transport mechanisms, predict and control module performance, and challenge the universality of these findings by testing various gas separations across different membrane modules beyond our case study.

Pedrozo, Hector A.↗