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At least 343 records · Page 19

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DOE OSTI2014

The RenewElec Project: Variable Renewable Energy and the Power System (Final Report)

Variable energy resources, such as wind power, now produce about 4% of U.S. electricity. They can play a significantly expanded role if the U.S. adopts a systems approach that considers affordability, security and reliability. Reaching a 20-30% renewable portfolio standard goal is possible, but not without changes in the management and regulation of the power system, including accurately assessing and preparing for the operational effects of renewable generation. The RenewElec project will help the nation make the transition to the use of significant amounts of electric generation from variable and intermittent sources of renewable power.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

NASA NTRS1999

Estimation of Mass-Loss Rates from Emission Line Profiles in the UV Spectra of Cool Stars

The photon-scattering winds of cool, low-gravity stars (K-M giants and supergiants) produce absorption features in the strong chromospheric emission lines. This provides us with an opportunity to assess important parameters of the wind, including flow and turbulent velocities, the optical depth of the wind above the region of photon creation, and the star's mass-loss rate. We have used the Lamers et al. Sobolev with Exact Integration (SEI) radiative transfer code along with simple models of the outer atmospheric structure to compute synthetic line profiles for comparison with the observed line profiles. The SEI code has the advantage of being computationally fast and allows a great number of possible wind models to be examined. We therefore use it here to obtain initial first-order estimates of the wind parameters. More sophisticated, but more time-consuming and resource intensive calculations will be performed at a later date, using the SEI-deduced wind parameters as a starting point. A comparison of the profiles over a range of wind velocity laws, turbulence values, and line opacities allows us to constrain the wind parameters, and to estimate the mass-loss rates. We have applied this analysis technique (using lines of Mg II, 0 I, and Fe II) so far to four stars: the normal K5-giant alpha Tau, the hybrid K-giant gamma Dra, the K5 supergiant lambda Vel, and the M-giant gamma Cru. We present in this paper a description of the technique, including the assumptions which go into its use, an assessment of its robustness, and the results of our analysis.

Carpenter, K. G.↗

DOE OSTI2018

Costs and consequences of wind turbine wake effects arising from uncoordinated wind energy development

Optimal wind farm locations require a strong and reliable wind resource and access to transmission lines. As onshore and offshore wind energy grows, preferred locations become saturated with numerous wind farms. An upwind wind farm generates 'wake effects' (decreases in downwind wind speeds) that undermine a downwind wind farm's power generation and revenues. Here we use a diverse set of analysis tools from the atmospheric science, economic and legal communities to assess costs and consequences of these wake effects, focusing on a West Texas case study. We show that although wake effects vary with atmospheric conditions, they are discernible in monthly power production. In stably stratified atmospheric conditions, wakes can extend 50+ km downwind, resulting in economic losses of several million dollars over six years for our case study. However, our investigation of the legal literature shows no legal guidance for protecting existing wind farms from such significant impacts.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2022

Circular Economy Modeling Efforts at NREL: Circular Economy Lifecycle Analysis and Visualization (CELAVI) and the Circular Economy Agent-Based Model (ABM)

Circular Economy (CE) aims at decoupling human activities from economic growth and resource use. While CE economic and environmental benefits are often touted by its proponents, increased circularity and improved sustainability do not necessarily go hand-in-hand. The Circular Economy Lifecycle Assessment and Visualization (CELAVI) framework simulates the transition of renewable energy technology supply chains towards circularity and quantifies spatially explicit environmental impacts and supply chain costs. Using wind blade end-of-life (EOL) management as a case study, this presentation will highlight CELAVI's features. Furthermore, envisioned extension to the framework could improve the stakeholder decision model by accounting for logistical and other factors. The CELAVI framework could be leveraged to answer crucial questions regarding renewables EOL management.

circular economy↗

DOE OSTI2022

Addressing Market Issues in Electrical Power Systems with Large Shares of Variable Renewable Energy

This paper reports recent findings from IEA Wind TCP Task 25, which compiles international experiences and research related to large-scale integration of wind and other renewable energy. In the paper, we address the main challenges for market integration of variable renewable energy, relating to price formation, cost recovery, balancing and other grid services. The paper gives an overview of recent scenario studies on electricity price impacts of (1) various generation, energy storage and demand types in different markets, and (2) different market designs and energy/climate policies. Studying markets with very high shares of variable renewable energy requires an improved set of analysis tools for forecasting market outcomes, estimating flexibility needs and sources, and assessing resource adequacy. Key market features need to be investigated within these improved analytical capabilities for systems transitioning to high shares of variable renewable energy, storage and flexible demand. System services that can be supported by markets will likely need to be revisited. Finally, this paper identifies open questions and suggested future market design work for supporting systems with very high shares of variable renewable energy, which are to be addressed in follow-up work of Task 25 collaborative research.

cost recovery↗

DOE OSTI2021

Insights for Canadian electricity generation planning from an integrated assessment model: Should we be more cautious about hydropower cost overruns?

Hydropower accounts for approximately 60% of electricity generation in Canada, with growth expected in the coming decades as part of renewable energy transitions; however, frequent cost overruns threaten the viability of this growth. Here, using the integrated assessment model GCAM, we develop an endogenous representation of hydropower for Canada that accounts for market dynamics, thus permitting analysis of hydropower competition with other electricity generation technologies, both with and without cost overruns. Results show that modelling hydropower resources endogenously increases Canadian hydropower deployment relative to an assumption of fixed hydropower production, from 417 to 495 TWh annually by 2050. In scenarios that apply cost overruns at historical levels, hydropower loses market share to more easily scalable technologies like wind power. When including high cost overrun assumptions, the model determines that hydropower falls from about 73% to 65% of Canadian electricity generation by 2050, while wind power increases from about 8% to 11%. Countries may be better able to achieve electrification and renewable energy targets at lower cost by avoiding large-scale, overrun-prone hydropower and nuclear generation projects. Model results support that cost overruns are important considerations for policy decisions related to electricity sector development in Canada and elsewhere.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

DOE OSTI2024

Unseen Winds: Harnessing High-Altitude Winds in the Southeast USA

This project aims to identify potential sites in the United States for further testing and development of airborne wind energy systems (AWES). Through industry questionnaires and interviews with AWES companies, the study assesses existing test sites' capabilities and gaps, leading to a three-tiered test site strategy: short-duration prototype demonstrations, long-duration technical assessments and power validations, and airspace interaction and deconfliction studies. Notably, the southeastern United States presents significant potential for AWES due to its lack of traditional wind turbines, which is attributed to low wind speeds at lower altitudes. However, wind conditions improve significantly at higher altitudes, making this region a promising candidate for AWES deployment. The project considers factors such as wind resources, infrastructure proximity, social acceptance, and environmental impacts to recommend sites that can support the unique needs of AWES manufacturers and facilitate their commercialization. Early findings suggest rural communities with low grid resiliency could benefit economically and technologically from hosting AWES test sites, especially with operator training centers and potential for long-term skilled employment in future disaster relief and other applications.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2018

Assessment of the Economic Potential of Distributed Wind in Colorado, Minnesota, and New York

This work seeks to identify current and future spatial distributions of economic potential for behind-the-meter distributed wind, serving primarily rural or suburban homes, farms, and manufacturing facilities in Colorado, Minnesota, and New York. These states were identified by technical experts based on their current favorability for distributed wind deployment. We use NREL's Distributed Wind Market Demand Model (dWind) (Lantz et al. 2017; Sigrin et al. 2016) to identify and rank counties in each of the states by their overall and per capita potential. From this baseline assessment, we also explore how and where improvements in cost, performance, and other market sensitivities affect distributed wind potential.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2024

Assessment of the impacts of renewable energy variability in long-term decarbonization strategies

To meet the nationally determined contributions proposed by the countries that signed the Paris Agreement, investments must be made in renewable generation technologies such as solar and wind. However, due to their high variability, these technologies pose challenges in terms of meeting demand or generating excess electricity. For this reason, energy system models are designed to capture this variability by considering flexibility technologies. Nevertheless, it is important to note that some energy system models lack integration with other sectors. Therefore, integrated assessment models have been employed to evaluate mitigation strategies, as they endogenously consider the linkages between energy and non-energy sectors. In addition, due to their complexity, these models do not account for the variability of renewable resources. Hence, this research aims to address this issue. Here, this work represents the first attempt to evaluate how the introduction of hourly resolution affects the outcomes of integrated assessment models, specifically focusing on the Global Change Analysis Model (GCAM). We employ a soft-linking approach between the GCAM and the Highway to Renewable Energy Systems model (H2RES, an hourly level energy system model) to accomplish this. The proposed approach is tested using Chile’s Nationally Determined Contributions under different hydrological profiles in the power sector. The results show that it is possible to use the capacity obtained from the Global Change Analysis Model and implement it on an hourly scale. However, the feasibility of implementation depends on high levels of flexibility technologies, such as battery energy storage. When given the choice of investments in renewable sources and flexible technologies, the optimal dispatch of the H2RES model show small differences than those obtained by GCAM-Chile. H2RES differs from GCAM-Chile in approximately 5% for wind and 3% for solar electricity generation in the year 2050. However, feasible integration of significant renewable sources is obtained with relatively high Critical Excess Electricity Production levels, reaching 20% in 2050. This excess electricity is attributed to the necessity for flexible technologies to manage the intermittency of renewables sources when hourly profiles of such sources are considered.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

DOE OSTI2013

Analysis of Renewable Energy Potential on U. S. National Forest Lands

In 2005, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) completed an assessment of the potential for solar and wind energy development on National Forest System (NFS) public lands managed by the US Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service (USFS). This report provides an update of the analysis in the NREL report, and extends the analysis with additional siting factors for solar and wind energy. It also expands the scope to biomass and geothermal energy resources. Hydropower is acknowledged as another major renewable energy source on NFS lands; however, it was not analyzed in this project primarily because of the substantially different analysis that would be needed to identify suitable locations.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Feasibility Study for Renewable Energy Technologies in Alaska Offshore Waters

This study assesses the feasibility of ocean-based renewable energy sources for decarbonizing the energy supply, increasing coastal resilience, and building energy security and independence in Alaska with a focus on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) areas south of the Bering Strait and approximately east of the 169th meridian. Alaska's OCS holds vast renewable energy resource potential including, but not limited to, offshore wind, tidal and wave energy. However, most of this energy resource is "stranded" far from load centers (populations or industrial facilities) that could use the power. Therefore, developing these resources would also require monetizing the resource in some way. In this study we investigate hydrogen production as one monetizing opportunity, and we briefly discuss other possible markets for electricity.

08 HYDROGEN↗

DOE OSTI2019

The Critical Role of International Standards and Certification for the Marine Energy Industry

In 2007 the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) initiated Technical Committee (TC) IEC/TC 114 to develop standards for marine energy converters including wave, tidal and other water current converters. Following the inaugural plenary meeting in 2008, the first IEC/TC 114 Technical Specification (TS), Terminology, was published in 2011 and significant work on the development of other TSs is ongoing. Initial conformity assessment activities began in 2011 and the Marine Energy Operational Management Committee (ME-OMC) of the IEC Renewable Energy (IECRE) System was established in 2014. An update on the status of international, consensus-based, marine energy standards and certification deliverables will be provided, including the development of Renewable Energy Test Reports (RETRs) under the IECRE. Currently, IEC/TC 114 has fourteen participating member (P-Member) countries and thirteen observer member (O-Member) countries. Nine Project Teams (PTs), two Ad-hoc Groups (AHGs), and seven Maintenance Teams (MTs) are engaged in writing new TSs, assessing information on TS applications and preparing the published TSs for release of 2nd Editions. To date, IEC/TC 114 has published ten TSs covering subjects including wave and tidal energy converter performance assessment and wave and tidal resource assessment. Additional TSs are expected to be published in 2019 covering river and ocean thermal energy converters and resources, among others. TSs developed by IEC/TC 114 and applied by the industry are essential to reduce risk and increase confidence in marine energy systems. These TSs serve as the fundamental underpinnings of international, 3rd party conformity assessment systems, such as the IECRE. The IECRE is currently comprised of fifteen Member Bodies and operates three Sectors: Marine Energy (ME), Solar Photovoltaic (PV) and Wind Energy (WE). The IECRE ME sector has reached a critical milestone in the development of 3rd party conformity assessment deliverables for the marine energy industry. With the approval of IECRE 03 Ed. 2 and OD 300-200 Ed. 1, the ME Sector established a mechanism for the acceptance of Renewable Energy Test Laboratories (RETLs) with a scope in the IEC TS 62600-200 (Power Performance Assessment of Electricity Producing Tidal Energy Converters). A three-year transition period for test laboratory self- assessment based on ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation has been implemented to encourage RETL participation in the ME Sector. A detailed review of IEC/TC 114 and ME-OMC activities is provided and the critical connection between the development and implementation of international standards, and the associated conformity assessment rules and procedures, and the continued growth and commercial success of the marine energy industry is highlighted and examined. Emphasis is given to the role standards and certification play in risk reduction, improved quality and reliability, and increased confidence for the entire range of industry stakeholders.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

DOE OSTI2020

A High-resolution Regional Wave Resource Characterization For The U.S. West Coast

Objectives/Scope: Wave resource characterization is a critical step for wave energy converter deployment in the coastal ocean and relies on long-term, high-resolution wave datasets. This study presents a detailed modeling study of the wave resource along the U.S. West Coast (Washington, Oregon, and California), a coastal region that was identified with high wave energy potential in earlier studies. Methods, Procedures, Process: The wave hindcast covers a 32-year period from 1979 to 2010 and is based on a multi-resolution, unstructured-grid SWAN model framework. Model configuration closely follows and meets the requirements recommended by the International Electrotechnical Commission Technical Specification (IEC TS) for wave energy resource assessment and characterization (Class 2 - feasibility study). The model domain covers the entire U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the West Coast and has a spatial resolution varying from ~300 m in the nearshore region (20 km from the shoreline) to ~2500 m within the EEZ and ~5000 m at the open boundary, which extends beyond the EEZ. The model was forced by hourly 2-D wave spectra produced by a two-way nested WaveWatch III model, which covers the global ocean domain and the broader U.S. West Coast region domain with spatial resolutions of 0.5 degree and 10 arc-minutes, respectively. Both wave models are forced by hourly, 0.5-degree wind forcing obtained from NCEP’s Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) product. Results, Observations, Conclusions: The standard model output for the SWAN model includes 3-hourly output for the six IEC wave resource parameters (e.g., omnidirectional wave power) at each grid point and hourly 2-D spectra at more than 50 NDBC buoys. Extensive model validation was achieved by comparing the six model-predicted IEC parameters with those derived from field observations at representative NDBC buoys. The error statistics indicated the model’s satisfactory performance. Further analyses were conducted to systematically evaluate the temporal and spatial distributions of wave energy potential and wave climate along the U.S. West Coast. Results suggest that Washington and Oregon coasts have similar nearshore wave resource, which is significantly higher than resources in Southern California. Strong seasonal variations are also observed, e.g., high wave energy tends to occur in the winter months. In summary, this study produced the first high-resolution, comprehensive dataset on wave energy distribution along the U.S. West Coast. Novel/Additive Information: The results are being used by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to update the MHK Atlas, which was originally derived from NOAA’s 4-arc-minute WaveWatch III model output. In addition, the monthly averaged wave energy climatology dataset can be readily shared to support a variety of research and application efforts within the EEZ of the U.S. West Coast.

Wang, Taiping↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Testing of High-Lift Common Research Model at Takeoff Configurations

The 10% scale High-Lift Common Research Model (CRM-HL) was tested in the NASA Langley 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel (14x22) in support of the NASA Advanced Air Transport Technology (AATT) Project. The main objective of the wind tunnel test was to improve the aerodynamic performance of a representative aircraft model during takeoff operations using localized active flow control (AFC). This approach involves the application of AFC concepts locally to a relatively small region; therefore, it has the potential to cause minimal architectural change to current aircraft configurations. In addition, the power requirements of localized AFC could be supplied with onboard air resources. Recent exploratory studies identified the aileron as a target area for improving lift-to-drag ratio using localized AFC concepts. The idea is to deflect the ailerons beyond their nominal deflection angles and use AFC to reduce flow separation that occurs at larger aileron deflections. Several AFC concepts with different configurations were evaluated with the goal of achieving high-lift performance improvement. The assessment of AFC configurations is reported in a companion paper. The focus of the current paper is to report the data relevant to the CRM-HL takeoff configurations and establish a reference case for localized AFC application. Three takeoff configurations —reference, nominal, and high-lift improved—are documented. These takeoff configurations are obtained by varying aileron deflection. Wind tunnel measurements including surface static pressures and force and moment data are presented. In addition, surface tuft flow visualization, mainly on the aileron, is provided to understand the flow characteristics developed over the aileron during takeoff.

Lift-to-Drag↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Testing of High-Lift Common Research Model at Takeoff Configurations

Wind tunnel test↗

DOE OSTI2020

Probabilistic Assessment of High-Renewables Power Systems: Current Work and Future Directions

In a future with higher penetrations of variable and energy-limited resources, the dominant sources of resource adequacy risk begin to shift from (assumed) independent thermal unit outages to spatially- and temporally-correlated weather-driven phenomena. Traditional resource adequacy assessment and planning methods can be ill-suited to such scenarios. This presentation will highlight aspects of NREL's work in adapting and developing new probabilistic methods and tools in anticipation of the needs of the power system planning exercises of tomorrow.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2020

A Time Series Sustainability Assessment of a Partial Energy Portfolio Transition

Energy portfolios are overwhelmingly dependent on fossil fuel resources that perpetuate the consequences associated with climate change. Therefore, it is imperative to transition to more renewable alternatives to limit further harm to the environment. This study presents a univariate time series prediction model that evaluates sustainability outcomes of partial energy transitions. Future electricity generation at the state-level is predicted using exponential smoothing and autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA). The best prediction results are then used as an input for a sustainability assessment of a proposed transition by calculating carbon, water, land, and cost footprints. Missouri, USA was selected as a model testbed due to its dependence on coal. Of the time series methods, ARIMA exhibited the best performance and was used to predict annual electricity generation over a 10-year period. The proposed transition consisted of a one-percent annual decrease of coal’s portfolio share to be replaced with an equal share of solar and wind supply. The sustainability outcomes of the transition demonstrate decreases in carbon and water footprints but increases in land and cost footprints. Decision makers can use the results presented here to better inform strategic provisioning of critical resources in the context of proposed energy transitions.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

NASA NTRS1992

ICE/ISEE plasma wave data analysis

The interval reported on, from Jan. 1990 to Dec. 1991, has been one of continued processing and archiving of ICE plasma wave (pw) data and transition from analysis of ISEE 3 and ICE cometary data to ICE data taken along its cruise trajectory, where coronal mass ejections are the focus of attention. We have continued to examine with great interest the last year of ISEE 3's precomet phase, when it spent considerable time far downwind from Earth, recording conditions upstream, downstream, and across the very weak, distant flank bow shock. Among other motivations was the apparent similarity of some shock and post shock structures to the signatures of the bow wave surrounding comet Giacobini-Zinner, whose ICE-phase data was revisited. While pursuing detailed, second-order scientific inquiries still pending from the late ISEE 3 recordings, we have also sought to position ourselves for study of CME's by instituting a data processing format new to the ISEE 3/ICE pw detector. Processed detector output has always been summarized and archived in 24-hour segments, with all pw channels individually plotted and stacked one above the next down in frequency, with each channel calibrated separately to keep all data patterns equally visible in the plots, regardless of gross differences in energy content at the various frequencies. Since CME's, with their preceding and following solar wind plasmas, can take more than one day to pass by the spacecraft, a more condensed synoptic view of the pw data is required to identify, let alone assess, CME characteristics than has been afforded by the traditional routines. This requirement is addressed in a major new processing initiative in the past two years. Besides our own ongoing and fresh investigations, we have cooperated, within our resources, with studies conducted extramurally by distant colleagues irrespective of the phase of the ISEE 3/ICE mission under scrutiny. The remainder of this report summarizes our processing activities, our investigations, both internal and cooperative, our scientific results, and our publication activity.

Greenstadt, E. W.↗