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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 343 records · Page 19
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Water-Fed, Photovoltaic-Driven Anion-Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis for Solar Hydrogen Production

Direct coupled photovoltaic (PV)-electrolysis is a promising approach for low-cost hydrogen production, avoiding the need for separate electricity generation. Without solar concentration, the operating current densities of a PV-electrolyzer are small, and low capital costs are needed to reach hydrogen production cost targets (<$2/kg). Anion-exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzers could be well-suited for this application due to their ability to use platinum group metal (PGM)-free catalysts and operate without supporting electrolytes, but a water-fed PV-AEM system has not yet been demonstrated. In this work, the performance of two AEM electrolyzer designs under pure-water, low-temperature, and diurnal-cycling conditions was evaluated. A simple PV-electrolyzer system design with direct electric coupling to a commercial 84 cm2 Si mini module and passive heating and water flow to the electrolyzer was used for on-sun testing in October 2025. The best-performing PV-AEM system achieved an average solar-to-hydrogen (STH) efficiency of 6.6% and a production rate of 15 mg/kWh/m2 of solar irradiance over 11 days. Minimal electrolyzer corrosion was observed, with no loss in efficiency over the diurnal cycles. While highlighting areas for improved electrolyzer and system design, this work is a proof of concept for distributed hydrogen production using inexpensive and abundant materials.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2020

Will Solar Panels Help When the Power Goes Out? Planning for PV Resilience

PV systems, like all energy systems, must chart a difficult course in order to improve resilience. They need to simultaneously withstand extreme conditions that cause grid power disruptions, be configured in a way that allows electricity to be delivered to meet the PV user's needs, and overcome disruptions arising from solar resource intermittency. Certain considerations reveal themselves as key to a PV system's resilience benefits. Choice of hardware is critical, as is site selection for the PV array. Voluminous evidence in a hurricane context demonstrates that durable hardware, properly maintained and sited, leads to PV systems surviving extreme weather with their functionality intact. Structurally weak or poorly maintained PV equipment, on the other hand, has demonstrated failures during extreme weather events. PV system stakeholders should ensure that best practices are followed for hardware procurement and siting. It is also important to understand that PV systems are not one-size-fits-all. While incorporating islanding capabilities and energy storage into the system's electrical topology will typically enhance resilience, the user's needs will determine the optimally resilient conformation of any given system. These factors - appropriate hardware, siting, maintenance, and system design - are the primary drivers of PV resilience. PV systems possess high potential for resilient energy generation due to their distributed, abundant, and free fuel supply, but the technology itself does not inherently lead to resilient outcomes. Realizing PV's potential for resilience requires consideration of these determinative factors.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Performance of Hybrid Renewable Energy Power System for a Residential Building

Using fossil fuels as the primary way to generate electricity causes a significant effect on the environment. In 2019, more than 64% of the electricity in the United States of America was generated using fossil-fuel resources, while renewable energy (RE) resources contributed to only 17% of the U.S. electricity generation for the same year. Additionally, due to the complex terrain distribution of many states in the U.S., a massive opportunity of utilizing RE resources in rural and remote areas can reduce the cost of electrical grid installation for such areas. In this study, a typical residential building with an average energy utilization of 30.25 kWh/day with a demand peak of 5.34 kW was considered a case study in each state to optimize a hybrid RE system and find the best alternative electrical grid system. This study presents the best configuration between solar and wind energy with different types of energy storage. It was discovered the photovoltaic (PV) solar panels—diesel generators with battery best services in all states. The daily radiation and diesel prices substantially affect the levelized cost of energy (COE) values in each state.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2024

A Neural Network-Based Power Mismatch Elimination Strategy for Integrated Solar and ESS AC/DC Systems (MARS)

The multiport autonomous reconfigurable solar power plant (MARS) is a promising concept for the integration of photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage system (ESS) to the transmission ac grid and a high-voltage direct current (HVdc) link. The presence of PV and ESS in each arm of the MARS results in uneven distribution of active power among different submodules (SMs), thereby leading to unbalanced SM capacitor voltages and potentially compromising the system stability. Moreover, in the case of partial shadings, shaded PV SMs will suffer from decreased power injections causing power mismatch in the MARS system. To address this issue, a neural-network-based power mismatch elimination (NNPME) strategy is proposed in this article. The proposed NNPME strategy optimizes ESS usage and leverages both dc and ac circulating currents to facilitate power transfer among the SMs, arms, and phases of the MARS system. Simulation and control hardware-in-the-loop (cHIL) experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed NNPME strategy. Compared with the traditional approaches, the proposed NNPME strategy can significantly enhance system efficiency and ensure stable and continuous operation, even in the presence of uneven power distribution within the MARS system.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Antigua and Barbuda Distributed Energy Resources Deployment Guidelines

This document is designed to provide comprehensive considerations, best practices and guidance for deployment of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) in Antigua and Barbuda. The document provides lists of various technology selection guidance including technical specifications, requirements and applicable key standards and code associated with key DERs and balance of plant equipment. The document also presents the key microgrid design considerations to integrate the DERs to achieve the economic, decarbonization and resiliency goals. Taking into account sensitive grid for such islands, for grid readiness and screening the potential DER interconnection, general approach is highlighted along with the potential technical interconnection requirements. Furthermore, this document shows the key stakeholders involved in such DER integration and/or microgrid project and how key responsible project team can be qualified. Finally, this document refers to key information about warranties and consumer rights and maintenance of the systems.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2024

Photovoltaic Cable Jackets: A Comparison of Representative Products Using Combined-Accelerated Stress Testing [Slides]

Photovoltaic (PV) cables facilitate the distribution of electricity collected from modules to the energy grid. Durable cabling enables continuous operation of PV installations, whereas cables with a lifetime less than the modules must be replaced - reducing electricity generation and adding to the operating expense. This study primarily focusses on the aging of the key cable types using the combined-accelerated stress testing (C-AST) protocol. Representative cables for utility, building, and control/auxiliary applications were examined. Cable jacket materials examined include: polyolefin, polyethylene, polyamide, poly(vinyl chloride), chlorinated polyethylene, thermoplastic elastomer, and ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber. Specimen characterizations applied include: optical microscopy, mechanical profilometry, instrumented indentation, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A variety of performance and durability characteristics were observed, depending on the base material, polymer formulation, and jacket color. The results from C-AST are analyzed and discussed relative to a recent industry survey on electronic balance of system components in addition to a recent study where similar cables were aged using steady state ultraviolet weathering (International Electrotechnical Commission Technical Specification 62788-7-2). Recommendations are made for the screening, industry qualification, and service life prediction of PV cable jackets.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Advanced Diagnosis and Accelerated Testing of Balance of System Components for Utility Scale PV Installations: October 1, 2022-September 30, 2024

A study of the durability of PV Balance of System components was performed. Specifically, wire cable jackets and cable connectors were examined within the direct current (DC) PV Power Transmission Chain (PTC). Degraded and failed samples have been obtained from utility PV installations to provide feedback on the degradation modes and the related damage-enabling considerations in today's PV systems. An industry interface group (including system owners, system inspectors, component manufacturers, and test labs) was used to help identify and obtain field-failed samples, for feedback (including samples and experimental design), and to facilitate the subsequent dissemination of the results of this study. Samples were empirically studied using accelerated stress testing with steady-state conditions (cable jackets) in addition to combined-accelerated stress testing (cable jackets, connectors and uncapped connectors). Steady-state accelerated testing has been performed using at least one applied stressor (e.g. UV light) to aid understanding of jacket durability relative to its application. Component- and material-focused failure analysis was conducted to develop an understanding and advise the PV industry. In-depth characterization will be applied selectively to field- and artificially aged-samples, to gain scientific understanding of the structural, chemical, electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties enabling degradation.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2024

Sabathani Community Center Solar + Battery Resilience Hub

To meet south Minneapolis, Minnesota's clean energy goals, the community exploring opportunities to transition Sabathani Community Center into a resilience hub to provide critical community services during power outages, including shelter and warmth or cooling, continued food distribution services, and more. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, through the U.S. Department of Energy's Communities LEAP (Local Energy Action Program) pilot, worked with Sabathani to quantify the costs and benefits of installing stand-alone solar photovoltaics (PV) and PV paired with battery systems to reduce energy costs, avoid emissions, and improve resilience.

battery energy storage system↗
DOE OSTI2024

Minneapolis American Indian Center Solar + Battery Resilience Hub

To meet south Minneapolis, Minnesota's clean energy goals, the community exploring opportunities to transition Minneapolis American Indian Center (MAIC) into a resilience hub to provide critical community services during power outages, including shelter and warmth or cooling, continued food distribution services, and more. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, through the U.S. Department of Energy's Communities LEAP (Local Energy Action Program) pilot, worked with MAIC to quantify the costs and benefits of installing stand-alone solar photovoltaics (PV) and PV paired with battery systems to reduce energy costs, avoid emissions, and improve resilience.

BESS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Distribution of the Spectral Response of Cells in Silicon Modules - Mechanisms and Implications

Measurements of the spectral response of cells in a PV module can provide important insight into the physics of the device and are also needed for the accurate calibration of the performance of these devices using solar simulators. While techniques for measuring the spectral response of PV cells are well established, measurement of the spectral response of all cells in a module is not straightforward since in this case one has electrical access to a string of cells and not to cells individually. Here we present a new approach for testing the spectral response of individual cells in silicon modules that allows for the fast mapping of the response at different locations of the module. We show that in some cases the spectral response of different cells in a module can vary considerably and propose an underlying mechanism for this variation. We also discuss the implications of this observation for the uncertainty of the spectral correction and of the I SC calibration using a solar simulator.

modules↗
DOE OSTI2023

Data Analytics for Residential PV from Permit to Interconnect (Final Technical Report)

The main objective of this research is to provide novel insights into the effects of permitting, inspection, and interconnection (PII) processes on PV system installations—and in particular, into the relationship between PII processes and adoption timelines. This research can then be used to clarify the potential effect of various process changes on reducing PII timelines, customer cancellation rates, and related costs nationwide. NREL completed this research by assembling a data set of distributed, largely residential rooftop solar systems less than 50 kilowatts in size from participating solar installers. NREL produced five publications describing the effects that PII processes can have on adoption timelines nationwide, in addition to publishing an interactive data viewer with five years of PII cycle time data. This tool can be used by stakeholders to identify potential adoption timelines by local government.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Security Constrained Economic Optimization of Photovoltaic and Other Distributed Assets

The rapid growth of distributed energy resources (DERs), especially photovoltaic (PV) systems, has introduced new complexities in maintaining grid reliability, stability, and cost-effective operation. This project addresses these challenges by developing and demonstrating a scalable GridOS Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS) that enables secure, real-time optimization and control of DERs at the distribution feeder level.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Assessing the Performance and Impact of PV Technologies on Storage in Hybrid Renewable Systems

Traditional monofacial photovoltaic (mPV) systems are commonly adopted and well-documented because of their lower upfront costs in comparison to bifacial photovoltaic (bPV) systems. This study investigates how PV technologies impact energy storage in grid-scale hybrid renewable systems, focusing on optimizing and assessing the performance of mPV and bPV technologies integrated with pumped storage hydropower. Using Ludington City, Michigan as a case study and analyzing real-world data such as solar irradiance, ambient temperature, and utility-scale load profiles, the research highlights the operational and economic benefits of bPV systems. The results reveal that bPV systems can pump approximately 10.38% more water annually to the upper reservoir while achieving a lower levelized cost of energy ($0.0578/kWh for bPV vs. $0.0672/kWh for mPV). This study underscores the outstanding potential of bPV systems in enhancing energy storage and management strategies, contributing to a more sustainable and resilient renewable energy future.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Stabilizing the Power System in 2035 and Beyond: Evolving from Grid-Following to Grid-Forming Distributed Inverter Controllers (Final Technical Report)

Under existing grid operations, large synchronous generators provide sufficient rotational inertia to form a rigid backbone for the bulk power system. With photovoltaics (PV) forecasted to provide more than 600 GW of generation by 2050 under the U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative objectives, however, it is clear that power electronic inverters will play a dominant role in future systems, and low-inertia stability must be ensured to maintain system reliability. Today, the risks to system stability can be observed on geographically small islands, such as Hawaii, which contain a relatively large amount of installed PV. These risks stem from a fundamental shortcoming of contemporary control strategies—existing inverter controllers cannot guarantee grid stability. Given that future power systems driven by sustainable resources will be characterized by low inertia, locations such as Hawaii provide a glimpse into the obstacles facing future power systems. Considering these challenges, the aim of this project was to develop and demonstrate distributed inverter controllers that enable the reliable control of low-inertia power systems with hundreds of gigawatts of integrated PV.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Merefa Community Microgrid: Conceptual Design and Sequence of Operations [Slides]

A conceptual design is described for a community microgrid in Ukraine. Microgrid resources include solar photovoltaics, battery energy storage, and conventional natural gas fueled reciprocating engine generators. The conceptual architecture was informed by the microgrid developer, NREL subject matter experts, and the application of REopt, an NREL-developed software tool created for identification of least-cost combination of resources for achieving cost savings, resilience, and renewable energy goals. The report includes conceptual architecture, estimates of key summary financial metrics, and sequence of operations.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Solving the duck curve in a smart grid environment using a non-cooperative game theory and dynamic pricing profiles

With the intermittency that comes with electricity generation from renewables, utilizing dynamic pricing will encourage the demand-side to respond in a smart way that would minimize the electricity costs and flatten the net electricity demand curve. Determining the optimal dynamic pricing profile that would leverage distributed storage to flatten the curve is a novel idea that needs to be studied. Moreover, the economic feasibility of utilizing distributed electrical energy storage is still not given in the literature. Therefore, in this paper, a novel way of solving a citywide dynamic model using a bilevel programming algorithm is introduced. The problem is developed as a novel non-cooperative Stackelberg game that utilizes air-conditioning systems and electrical storage through the end-users to determine the optimal dynamic pricing profile. The results show that the combined effect of utilizing demand-side air-conditioning systems and distributed storage together can flatten the curve while employing the optimal dynamic pricing profile. An economic study is performed to determine the economic feasibility of 20 different cases with different battery designs and the level of solar penetration. Three metrics were used to evaluate the economic performance of each case: the levelized cost of storage, the levelized cost of energy, and the simple payback period. Most cases had levelized cost of storage values lower than 0.457 $/kWh, which is the lower bound available in the literature. Seven out of 16 cases have a simple payback period shorter than the lifetime of the system (25 years). The case with a 100 MW PV power plant and a battery storage of size 597 MWh, was found to be the most promising case with a simple payback period of 12.71 years for the photovoltaic plant and 19.86 years for the demand-side investments.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
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↗