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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Community Geothermal: Soil Conductivity, Borehole Design, Energy Models, and Load Data for a Residential System Development - Hinesburg, VT

This dataset contains materials from the Coalition for Community-Supported Affordable Geothermal Energy Systems (C2SAGES) project, which evaluated the techno-economic feasibility of a community geothermal system for a residential development in Hinesburg, VT. The dataset includes detailed soil conductivity test reports, energy models, borehole design reports, hourly energy loads for heating, cooling, and hot water, and design layouts. EnergyPlus was used to model building energy loads, and Modelica software was applied for geothermal loop sizing based on these loads and soil conductivity results. Python scripts for network design further refined the models. Key files include PDF reports on borehole design (with projections for 1-year, 15-year, and 30-year systems), soil conductivity test results, EnergyPlus modeling outputs, and 2D/3D design drawings in PDF, DWG, and DXF formats. Python notebooks for network design and OnePipe model files are also provided, with Modelica required for viewing certain files. Outputs and modeling data are in various formats including CSV, JPG, HTML, and IDF, with units and data clearly labeled to support understanding of system design and performance for the proposed geothermal solution.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Impact Report: Quantum Systems Accelerator

The Quantum Systems Accelerator (QSA) is a U.S. National Quantum Information Science Research Center established in August 2020 and funded by the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science. QSA is composed of 15 partner institutions— universities and national laboratories—bringing together pioneers of many of today’s unique quantum information science (QIS) and engineering capabilities. Led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), with Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia Labs) as the lead partner, 250+ QSA researchers are catalyzing U.S. leadership in a fast-growing field that seeks solutions to the Nation’s and the world’s most pressing problems by harnessing the laws of quantum mechanics.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Carbondale Community Geothermal Coalition – Replicable Models for Decarbonizing Mixed-Use Rural Communities

The Carbondale Community Geothermal Coalition (CCGC) set out to prove that a fifth-generation geothermal district heating & cooling (5G GDHC) network can be technically feasible, cost-effective, and socially equitable for a small, mixed-use rural community. During Budget Period 1 (Planning & Design) the team: ● Completed a 449 ft thermal-response test confirming excellent ground conductivity (k = 1.69 Btu ft -1 hr -1 °F -1 ) and a benign 56.3 °F undisturbed temperature. Page 1 Final Technical Report for Award Number: DE-EE0010663 ● Built a fully calibrated digital twin (URBANopt → Modelica) for 240 k ft 2 of existing + future buildings. ● Designed a 75-borehole ambient-temperature loop (ATL) augmented by 75 solar-thermal panels, supplying 44 % of district heating and 100 % cooling in Stage-1. ● Produced retrofit bid-ready drawings for the Third Street Center and Second Street Townhomes. ● Reached > 200 community stakeholders and exceeded equity targets (46 % Hispanic/Latinx participation). ● Drafted a multi-tiered workforce plan aligned with Colorado Mountain College (Hispanic Serving Institution) and IGSHPA certifications.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

RAPID Manufacturing Institute Final Report

The Rapid Advancement of Process Intensification Deployment (RAPID) Manufacturing Institute, founded in 2017, is a public/private partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). RAPID promotes the development, deployment and commercialization of Process Intensification (PI) and Modular Chemical Process Intensification (MCPI) technologies, enabling U.S. manufacturing to reduce energy consumption, improve process efficiencies and lower investment and operating costs. This mission was carried out through parallel work breakdown structure elements including the establishment of committees to guide the operations and technical direction of RAPID, the establishment of management practices and institute processes, education and workforce development (EWD), and six technical focus areas for the development of technologies to advance PI and MCPI. Throughout the initial six-year cooperative agreement, RAPID worked to meet performance metrics which focused on the operation and sustainment of the institute, education and workforce development and the development of PI and MCPI for the advancement of U.S. manufacturing. All these metrics were successfully met through a total of 43 projects which leveraged $\$$70M Federal with $\$$90M cost share. As a result of these efforts, 84 private and public organizations were brought together by RAPID as members to co-invest in R&D, commercialization and deployment of innovative technologies. In the research portfolio, 82% of the 38 projects achieved > 20% energy efficiency improvement. A RAPID Test Network was developed with 51 testbed facilities to enable access to resources, facilities, tools, and expertise. Eight EWD programs were also developed with over 13,000 impressions. RAPID’s efforts to research, develop, demonstrate, and deploy high-impact PI and modular process technology solutions have enabled reduced energy use, increased sustainability, and improved profitability for U.S. manufacturing.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2021

Ion Mobility Spectrometry Characterization of the Intermediate Hydrogen-Containing Gold Cluster Au7(PPh3)7H52+

We employ ion mobility spectrometry and density functional theory to determine the structure of Au7(PPh3)7H52+ (PPh3 = triphenylphosphine) which was recently identified by high mass resolution mass spectrometry. Experimental ion-neutral collision cross sections represent the momentum transfer between the ionic clusters and gas molecules averaged over the relative thermal velocities of the colliding pair, thereby providing structural insights. Theoretical calculations indicate the geometry of Au7(PPh3)7H52+ is similar to Au7(PPh3)7+, with three hydrogen atoms bridging two gold atoms and two hydrogen atoms forming single Au–H bonds. Collision induced dissociation products observed during IMS experiments reveal that smaller hydrogen containing clusters may be produced through fragmentation of Au7(PPh3)7H52+. Our findings indicate that hydrogen containing species like Au7(PPh3)7H52+ act as intermediates in the formation of larger phosphine ligated gold clusters. These results advance the understanding and ability to control the mechanisms of size selective cluster formation which is necessary for scalable synthesis of clusters with tailored properties. This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences. M.A.H. acknowledges support from the DOE Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) program. H.H. acknowledges support from the DOE Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientist (WDTS) under the Visiting Faculty Program (VFP). The efforts of K.A.M. and B.H.C. were supported by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (Grant No. HDTRA1-14-1-0023). The research was performed using EMSL, a national scientific user facility sponsored by the DOE’s Office of Biological and Environmental Research and located at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). PNNL is operated by Battelle for DOE under Contract DE-AC05-76RL01830.

Ligare, Marshall R.↗
DOE OSTI2021

ESI-MS Identification of the Cationic Phosphine-Ligated Gold Clusters Au1-Au22: Insight into the Gold-Ligand Ratio and Abundance of Larger Clusters

Triphenylphosphine (PPh3)-ligated gold clusters offer promising potential applications due to their relative ease of synthesis and usefulness in forming advanced cluster architectures. While previous studies reported cationic PPh3-ligated gold clusters with core sizes of Au1 - Au4, Au6 - Au11, and Au¬13 - Au14, there has not been definitive identification by mass spectrometry of larger clusters in the Au12 - Au25¬ range. Herein, we survey a polydisperse solution of cationic PPh3-ligated gold clusters using high mass-resolution (M/?M = 60,000) electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). To improve the sensitivity and mass resolution of larger clusters for unambiguous identification, we increased the number of scan averages and reduced the range of mass collection windows to 200 m/z, thereby mitigating potential mass and ion abundance bias resulting from smaller “building block” gold clusters and other solution components present in higher abundance. In addition to the previously reported clusters, we identified several new species including Au5(PPh3)5+, Au12(PPh3)9HCl2+, Au15(PPh3)9Cl2+, Au16(PPh3)10Cl22+, Au17(PPh3)113+, Au18(PPh3)102+, Au19(PPh3)10Cl2+, Au20(PPh3)12H33+, Au21(PPh3)10Cl2+, and Au22(PPh3)10Cl22+, indicating that a full range of clusters between Au1 - Au22 may be observed in a single polydisperse solution. Considering all of the observed clusters, our findings provide evidence that the “magic number” icosahedral Au13 may be the transition point in cluster growth between smaller clusters, exhibiting a 1:1 gold-to-ligand ratio, and larger clusters, wherein subsequent gold atoms are added to the core without an equal number of accompanying ligands. Our method demonstrates that reducing the range of m/z collection windows and increasing the number of scan averages can improve instrument sensitivity for cationic gold clusters and enable a more complete survey of polydisperse solutions, thereby providing new insights to guide and validate the results of other characterization methods and theoretical calculations. This work was supported by the US Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences. MH acknowledges support from the DOE Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) program. HH acknowledges support from the DOE Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientist (WDTS) under the Visiting Faculty Program (VFP). This work was performed using EMSL, a national scientific user facility sponsored by the DOE's Office of Biological and Environmental Research and located at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). PNNL is a multiprogram national laboratory operated for DOE by Battelle.

Hewitt, Michael↗
DOE OSTI2023

The Impacts of Developing a Port Network for Floating Offshore Wind Energy on the West Coast of the United States

Floating offshore wind is a pre-commercial industry with the potential for significant market growth on the U.S. West Coast in the near future; however, significant investment in port infrastructure will be required to enable the industry to progress from demonstration projects to efficient and cost effective commercial deployment. Developing a system of ports that can enable commercial-scale floating wind development on the West Coast of the United States will require significant levels of funding and coordination between governments, industry, ports, and local communities. A critical first step to strategically planning these resources is understanding the number of ports (and associated investment) that would be required to support different phases of offshore wind projects, including manufacturing, installation, and operation. But simply tallying up these costs is not sufficient to understand how a robust network of ports could impact local communities, the environment, workforce development, the offshore wind industry, and the West Coast region as a whole. In this report, the authors present analyses and perspectives related to port development in California, Oregon, and Washington. We describe the requirements for floating offshore wind ports that conduct manufacturing, installation, and/or service activities, and estimate the investment and time frames required to construct these ports at suitable locations in West Coast states. We develop indicators for the vulnerability and workforce accessibility of coastal communities and consider the potential risks and benefits associated with port development in these locations. We model how the proximity of an offshore wind project to installation and operations ports can impact the levelized cost of energy of the project, and then consider how these costs could be affected by local or foreign supply chains. We build upon these analyses to develop scenarios with increasing levels of offshore wind deployment and port assets on the West Coast and show how these ports could enable deployment goals to be achieved. Finally, we draw upon outreach with key floating wind stakeholders to summarize five key challenges that will need to be overcome to develop a comprehensive port network, and present potential approaches that could help to address these obstacles.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Novel ceramic capacitors with ultrahigh energy density and efficiency (Final Technical Report)

Antiferroelectric ceramics are a special class of material that have shown great potential as the dielectric in electrical capacitors due to their high energy- and power-density. During each charge-discharge cycle, the ceramic undergoes transformation to a ferroelectric phase and resumes its antiferroelectric phase. The hysteresis associated with the transitions leads to a mediocre energy efficiency and service lifetime of antiferroelectric capacitors and, hence, their almost absence in commercial products. Under the support of this research project, we first formulated a universal lattice-compatibility theory that included electrostatic polarization energy along with elastic energy and thermal energy to understand the origin of the hysteresis in antiferroelectric oxides. Guided by this compatibility theory, we conducted high-throughput density functional theory (DFT) calculations to assess chemical modifiers and their effect on crystal structures of 400+ PbZrO 3 -based compositions. Down-selected compositions were experimentally validated for their suppressed hysteresis and higher energy efficiency. The verified low-hysteresis compositions were then expanded to an antiferroelectric ceramic library with nearly 500 new compositions (more than 1,500 samples) using high-throughput experiments involving ceramic synthesis and property screening. The large quantity of data generated (theory and experimental) in these tasks were processed by machine-learning techniques and identified trends were fed to the next iteration. In the end, we successfully discovered four compositions with near-zero hysteresis, yielding a world-record energy efficiency of 98.2% at an energy density of 3.0 J/cm 3 . Furthermore, our antiferroelectric ceramic capacitor reaches 79.5 million charge-discharge cycles lifetime, a factor of 80 enhancement over previous antiferroelectric ceramics with large hysteresis. These research accomplishments have not only met the milestones set in the SOPO, but also led to two patent filings, three journal publications (one of them was in Advanced Materials, impact factor 29.4), and nine oral presentations at various venues. Through the course of the project, three postdocs, four Ph.D. students, and one M.S. student were trained. In short, our project established a new methodology in searching next-generation functional ceramics on the fundamental side and discovered several high-efficiency antiferroelectric compositions for capacitors on the applied side. Once fabricated into the multilayer form for commercial applications, these ceramic capacitors can potentially enable the high temperature high power density DC-link capacitors that are critical for the next generation inverters in electric vehicles. The project also significantly contributed to the nation’s workforce development in the STEM fields.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Educational Consortium for Energy-related Data Science & Computation in Building Engineering Programs

The project spearheaded by Pennsylvania State University aims to address the growing need for integrating energy-focused computation and data science into building engineering education. As the demand for energy-efficient building designs and operations increases, the educational sector must adapt to equip future engineers with the necessary skills. This initiative responds to this need by developing a consortium that unites multiple institutions to enhance curriculum development, dataset curation, and resource sharing, thereby ensuring students are well-prepared for the evolving energy sector. The primary goal of the project is to establish a consortium that will develop and disseminate educational materials and training programs focused on energy-related data science and computation. Key accomplishments include the creation of a beta website for resource sharing, the development of training programs and standalone modules, and the curation of datasets accessible to the public. This effort will culminate in a curriculum that incorporates advanced modeling technologies and data science skills into building engineering programs.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2025

EV Charging Infrastructure Energization An Overview of Approaches for Simplifying and Accelerating Timelines to Processing EV Charging Load Service Requests

The United States has seen significant growth in electric vehicle (EV) adoption, leading to increased demand for EV charging infrastructure. Over the past decade, EV charging infrastructure site developers, site hosts, and electric distribution utilities have navigated the process to integrate chargers onto the electric grid. Site developers and site hosts have raised the alarm that the integration process for high-powered EV charging projects does not meet the needs of the EV market for timeliness or cost. High-powered charging stations typically require a load service request or an agreement with the local utility to connect to the grid. The process of energizing a new high-powered charging site can be complex and time-consuming, often taking up to 2 years. This timeline is the result of current utility energization processes having been designed for construction projects that take longer to build (i.e., buildings). The specific challenges stem from various factors, including compartmentalization in application processes, the integration of EV charging process approvals with other distributed energy resources (DERs), and the need to ensure grid reliability. The energization process needs to evolve to meet the growing demand for high-powered EV charging. This white paper compiles information gathered through various conversations with key stakeholders, including utilities, utility regulators, EV charging operators, site developers, and authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ) as well as through an extensive literature review. This document identifies the challenges and provides potential solutions to streamline the process of connecting EV charging infrastructure to the power grid in the United States, serving as a starting point for future conversations around these solutions. The solutions noted in this white paper require collaborative efforts among utilities, regulators, and EV charging infrastructure developers to streamline the grid connection process for EV charging infrastructure. They are broadly organized into four areas: 1. Increase data access and transparency: Develop automated load service request tools, integrate hosting capacity and load service request analyses, incorporate EV adoption forecasts, and provide transparency on the processing queue. 2. Improve energization processes and timing: Create fast-track options based on prescreening criteria, provide flexibility or phased approvals in the load service request/interconnection process, build internal knowledge within utilities about EV charging technologies, and provide standardized workforce training. 3. Promote economic efficiency: Right size distribution components to accurately reflect the load requirements of EV charging infrastructure, make proactive investments in grid infrastructure based on EV adoption forecasts and growth projections, and consider energy equity and environmental justice factors such as equitable access to EV charging when planning infrastructure. 4. Improve grid reliability and resilience: Use load management/power control systems (PCS) at EV charging stations, adopt and implement harmonized standards for communication protocols and information models between the EV charging and grid control infrastructure, and address cybersecurity considerations by implementing robust security measures and standards for EV charging infrastructure—with particular emphasis on clarifying the security requirements for the interface to the grid. The objective of the solutions proposed in this white paper is to accelerate the timeline and decrease costs associated with connecting EV charging infrastructure to the grid. Electric utilities, utility regulators, EV charging infrastructure developers, and site hosts will first need to understand which solutions are available in their service territory, and if warranted, which combination of solutions would support their specific needs. Through the successful implementations of solutions at scale detailed here, industry will demonstrate a new and innovative ecosystem where timely deployment and energization of EV charging infrastructure with greater grid resiliency and reliability is a reality.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2026

Cybersecurity Workforce Training for SMR Integration into Distribution Grids: A Competency Framework and Containerized Hands-On Lab for the SMR/DER/Microgrid Boundary

Small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors are entering the U.S. distribution grid as synchronous generation on feeders designed for loads and inverter-based distributed energy resources (DERs). No existing cybersecurity training program addresses this intersection of nuclear operations, DER management, and operational technology security. As subcontractor to Iowa State University on the CyDERMS Center, Argonne analyzed the relevant standards and training landscape, translated the resulting gaps into a twelve-objective competency framework across distribution-operator and graduate-analyst role tracks, and built a containerized training lab using a ∼400-bus composite grid model behind a realistically simulated Modbus TCP SCADA stack. The analysis isolates the balance-of-plant / energy-management-system (BOP/EMS) boundary as the critical jurisdictional seam where, as of March 2026, neither NRC nor NERC CIP cleanly claims cybersecurity responsibility for distribution-connected SMRs. The framework maps each objective across NIST CSF 2.0, ISA/IEC 62443, NIST NICE Task–Knowledge–Skill statements, and NRC RG 5.71 awareness-and-training controls. The training lab implements operator-recognition assessment scenarios spanning grid-side disturbances and telemetry-layer anomalies.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2022

MultiSector Dynamics: Advancing the Science of Complex Adaptive Human-Earth Systems

The field of MultiSector Dynamics (MSD) explores the dynamics and co-evolutionary pathways of human and Earth systems with a focus on critical goods, services, and amenities delivered to people through interdependent sectors. This commentary lays out core definitions and concepts, identifies MSD science questions in the context of the current state of knowledge, and describes ongoing activities to expand capacities for open science, leverage revolutions in data and computing, and grow and diversify the MSD workforce. Central to our vision is the ambition of advancing the next generation of complex adaptive human-Earth systems science to better address interconnected risks, increase resilience, and improve sustainability. This will require convergent research and the integration of ideas and methods from multiple disciplines. Understanding the tradeoffs, synergies, and complexities that exist in coupled human-Earth systems is particularly important in the context of energy transitions and increased future shocks.

Reed, Patrick↗
DOE OSTI2020

D and D Research on KM-IT Platform - 20494

The Knowledge Management Information Tool (KM-IT) is a web-based system developed to maintain and preserve the Department of Energy's (DoE's) knowledge base. The system was developed by Florida International University's Applied Research Center (FIU-ARC) with the support of the D and D community including the DOE Office of Environmental Management, and with the collaboration and support of the DoE's Energy Facility Contractors Group (EFCOG) and the former ALARA Centers at Hanford and Savannah. The KM-IT system is a community driven system tailored to serve the technical issues faced by the workforce across the DOE Complex. This KM-IT web-based interactive system is operational and available for use at www.dndkm.org and is currently comprised of the following modules: Web Crawler, Hotline, Technology, Hanford's ALARA Center Reports, Specialist Directory, Lessons Learned, Best Practices, Video/Picture Library, Vendors and Industry News. The Web Crawler dynamically searches through the KM-IT repository as well as the web and displays search results based on the search criteria. The Hotline allows registered users to post questions/problems related to D and D and to receive solutions from a subject-matter specialist. The Technology module serves as repository of D and D technologies and contains technology/ demonstration fact sheets and vendor information. D and D community members can add Lessons Learned, Best Practices, and Pictures/Videos to the D and D repository, after a formal approval process. The Vendor module provides a directory of commercial vendors who provide D and D related technologies, supplies, and services. KM-IT makes an excellent use of the knowledge that exists within the D and D community by allowing D and D project managers around the DOE complex to collaborate by sharing innovative ideas, past experiences, and practices and by maintaining a directory of subject matter specialists. FIU has developed the dedicated module on KM-IT platform to publish D and D research being performed at FIU. This module highlights current EM research efforts and activities in support of D and D being performed at FIU/SRNL associated with fixatives and intumescent products. FIU will expand this module to include the recent and current D and D research being performed across multiple DOE EM sites, national labs and universities. FIU will collaborate with SRNL, INL, ANL and other universities to explore and publish D and D research activities on KM-IT. As a result, the user community will have a centralized location to review new D and D related research across the DOE EM complex. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2025

Modernizing the Nuclear Industry and New Ways of Working

Nuclear energy is recognized as the most feasible energy source towards achieving nation-wide net-zero goals (COP 208, MIT). Additionally, the demand for reliable, consistent energy supply is soaring with the construction of energy hungry data centers and AI tools. This means the construction of new nuclear and the continuation of current nuclear are a high national priority. However, this leaves the nuclear industry with a workforce challenge. The rising demand for nuclear power is threatened by an underpopulated workforce. There exist a few contributors to the decreased workforce such as skewed workforce demographics resulting in large-scale workforce retirement. Also, some plants have observed difficulty hiring and retaining skill sets that typically comprise the nuclear power workforce – specifically skilled craftsman. Those who are graduating with desirable skills are seeking employment in sectors that are more modern and culturally more aligned with younger generational values. Lastly, within the nuclear sector, skilled employees will be a competitive commodity as advanced plants come online offering work environments that incorporate modern technologies, skill sets, and opportunities for career advancement. These factors emphasize the need for legacy plants to modernize with a focus on the workplace environment and culture that meets younger generations’ skills, cultural expectations, and desire for advancement opportunities. Nuclear plants are actively engaged in deploying advancements that improve the management of systems, structures, and components as well as process improvements and technologies that can reduce the costs of operation and maintenance. However, the advancements must also be analyzed, reviewed and deployed in a manner that considers the impact on how people within the organization collaborate, communicate, make decisions, and solve problems. Neglecting to consider the cultural impact of modernization risks poor adoption, unrealized opportunities, or insignificant change toward helping attract new employees. The traditional way of working is not necessarily the way new generations want to engage with their employer. For instance, in a survey performed by North American Young Generation in Nuclear the top three reasons for younger nuclear employees to seek other job opportunities was seeking better work-life balance, a lack of advancement opportunities, and work culture and leadership style differences (Smyth et al. 2022). Integrated Operations for Nuclear (ION) is an approach for the nuclear industry to create long-term strategic modernization plans and analyze each advancement for the impact on people and processes and measure how those impacts flow up to support high-level, long-term plant goals and requirements. One principle of ION is to replace the current labor-centric operation style in legacy nuclear plants with data-centric collaborative operation styles. This paper will explain how transitioning operations to leverage centralized skills and responsibility, multi-skilled teams, and collaborative decision making can flatten the hierarchical structure in plants, enable greater individual efficacy while also offering more experiences and advancement opportunities to staff. Adopting the ION way of working shifts the industry mind-set towards more networked, collaborative, and modern way of working that will attract skilled, next-generation workers to operate the legacy nuclear fleet.

99 - GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2025

From Structured Solvents to Hybrid Materials (SS2HM) for Chemically Selective Capture and Electromagnetic Release of CO 2 : Mechanisms, Stability and Interfaces (Final Report)

The goal of this research program was to develop high capacity sorbents amenable for alternative regeneration approaches for direct air capture (DAC) of CO 2 . In particular, the research aimed to develop an understanding of CO 2 binding mechanism, thermal and oxidative stability, and regeneration energetics of functionalized ionic liquids (ILs), deep eutectic solvents (DESs), and porous materials. ILs and DESs are high-dielectric solvents with structural tunability that permits the rational-design for energy-efficient regeneration approaches based on electromagnetic (EM) field and moisture-swing. By further incorporating these solvents into polymeric capsules and other structural supports, multi-scale interfaces for targeted CO 2 and energy transfers were achieved. Aspects related to CO 2 capacity, selectivity, stability, dielectric properties, and binding energies were examined through experimental and computational design to identify molecular descriptors to inform future design of structured solvents and hybrid materials for DAC. Enclosed final report details the key findings, science advancements, and workforce development efforts from this project.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Simulation-Guided Decision-Making for Enhancing Energy Resilience in a Remote Alaskan Community

The increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events underscore the need to bolster the resilience of energy infrastructure in remote coastal communities exposed to climate hazards. In recent years, considerable effort has been made to harden the grid infrastructure of remote communities through investment in energy storage, advanced metering, renewable generation and energy-efficient loads. However, simulation-based studies are still needed to identify appropriate locations for investment and determine the adequacy of existing infrastructure in supporting new resources. Preparing the required models may often be challenging due to insufficient metering, disparate data sources and workforce limitations. This paper describes modeling efforts undertaken to represent, within a unified co-simulation platform: (a) the electric distribution network and (b) the thermal behavior of a community medical center, in the remote community of Cordova, Alaska. With the help of case-studies, it is shown how the developed simulation platform can help the local utility in making decisions regarding capital investment aimed at enhancing community resilience.

Microgrid, energy storage, resilience↗
DOE OSTI2024

2024 OES-Environmental 2024 State of the Science Report, Chapter 7: Education and Outreach around Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy

The marine renewable energy (MRE) industry has faced many challenges in getting projects in the water. In many cases, this is due to long consenting timelines, and occasionally active public opposition, often related to concerns about environmental effects or potential conflicts with other uses of the ocean space. While these concerns are very real, some of them are based on misconceptions or lack of familiarity with MRE devices and how they function (Boudet et al. 2020; Karytsas & Theodoropoulou 2014), or uncertainty or misinformation regarding how MRE devices may affect the environment. These misconceptions are common challenges for other renewable energy sectors or other developments in the ocean (Caporale et al. 2020; Scott 2022; Wiersma & Devine-Wright 2014), though the details of device design, site-specific environmental effects, risk and benefit perceptions, and workforce development may be unique to MRE

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗
DOE OSTI2022

Enhancing Worker Safety During Off-Site Construction of Energy-Efficient, Low-Carbon Exterior Envelope

The construction industry is not doing enough to embrace off-site modular construction. It is a missed opportunity for optimized energy efficiency because prefabricated exterior wall envelopes are lower in cost and faster and easier to install. Factory off-site construction offers improved safety for construction workers because work is done in a controlled environment, but lack of intent, understanding, and data is also a missed opportunity for enhancing worker safety. This research looks specifically at the prefabricated wall exterior envelope in the context of safety. The research question is "off-site factories build with ease of energy efficiency and lowered carbon emissions, but is the process safer?" This research was funded by NREL Student Training in Applied Research (STAR) program, University Partnerships Program, and Wells Fargo Bank. Key finding is that modular and prefabricated construction are perceived to be safer, but the accident rates are much higher than in the general construction and manufacturing industries. Proposed solutions to decrease accidents in off-site prefabricated construction includes safety training for workers, provide movable kiosks with PPE at workstations, ensure tools are well-maintained and place safety posters in visible locations. Future work includes improving worker safety to increase worker productivity, perform pilot demonstration, work with factory designers for new modular layout for worker safety, i.e., easy access to PPE kiosks, and work closely with OSHA so that they take notice of this safety niche.

drywall↗