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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 55 records · Page 3

Planning for the storm: Considering renewable energy for critical infrastructure resilience

This study uses the renewable energy optimization model to assess three critical facilities in North Carolina. Techno-economic results were then compared to analyses completed for critical facilities in California and New York to assess energy system cost effectiveness. Though solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays are cost-effective across each of the three North Carolina facilities, adopting battery storage to enable PV to operate with existing diesel generators in a hybrid energy system reduces the economic value of the system. This is in contrast to more economically viable systems in California and New York. All of these systems also offer unquantified resilience benefits by extending operation from hours to weeks across the facilities. If decision makers were able to value the resilience benefits offered by each system or utility rate structures were changed to incentivize battery storage during normal operations, it would impact these assessments. Even so, this analysis provides decision makers a key set of cost benchmarks when considering how they might improve resilience at their critical operations.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Scalable Energy System Expansion Under Uncertainty Using Multi-Stage Stochastic Optimization

The intermittent nature of power from renewable energy sources poses new challenges for electrical grids. This is due to the variable and uncertain nature of the power output from these resources. These features of renewable generation are becoming more relevant to energy system planning as grids reach higher penetration levels of renewable energy. In this presentation we present approaches for energy system planning based on scalable computational approaches which enable the explicit consideration of operational uncertainties in the planning process. Using multi-stage stochastic programming and the progressive hedging algorithm, we compute energy system expansion decisions on modified versions of the RTS-GMLC test system augmented with large amounts of renewable generation.

MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS) Model Documentation: Version 2019

The Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS) model is a capacity expansion and dispatch model that is primarily used for the contiguous U.S. electric power sector. The model relies on system-wide least cost optimization to estimate the type and location of future generation and transmission capacity. This document describes details of how the model is formulated, how it functions, and many of the key inputs.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS) Model Documentation (Version 2020)

The Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS) model is a capacity expansion and dispatch model that is primarily used for the contiguous U.S. electric power sector. The model relies on system-wide least cost optimization to estimate the type and location of future generation and transmission capacity. This document describes details of how the model is formulated, how it functions, and many of the key inputs.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Exploring the Future Energy Value of Long-Duration Energy Storage

Long-duration energy storage is commonly viewed as a key technology for providing flexibility to the grid and broader energy systems over a multidecadal time frame. However, prior work has typically used present-day grid infrastructures to characterize the relationship between the duration and arbitrage value of storage in electricity markets. This study leverages established National Renewable Energy Laboratory grid planning and operations tools, analysis, and data to execute a price-taker model of an energy storage system for several 8760 h price series representative of current and future contiguous United States grid infrastructures with varying shares of variable renewable energy (VRE). We find that the total value of energy storage typically increases with VRE shares, but any increase in the relative value of longer storage durations over time depends on the region and grid mix. Some regions see incremental value increasing notably, up to 20–40 h in 2050, while others do not. The negative effect of lower roundtrip efficiency on value is also found to be scenario-dependent, with the energy value in higher VRE scenarios being less sensitive to roundtrip efficiency and more supportive of longer storage durations. Long-duration storage value and deployment potential are a function of evolving electricity sector infrastructure, markets, and policy, making it critical to consistently revisit potential long-duration storage contributions to the grid.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Tunisia Renewable Energy Project systems description report

In 1979, the Agency for International Development (AID) initiated a renewable energy project with the Government of Tunisia to develop an institutional capability to plan and institute renewable energy technologies in a rural area. The specific objective of the district energy applications subproject was to demonstrate solar and wind energy systems in a rural village setting. The NASA Lewis Research Center was asked by the AID Near East Bureau to manage and implement this subproject. This report describes the project and gives detailed desciptions of the various systems.

Scudder, L. R.↗

Consumer Guide to Residential Renewable Energy

Learn how installing residential renewable energy systems, such as geothermal heat pumps and wind or solar energy systems, can save energy, lower utility bills, and earn homeowners money. This fact sheet from Energy Saver includes information on how to start planning to install renewable energy systems at home.

residential renewable energy, geothermal heat pump↗

Tierra del Fuego Case Study Capacity Expansion Analysis

This case study, developed by Net Zero World Initiative and the Government of Argentina, examines least-cost decarbonization pathways for Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, utilizing renewable energy, energy storage, hydrogen, and other decarbonization technologies. Being the second largest natural gas producing province in Argentina, Tierra del Fuego has historically relied on natural gas for their energy sector needs. As they look at possible decarbonization pathways, they face challenges due to extreme weather conditions, isolation from the mainland, and low population density. The study utilizes the Engage web application for capacity expansion modeling, addressing both business-as-usual (BAU) and accelerated decarbonization scenarios, with varying degrees of electrification and carbon emission constraints. Key findings reveal that an interconnection with the mainland, high contribution of wind energy development on Tierra del Fuego, energy storage, and hydrogen, coupled with energy-efficient electrification technologies (such as heat pumps and electric vehicles), emerge as the most cost-effective solutions to decarbonize, significantly reducing carbon emissions and total system energy costs. The study explores self-generation and interconnection alternatives, demonstrating the economic advantage of an interconnection of Tierra del Fuego with the mainland, as an alternative to 100% local generation. Sensitivity analyses on wind data sources and temporal resolutions, as well as projected natural gas prices, highlight the influence of external factors on the feasibility of decarbonization pathways. Challenges identified include the practicality of phasing out natural gas, economic uncertainty, cost implications of long-term storage technologies as wind energy increases, and geographical limitations for wind generation. The case study concludes that while substantial emissions reductions can be achieved by 2050, and be competitive with conventional pathways, achieving a full 100% decarbonization by 2050 would entail higher costs, particularly due to the significant reliance on storage solutions with higher contribution of wind energy. The analysis offers valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders in Argentina's energy sector, emphasizing the importance of strategic planning, investment in renewable energy and storage technologies, and careful consideration of local conditions in the transition towards Net Zero targets.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

A country-scale green energy-water-hydrogen nexus: Jordan as a case study

Many developing countries suffer from a shortage of clean energy-water production, causing significant dependency on imported fossil fuel to meet the local energy and freshwater demands. Furthermore, when planning a 100 % renewable energy system (RES) to match the energy demand on an hourly basis, the RES is usually oversized. Hence, unavoidable large amounts of excess energy would be generated during hours of high production, low demand, and fully charged energy storage systems (ESSs). Hence, using Jordan as a case study, this work proposes a novel integrated system of wind, solar photovoltaic (PV), and lithium-ion ESS to match 100 % of the country's energy demand while using the excess generated power to drive reverse osmosis water desalination plants to match the demand of freshwater as well. Furthermore, the remaining excess energy is used for producing green hydrogen. A techno-economic optimizer was developed to show that this concept is indeed feasible. Here, the model was used to scan Jordan for the fitting sites of the highest demand-supply matching and the lowest levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), simultaneously. Three different integration scenarios are presented, namely PV-ESS, wind-ESS, and hybrid PV-wind-ESS RESs. The hybrid system showed the best performance, especially compared to the wind-ESS RES, in terms of total installed capacity (33.37 GW), LCOE (0.0492 USD/kWh), specific water cost (0.3629 USD/m 3 ), and energy and water demand-supply fractions (99.47 and 96.16 %, respectively). Storing desalinated water in natural aquifers was found to be a favorable option to enhance the performance of the three systems, where stored water by the end of the year was sufficient to cover the freshwater requirements for several following years. Finally, the remaining excess energy is used to produce green hydrogen with an annual production of up to 1.37 million tons and a specific cost down to 1.08 USD/kg.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

State and Local Planning for Energy (SLOPE) Platform

This fact sheet outlines the basic overview features, purpose, and additional information for the State and Local Planning for Energy (SLOPE) Platform. SLOPE is a collaboration between nine U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) technology offices and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), integrates and delivers jurisdictionally resolved potential and projection data on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable transportation in an easy-to-access online platform to enable data-driven state and local energy planning and decision-making.

48 EE - Weatherization and Intergovernmental Progr↗

Power Grid Planning with Higher Renewable Share

Power grid planning with a higher renewable share got worldwide attention since the declining cost of renewable energy technologies and greenhouse gas reduction goals continue to drive a transition to a cleaner power grid. Energy professionals from developing countries working to achieve renewable power goals want to learn about NREL's state-of-the-art research efforts in renewable power and power grid planning. Supporting these efforts, the United States Energy Association, Female Leaders in Energy initiative facilitates mid-career female energy professionals from South East Asia to learn from energy professionals from the USA. This presentation gives an overview of NREL scientific research studies on power grid planning with a high renewable share to mid-career female energy professionals.

ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY,POWER TRANSMI↗

Survey and Assessment of the Ocean Renewable Energy Resources in the US Gulf of Mexico

This study was conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and funded by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). It provides a comprehensive feasibility assessment of multiple offshore renewable energy technologies in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) to inform BOEM's strategic plans related to possible Outer Continental Shelf alternative energy leasing activities in the GoM. In coordination with Gulf Coast states, the study includes some information on offshore renewable energy potential in state waters for future energy planning. The goal of the study is to survey potential offshore renewable energy sources in the GoM and quantify their feasibility relating to resource adequacy, technology maturity, and the potential for competitive cost. The study provides a review of available technologies and concepts for generating offshore renewable energy, including a high-level assessment of the current state of each technology and its potential for future advances. It provides a breakdown of resource capacity for each renewable energy technology and a recommendation that offshore wind be pursued for future study as the most promising technology. The renewable technologies that were considered include offshore wind, wave energy, tidal energy, ocean current energy, offshore solar energy, ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC), cold water source cooling, and hydrogen (as a storage medium to utilize existing pipeline infrastructure). The resource capacity for each of these renewable energy sources was quantified for both the gross resource capacity potential (gross resource) and the technical resource capacity potential (technical resource) using the methodology described in an earlier NREL report. Many of these sources are very immature from a commercial perspective, which makes some of the comparisons difficult. In many cases, new methods were developed to estimate nominal power density for each technology type, which were necessary to convert the resource areas into deployable gross and technical resource capacity potentials.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

South Africa’s Appliance Energy Efficiency Standards and Labeling Program

Electricity consumption in South Africa comes with a hefty environmental cost to the society. For every kilowatt-hour (kWh) produced, 1 kilogram (kg) of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is emitted, 1.4 liters of water are used, and 0.37 grams of particulate emissions are released in the atmosphere. These environmental implications result from the large share of electricity produced from coal (91 percent in 2015). While planned new capacity will ramp up renewable energy, the integrated resource plan for the country still projects the share of col to be 64 percent in 2030. Energy savings provide environmental benefits as well as economic benefits. Energy efficiency standards and labeling (S&L) programs are a policy measure proven to save energy. Such programs have been implemented in many countries to remove inefficient technologies and transform markets to more efficient technologies. In this study, we describe the methodology, assumptions and results of a stock turnover modeling tool that estimates the energy savings achievable by South Africa’s S&L program in the residential sector. We show that if regulations are passed in 2020 and effective in 2021 for 10 major end-use adopting international standards best practices, 6 terawatt-hours (TWh) will be saved in 2030 and 9.5 TWh will be saved in 2040, representing a CO 2 mitigation of 3.7 megatonnes (Mt) in 2030 and 5.8 Mt in 2040, which will contribute to the South African government’s international engagement in fighting against climate change through its National Determined Contribution (NDC). Additional environmental benefits include saving of 6.5 billion liters of water in 2030, representing approximately 100 liters per capita in 2030. Air quality will also improve, as 4 kilotons (kt) of particulate emissions will be avoided, as well as 4.3 Mt of sulfur oxides (SOx) and 23 kt of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in 2030.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗