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At least 559 records · Page 31

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

DOE OSTI2024

Integrating an Ensemble Reward System into an Off-Policy Reinforcement Learning Algorithm for the Economic Dispatch of Small Modular Reactor-Based Energy Systems

Nuclear Integrated Energy Systems (NIES) have emerged as a comprehensive solution for navigating the changing energy landscape. They combine nuclear power plants with renewable energy sources, storage systems, and smart grid technologies to optimize energy production, distribution, and consumption across sectors, improving efficiency, reliability, and sustainability while addressing challenges associated with variability. The integration of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in NIES offers significant benefits over traditional nuclear facilities, although transferring involves overcoming legal and operational barriers, particularly in economic dispatch. This study proposes a novel off-policy Reinforcement Learning (RL) approach with an ensemble reward system to optimize economic dispatch for nuclear-powered generation companies equipped with an SMR, demonstrating superior accuracy and efficiency when compared to conventional methods and emphasizing RL’s potential to improve NIES profitability and sustainability. Finally, the research attempts to demonstrate the viability of implementing the proposed integrated RL approach in spot energy markets to maximize profits for nuclear-driven generation companies, establishing NIES’ profitability over competitors that rely on fossil fuel-based generation units to meet baseload requirements.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

DOE OSTI2021

The Technical and Economic Potential of Hydrogen within the United States

Hydrogen markets have an opportunity to grow as its value as an energy intermediate increases. Hydrogen’s estimated serviceable consumption potential in the United States is 106 MMT/yr which is a ten-fold increase over the current market size. That opportunity is driven primarily by increased demands for metals refining, biofuel and hydrocarbon production, supplementing the natural gas system, seasonal storage for the electricity grid, and fuel cell electric vehicles. The U.S. has many renewable, nuclear, and fossil resources that each could meet that demand itself. The economic potential, which considers both costs to produce hydrogen and willingness of applications to pay for it, is 22 to 41 MMT/yr. The range is impacted by factors that impact the cost to produce including the price of natural gas and the cost of electrolyzers. It is also impacted by competition to provide the same services as hydrogen including electrification.

electrolysis↗

DOE OSTI2022

FLISR in the Presence of DERs ADMS Test Bed Use Case

Fault location, isolation, and restoration (FLISR) is one of the distribution automation applications that utilities are most interested in. It operates groups of switches on distribution feeders to improve the reliability of power delivery after localizing outages. FLISR is an essential function for enabling a self-healing grid, and it directly affects grid reliability and resilience. The presence of DERs brings both new opportunities and challenges for FLISR applications. For instance, some DERs can work as backup generation sources and help energize local networks so more switching options can be achieved with the coordination of FLISR operations; however, the existence of DERs also brings new challenges. The bidirectional power flow resulting from DERs might require dynamic changes to protective devices' fault current settings, and thus the FLISR application will need to dynamically adjust its operations in coordination with the dynamic protection settings. Also, some FLISR applications make their service restoration decisions and close tie-switches based on predefined rules; however, the presence of DERs and their impact on altering net loads on the local feeder network are not considered. For this use case, the project team is using the FLISR application of the Survalent ADMS operating on a real-time simulation of a feeder from Central Georgia EMC, a cooperative electric utility. The performance of the FLISR application is being evaluated for different locations and combinations of DERs, including grid-forming battery energy storage systems.

ADMS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Development of Prototypical District-Scale Models: Preprint

The U.S. has set the climate goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. District-scale solutions, which include scale-specific opportunities for energy and emissions savings, can be investigated and implemented to help accelerate decarbonization and progress toward this goal. However, there is currently a lack of district-scale models of buildings and community energy systems that can be used to evaluate potential district-scale technologies and strategies across a range of representative community types. This initial work aims to define and develop prototype district models that can be adapted to support the planning, design, and operation of buildings and energy systems in districts considering the complexity and interactions of diverse building loads, weather impacts, distributed energy resources (e.g., PV, EV, electric and thermal energy storage), electric and thermal grid systems, and pricing signals. An overall workflow for developing these prototype district models is established. Stakeholders and potential users of the prototype district models provided technical feedback. The specifications of the selected high priority districts were defined and documented in a scorecard format. An example prototype district model was implemented with the URBANoptTM platform workflows. A case study was performed to demonstrate the model application.

district↗

DOE OSTI2024

Advanced Compressors for CO2-Based Power Cycles and Energy

Pumped thermal energy storage (PTES) is a cost-effective method for grid-scale, long-duration electrical energy storage (LDES). PTES uses a heat pump cycle to transfer thermal energy from a low temperature reservoir (LTR) to a high temperature reservoir (HTR), later using a heat engine cycle to reverse the process. A key component of the PTES system, the heat pump compressor, represents a significant driver to the cost, performance and operating characteristics of the PTES system. For grid-scale charging (>100 MW), traditional compressor scaling charts indicate that the operating conditions needed would be best served by a multistage axial compressor. While frame gas turbine compressors at these power ratings exist and operate at higher pressure ratios than needed for the CO2 PTES system, the inlet pressure and fluid density of this application exceed experience values. A conceptual design of a large-scale CO2 axial compressor was completed, including mean-line estimates of the compressor performance at full power conditions. The results of the conceptual design were used to refine the PTES cycle design, and updated operating conditions provided for further aero design optimization. A roughly one third scale of the first three stages of the 100 MW compressor was designed, built, and tested at relevant PTES charging conditions. Results of this test program are compared against high-resolution computational fluid dynamics models.

Compressor Heat↗

DOE OSTI2023

A simple way to integrate distributed storage into a wholesale electricity market

Abstract Current plans to decarbonize the electric supply system imply that the generation from wind and solar sources will grow substantially. This growth will increase the uncertainty of system operations due to the inherent variability of these renewable sources, and as a result, more reserve capacity will be required to provide the ramping (flexibility) needed for reliable operations. This paper assumes that all of the increased uncertainty comes from wind farms on the grid, and it shows how distributed storage managed locally by aggregators can provide the ramping needed without introducing a separate market for flexibility. This can be accomplished when the aggregators minimize the expected daily cost of the energy purchased from the grid for their customers by submitting optimal bids into the wholesale market with high and low price thresholds for discharging and charging the storage. This model is illustrated using a stochastic multi-period security constrained optimal power flow together with realistic data for a reduction of the network in the Northeast Power Coordinating Council region of the United States. The results show that the bidding strategy for distributed storage provides ramping to the grid just as effectively as storage managed by a system operator.

Lamadrid, Alberto J.↗

DOE OSTI2026

Virtual Power Plant Architecture and Resilient Design

Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) represent a fundamental shift in electric grid operations, aggregating distributed energy resources (DERs) such as solar panels and battery storage to deliver utility-scale grid services traditionally provided by centralized power plants. This report examines the unique architectural, operational, and digital assurance considerations that distinguish VPPs from conventional utility infrastructure as they scale from pilot projects to mainstream deployment across the United States. While VPPs offer significant opportunities for grid modernization and enhanced flexibility, their distributed, multi-stakeholder architecture introduces distinct security challenges that differ fundamentally from traditional generation facilities. The analysis identifies risks in VPP operations, including device-level security gaps, platform vulnerabilities, and communication protocol weaknesses that create expanded attack surfaces compared to centralized power plants. Through examination of real-world incidents and emerging threat patterns, the report demonstrates how some VPPs' reliance on consumer-owned devices, public internet infrastructure, and complex vendor ecosystems require new approaches to digital assurance and operational security. The findings provide practical guidance for utilities, regulators, and aggregators to implement robust security frameworks and operational best practices essential for maintaining grid reliability as VPP deployment accelerates under the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Order 2222 and related regulatory initiatives.

24 - POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

DOE OSTI2022

Experimental performance analysis of a dual source heat pump integrated with thermal energy storage

To mitigate disturbances to the electric grid resulting from the growing penetration of intermittent and decentralized renewable generation, a dual-source (air source and ground source) heat pump (DSHP) integrated with thermal energy storage (TES) was developed. The DSHP can use either ambient air or the shallow subsurface of the ground to provide space heating or space cooling to the building as the conventional heat pump and produce hot/cold water for charging TES. Using dual sources (air and ground) can reduce the required size of the expensive ground heat exchangers while retaining high energy efficiency. During the off-peak period, the DSHP cools/heats the TES with low-cost electricity or overproduced renewable power. The stored cooling/heating energy in the TES is released during peak hours of the electric grid to meet the thermal demands of the building without consuming electricity to run the DSHP. A 2-ton (7 kW) prototype DSHP was developed and integrated with a 50-gallon (189 L) TES tank filled with a phase change material. Field tests were conducted to characterize the performance of the integrated system operating in various operation modes.

Wang, Lingshi↗

DOE OSTI2020

Predictive-Maintenance Practices: For Operational Safety of Battery Energy Storage Systems

Changes in the Demand Profile and a growing role for renewable and distributed generation are leading to rapid evolution in the electric grid. These changes are beginning to considerably strain the transmission and distribution infrastructure. Utilities are increasingly recognizing that the integration of energy storage in the grid infrastructure will help manage intermittency and improve grid reliability. This recognition, coupled with the proliferation of state-level renewable portfolio standards and rapidly declining lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery costs, has led to a surge in the deployment of battery energy storage systems (BESSs). Additionally, although BESSs represented less than 1% of grid-scale energy storage in the United States in 2019, they are the preferred technology to meet growing demand because they are modular, scalable, and easy to deploy across diverse use cases and geographic locations.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2025

Stability Analysis of Parallel Connected Bidirectional WPT System

This paper presents a stability analysis of parallel-connected bi-directional series-series resonant network wireless power transfer (WPT), optimized for Electric Vehicle (EV) charging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) applications. The study addresses critical stability challenges in systems integrated with diverse distributed energy resources (DERs), including photovoltaics, fuel cells, wind turbines, energy storage systems, and the AC grid. The stability of such integrated DC grid systems is paramount for ensuring reliable operation, particularly under varying power flow conditions and dynamic interactions between parallel WPT systems. The analysis included system impedance characterization, state-space modeling, and open and closed-loop stability evaluations. The results demonstrated that the integration of a robust control architecture effectively mitigates instability risks and supports scalable, efficient operation. This work underscores the converter's adaptability and its potential for large-scale deployment in wireless EV charging infrastructures and integrated DC grid systems.

Asa, Erdem [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000190884812)↗

DOE OSTI2024

Probabilistic Sizing of Energy Storage Systems for Reliability and Frequency Security in Wind-Rich Power Grids

The penetration of wind energy has increased significantly in the power grid in recent times. Although wind is abundant, environment-friendly, and cheap, it is variable in nature and does not contribute to system inertia as much as conventional synchronous generators. Coupled with the low inertia contribution, the generation intermittency of wind power leads to reliability and stability issues in the power system. Energy storage systems (ESSs) are among the most prominent alternatives to alleviate these concerns associated with high wind penetration. This paper proposes a planning strategy to size ESS for the reliability and frequency security of wind-rich power grids. A probabilistic methodology for ESS sizing is developed utilizing a composite reliability-based framework with sequential Monte Carlo simulation (MCS). The MCS generates composite reliability indices for the power system, which are employed to obtain the capacity for a reliability energy storage system (RESS). Simultaneously, the MCS-derived probability of synchronization of conventional generators is integrated into an analytical approach for sizing a frequency support energy storage system (FESS). The effect of wind farm dispersion across geographical regions is incorporated in the framework to study possible reductions in the ESS size while maintaining the system reliability and frequency security. Furthermore, the efficacy of the proposed strategy is demonstrated on the RTS-GMLC test system.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2026

Modeling CO 2 flow through faulted/fractured reservoirs using tEDFM in corner-point grids

The interest in underground CO 2 storage has increased significantly over the last decade because of the rising concern about global warming due to the growing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Considering that CO 2 accounts for 80% of these greenhouse gases, carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is regarded as one of the most direct approaches to achieving the net zero carbon target. Although CO 2 storage in deep saline aquifers and depleted gas reservoirs has been studied extensively, most studies use commercial simulators that model faults/fractures by simply modifying the transmissibility in the direction perpendicular to the fault surfaces. Here, this work shows that this simplistic approach ignores the accelerated flow in the directions parallel to the fault plane, leading to significantly higher leakage along the fault surface. To accurately model the flow of CO 2 in faulted reservoirs, we present the first transient embedded discrete fracture model for corner-point grids (tEDFM-CPG). By comparing the results of the tEDFM-CPG to high-resolution reference solutions, we show that this approach is accurate and efficient at predicting CO 2 flow in faulted/fractured reservoirs. Finally, this work presents the use of mixed reality (MR) to efficiently observe CO 2 gas migration in the interior of these corner-point grid systems.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2020

Energy storage emerging: A perspective from the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research

Energy storage is an integral part of modern society. A contemporary example is the lithium (Li)-ion battery, which enabled the launch of the personal electronics revolution in 1991 and the first commercial electric vehicles in 2010. Most recently, Li-ion batteries have expanded into the electricity grid to firm variable renewable generation, increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of transmission and distribution. Important applications continue to emerge including decarbonization of heavy-duty vehicles, rail, maritime shipping, and aviation and the growth of renewable electricity and storage on the grid. This perspective compares energy storage needs and priorities in 2010 with those now and those emerging over the next few decades. The diversity of demands for energy storage requires a diversity of purpose-built batteries designed to meet disparate applications. Advances in the frontier of battery research to achieve transformative performance spanning energy and power density, capacity, charge/discharge times, cost, lifetime, and safety are highlighted, along with strategic research refinements made by the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR) and the broader community to accommodate the changing storage needs and priorities. Innovative experimental tools with higher spatial and temporal resolution, in situ and operando characterization, first-principles simulation, high throughput computation, machine learning, and artificial intelligence work collectively to reveal the origins of the electrochemical phenomena that enable new means of energy storage. This knowledge allows a constructionist approach to materials, chemistries, and architectures, where each atom or molecule plays a prescribed role in realizing batteries with unique performance profiles suitable for emergent demands.

Trahey, Lynn↗

DOE OSTI2021

Implication of production tax credit on economic dispatch for electricity merchants with storage and wind farms

The production tax credit (PTC) promotes wind energy development, reduces power generation costs, and can affect merchants’ joint economic dispatch, particularly for electricity merchants with both energy storage and wind farms. Two common PTC policies are studied – in the first policy, a wind farm receives PTC by selling wind generation to the market and its storage can be used to store energy from the wind generation and energy purchased from the grid but the energy released from the storage cannot receive PTC; in the second policy, the energy released from the storage can also qualify for PTC but purchasing energy from the grid is not allowed. We then employ dynamic programming to study merchants' optimal decision-making while considering PTC and the physical characteristics of storage systems. We analytically show that the state of charge (SOC) range can be segmented into different regions by SOC reference points under two PTC policies. The merchant's optimal action can be conveniently and uniquely determined based on the region within which the current SOC falls. Moreover, this study illustrates that PTC could substantially alter the optimal scheduling policy structures by affecting reference points and their relationships. The results showed that the frequencies for charging and discharging storage decisions decreased with an increase in PTC subsidy. Last, we confirm that, although the first policy allows merchants to buy electricity from the market, the second policy can bring more profits when the PTC is large at the current PTC rates. Furthermore, the findings can provide multistage decision-making guidance to electricity merchants in the wholesale power market.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2024

Power Electronics as an Enabler of the Current and Future Grid: Control Instead of Copper

Power electronics are becoming more pervasive in the power system. Solar, wind and battery energy storage systems regularly connect to the grid using power electronic interfaces. Loads are also increasingly power electronic-based. These changes, coupled with the change in the power system's operating characteristics as more and more renewable energy is integrated into the power system, offer a challenge to power electronic and power system engineers alike - how do we design and operate the power system moving forward?

direct connect↗

DOE OSTI2022

Comparing the economic performance of ice storage and batteries for buildings with on-site PV through model predictive control and optimal sizing

Integrating renewable energy and energy storage systems provides a way of operating the electrical grid system more energy efficiently and stably. Thermal storage and batteries are the most common devices for integration. However, it is not clear which integrated storage system performs better in terms of overall economics. Ice storage has low initial and maintenance costs, but there is an efficiency penalty for charging of storage and it can only shift electrical loads associated with building cooling requirements. A battery's round-trip efficiency, on the contrary, is quite consistent and batteries can be used to shift both HVAC and non-HVAC loads. However, batteries have greater initial costs and a shorter life. Finally, this research presents a tool, using model predictive control and optimal sizing, and provides a case study for comparing life-cycle economics of battery and ice storage systems for commercial buildings that have chillers for cooling and an on-site photovoltaic system.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

DOE OSTI2022

Lithologies and Depositional Environments for the NATCARB Saline Reservoirs

This dataset summarize the results of a literature review performed to define the primary lithologies and depositional environments for the target reservoir units defined by the National Carbon Sequestration Database (NATCARB) Saline reservoir 10km Grid data layer, accessible at https://edx.netl.doe.gov/dataset/natcarb. The potential saline storage reservoirs, defined in the Saline 10km Grid layer and in this sheet as "RESOURCE_NAME", were summarized and a literature review was completed to define the primary lithology and depositional environment, and sometimes a secondary lithology and depositional environment for each rock unit. If no verifiable resources were found during the literature review, the primary and secondary lithology and depositional environments were left blank. This file is organized by sheets for each of the 7 Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships (RCSP): Big Sky Carbon Sequestration Partnership (BSCSP), the Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium (MGSC), the Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (MRCSP), the Plains CO₂ Reduction Partnership (PCOR), the Southeast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (SECARB), the Southwest Regional Partnership on Carbon Storage (SWP), and the West Coast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (WESTCARB). The partnerships last updated the NATCARB database in 2015.

Basin↗

DOE OSTI2022

Charting Hydropower's Role in the Next-Generation Grid

To build a 100% clean energy power sector, the United States is adding more energy storage and variable renewable energy sources, like solar power and wind energy, to the grid. Hydropower and pumped storage hydropower (PSH) can help with both. These technologies already play a key role in providing flexible, low-carbon electricity to the U.S. power grid, and this role will become even more valuable as that grid evolves. That's why researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are analyzing how the U.S. electricity sector could invest in hydropower and PSH using new data and modeling capabilities.

HYDRO ENERGY↗