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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 667 records · Page 37

Energy Snapshot - Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

This profile provides a snapshot of the energy landscape of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), a commonwealth in political union with the United States that is located in the northern Pacific Ocean. CNMI's electricity rates for residential customers range from $0.21 to $0.35 U.S. dollars (USD) per kilowatt-hour (kWh), above the average U.S. residential rate of $0.13 USD/kWh.

44 EE - Strategic Programs, Energy Transition Init↗

Energy Snapshot - Marshall Islands

This profile provides a snapshot of the energy landscape of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, an island country and a United States associated state near the equator in the Pacific Ocean. Geographically, the country is part of the larger island group of Micronesia. The Marshall Islands electricity rates for residential customers average $0.36 U.S. dollars (USD) per kilowatt-hour (kWh), nearly 3 times the average U.S. residential rate of $0.13 USD/kWh.

44 EE - Strategic Programs, Energy Transition Init↗

Long-term observations reveal non-negligible temperature contributions to moist static energy during the MJO transition from suppressed to active phases

The evolution of moist static energy (MSE) is widely used to understand the organization and propagation of the Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO). Past studies, largely based on reanalysis or short-term observations, have highlighted humidity as the dominant driver of MJO evolution. Using 14 years of bias-corrected radiosonde observations from the Department of Energy – Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (DOE-ARM) Facility site at Manus in the western Pacific, we show that temperature has a significant influence on the vertically-integrated MSE during MJO’s transition from suppressed to active phase. Specifically, during the transition phase in boreal winter (spring), ~48% (~31%) of the vertically-integrated MSE anomalies are attributed to temperature anomalies. This temperature contribution is confined to the mid- and upper troposphere, where temperature and MSE anomalies exhibit a strong correlation. These findings have important implications for MJO theory and provide new constraints for evaluating MJO transition processes in models.

Alex, Nirmal↗

Energy Snapshot - Micronesia

This profile provides a snapshot of the energy landscape of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), a sovereign nation and U.S.-associated state in the western Pacific Ocean. The FSM is made up of more than 600 islands, which presents a significant challenge of delivering electricity to people living on outer islands. The country is striving to overcome electricity access needs, reduce high energy costs, and ensure energy security. Currently, almost all of the electricity produced in Micronesia is dependent upon imported petroleum based fossil fuels, with some solar photovoltaic systems in operation.

44 EE - Strategic Programs, Energy Transition Init↗

Puerto Rico Grid Resilience and Transitions to 100% Renewable Energy Study (PR100)

Puerto Rico has committed to meeting its electricity needs with 100% renewable energy by 2050, along with realizing interim goals of 40% by 2025, 60% by 2040, the phaseout of coal-fired generation by 2028, and a 30% improvement in energy efficiency by 2040 as established in Puerto Rico Energy Public Policy Act (Act 17). To meet these goals and support widespread end-use electrification, Puerto Rico is exploring renewable energy and innovative technologies for energy storage, distributed generation, distribution control, electric vehicles, and energy efficient and responsive loads that can be deployed in each of Puerto Rico's cities and communities. Launched in February 2022, a two-year study entitled Puerto Rico Grid Resilience and Transitions to 100% Renewable Energy (PR100) will perform a comprehensive analysis of stakeholder-driven pathways to Puerto Rico's clean energy future. This fact sheet describes the five activities this robust and objective energy analysis entails.

ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Framework for optimization of long-term, multi-period investment planning of integrated urban energy systems

In order to achieve stringent greenhouse gas emission reductions, a transition of our entire energy system from fossil to renewable resources needs to be designed. Such an energy transition brings two main challenges: most renewables generate variable electric energy, yet most demand is currently not electric (carrier mismatch) and does not always manifest at the same time as supply (temporal mismatch). Integrating multiple energy infrastructures can address both challenges by using the synergy between different energy carriers; building on existing infrastructure, while allowing a robust and flexible integration of the new. This paper proposes an optimization framework for long-term, multi-period investment planning of urban energy systems in an integrated manner. We formulate it as a mixed-integer linear program, combining a capacitated facility location with a multi-dimensional, capacitated network design problem. It includes generation and network expansion planning as well as interconnections between networks and storage infrastructure for each energy system. It can incorporate pathway effects like techno-economic developments, policy measures, and weather variations. The intended use is to support urban decision makers with long-term investment planning, though it can be tailored to fit other geographical or temporal scales. We demonstrate the model using two cases based on an average city in The Netherlands, which wants to reduce its CO 2 -emissions with 95% by 2050. In the first case, we include explicit carbon-emission constraints to study the effects of the carrier mismatch. In the second case, we implement interannual weather variations to analyze the temporal mismatch. The results give valuable insights into the energy transition design strategy for urban decision makers. They also show the future potential, as well as the computational challenges of the optimization framework.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Consumer Benefits of Clean Energy: Renewable Energy

Meeting national and state decarbonization goals requires a transition to clean energy technologies. Energy efficiency, demand flexibility, renewable energy and storage can reduce consumers’ electricity bills, lower total electricity system costs, and provide health and resilience benefits. Berkeley Lab developed a series of briefs that explore these consumer benefits of a clean energy transition. This brief discusses some of the possible consumer benefits of utility-scale and behind the meter renewable energy, with a focus on how these resources can contribute to a low-cost electricity system. It begins with a literature review of modeled impacts, primarily considering consumer benefits, of the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Next, it discusses how utility-scale renewable energy can contribute to a low-cost electricity system (e.g., in some cases, low resource costs relative to other alternatives). It concludes with a discussion of behind-the-meter renewable energy consumer benefits (e.g., reduced host electricity bill, increased property value, resilience).

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Cyber-Informed Engineering Case Study of an Integrated Hydrogen Generation Plant

Strategies for securing digital instrumentation and control (I&C) systems within the nuclear industry are provided by multiple standards and guidance documents. However, since selection and use of security controls outlined in these documents are frequently only considered during or after installation, there are often limitations on their use, such as technological constraints related to design or operation. Furthermore, alternative controls intended to provide the same or similar security countermeasure as the primary control may also be infeasible at these stages, leaving the I&C system vulnerable to cyber-attacks. The limitations associated with ‘bolting on’ security controls late in the systems engineering lifecycle can be reduced by integrating Cyber-Informed Engineering (CIE) into the process. This paper evaluates the use of CIE during the high-level design stage of a hydrogen generation project where heat and electricity are provided by a nuclear power plant. Applying CIE to this project highlighted potential cyber vulnerabilities of the initial design, leading to recommendations for process flow and I&C system design modifications to reduce, and at times eliminate, the risk from both deliberate and unintentional cyber incidents.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Data Sharing as a Catalyst for Expanding the Energy Frontier

As the energy landscape evolves to include technologies such as geothermal energy, comprehensive data become essential for driving innovation and scalability, particularly with the growing use of tools like machine learning and artificial intelligence. In emerging sectors, the cost of gathering high-quality data across large spatial areas can present a significant barrier. A key solution is leveraging existing data from well-established industries like oil and gas. However, the proprietary nature of data in these industries often hinders collaboration. This paper explores how cultivating a culture of data sharing can act as a catalyst for progress, fueling breakthroughs across both conventional and renewable energy sectors. Practical compromises that protect business interests while enabling data access are proposed, and real-world success stories are highlighted, demonstrating how collaboration has accelerated advancements in geothermal, carbon capture, and other innovative technologies.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

Integrated Energy Systems Program Management Plan

In 2012, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) initiated the Nuclear Energy Enabling Technology Program, which includes the Crosscutting Technology Development (CTD) portfolio of subprograms, to conduct research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) to support existing, new and advanced reactor designs and fuel cycle technologies. This program plan describes the Integrated Energy Systems (IES) Program, an element of the CTD portfolio since 2016 that seeks to improve the economic competitiveness, efficiency and environmental performance of nuclear energy systems by expanding their potential application space beyond electricity and optimizing their utilization in the context of the larger U.S. electric and non-electric energy system.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Achieving American Leadership in Cybersecurity and Digital Components Factsheet

The Biden Administration’s efforts to meet 100% clean electricity by 2035 and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 has created opportunities to rebuild American supply chains create new jobs, strengthen community engagement, and spur U.S. economic growth. DOE’s strategy for success in the transition to a clean energy economy hinges on building and maintaining technology supply chains that are advanced, secure, and resilient to cyber threats. As the energy sector grows increasingly globalized, complex, and digitized, the supply chain for digital components of energy systems – including software, virtual platforms and services, and data – is facing greater threats. Nearly all digital components of U.S. energy sector systems are vulnerable to cyber supply chain instability, stemming from a variety of causes and shared among a broad set of interdependent stakeholders. Overall, supply chain risks for digital components in energy sector systems will continue to evolve and likely increase as these systems are increasingly interconnected, digitized, and remotely operated.

CCE↗

Selective activation of methane C–H bond in the presence of methanol

Direct methane to methanol (MTM) conversion over heterogeneous catalysts is a promising route for valorization of methane. The methane C-H bond activation is considered as the key step of the MTM and is the focus of considerable research activity. However, the formed methanol typically suffers from overoxidation largely due to the cleavage of a methanol C-H bond, whose bond dissociation energy is ca. 0.5 eV lower than that of the methane C-H bond, which usually translates to a transition state energy of the methanol C-H bond cleavage that is ca. 0.55 eV lower than that of methane whenever the reactions proceed through a radical mechanism. Furthermore, we propose a general approach for decreasing the transition state energy difference between the CH 4 and CH 3 OH C-H bond dissociation. When a metal-oxide supported cationic transition metal atom and a neighboring oxygen on the oxide surface serve as the active site, the transition state energy difference through a surface-stabilized pathway can be noticeably narrowed as compared with that of a radical pathway. For Ir, Pt and Rh-doped anatase TiO 2 (101), the CH 4 C-H bond activation can be preferred over that of CH 3 OH at significant methanol mole fraction. Also, for PdAu alloys containing adsorbed oxygen and positively charged Pd, calculations suggest in agreement with recent experiments (Science 367 (6474), 193-197) that the CH 4 C-H bond can be selectively activated in the presence of CH 3 OH.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Energy Snapshot – Turks and Caicos

This profile presents a snapshot of the electricity generation and reduction technologies available to Turks and Caicos - a British overseas territory consisting of two groups of islands located southeast of the Bahamas.

44 EE - Strategic Programs, Energy Transition Init↗

Energy Snapshot – U.S. Virgin Islands

This profile provides a snapshot of the energy landscape of the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) - St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix. The Virgin Islands archipelago makes up the northern portion of the Lesser Antilles and the western island group of the Leeward Islands, forming the border between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

44 EE - Strategic Programs, Energy Transition Init↗

Energy Snapshot - St. Vincent and The Grenadines

This profile provides a snapshot of the energy landscape of St Vincent and the Grenadines - islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago.

44 EE - Strategic Programs, Energy Transition Init↗

Energy Snapshot - Dominican Republic

This profile provides a snapshot of the energy landscape of the Dominican Republic, a Caribbean nation that shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti to the west.

44 EE - Strategic Programs, Energy Transition Init↗

Energy Snapshot - Trinidad and Tobago

This profile provides a snapshot of the energy landscape of Trinidad and Tobago, a two-island nation located off the coast of Venezuela. Trinidad and Tobago's electricity rates are some of the lowest in the Caribbean at approximately $0.05 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), well below the regional average of $0.34/kWh.

44 EE - Strategic Programs, Energy Transition Init↗