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Each quarter, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) conducts the Quarterly Solar Industry Update, a presentation of technical trends within the solar industry, to the solar office staff. Each presentation focuses on global and U.S. supply and demand, module and system price, investment trends and business models, and updates on U.S. government programs supporting the solar industry.
Industrial Decarbonization is the phasing out of atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from all aspects of the industrial sector. There are a number of industrial decarbonization strategies, including energy efficiency, electrification, the use of low carbon fuels, and carbon capture.
The Photovoltaic (PV) industry constantly aims for lower costs, higher-efficiency cells, and improved module designs. These trends lead to using new materials, designs, and manufacturing processes, resulting in a continually changing technological landscape. These changes can potentially introduce new, unknown degradation mechanisms and failure modes that are difficult to diagnose, analyze, test, and model. This introduces uncertainty into the expected lifetime of PV modules of 25 years. Furthermore, research efforts aim for up to 50 years of service life while keeping performance degradation at a minimum for decades of outdoor weathering - putting additional pressure on improving the accuracy of long-term durability and reliability assessments. Here there is a need to organize the existing degradation data into an accessible format and to provide industry relevant tools for extrapolation from laboratory to field conditions. Because the core of this type of analysis involves calculations that are complicated but ubiquitous for many degradation processes, an enhanced predictive modeling framework will facilitate the analysis to help researchers keep up with the rapid pace of technological changes. In this work, we present an online tool that can be used to search for and analyze degradation information and extrapolate PV module performance and durability to field exposure. A graphical user interface will aid in the understanding of the results. The prediction tool will be built modular and published as open source, enabling users to expand on the existing framework. We use an integration pipeline approach that allows us to leverage weather data from the National Solar Radiation Database to perform geospatial degradation analysis in the US and worldwide. Our repository will contain various degradation models and material parameters suitable for the reliability and durability assessment of materials and components deployed outdoors. We hope to become a repository that can be used for weathering and degradation analysis for various applications beyond the PV industry.
Research and development into applications for improving equipment condition monitoring programs at nuclear facilities has been around since the 1990s. However, while the field has moved from using data-driven machine learning (ML) algorithms for detection and prediction of equipment degradation and failure to prognostic capabilities, these applications are still not widely used in the U.S. nuclear industry. Additionally, there has been significant effort in designing both data-driven and physics-based artificial intelligence (AI) and ML models for many other potential applications in the nuclear industry, including cyber intrusion detection systems (IDS). However, as the last twenty years in condition-based maintenance research has shown us, there are significant hurdles that must be overcome for deployment of IDS on plant systems. This paper provides a discussion on the practical recommendations that researchers should consider for successful adoption of AI/ML IDS in the nuclear industry.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and various states have designated a variety of cleanup levels ranging from restricted (too much residual contamination to allow any use) to unrestricted or residential. Although there are many potential exposure scenarios, the States of Washington and New Jersey identify only two levels for cleanup of chemical contaminants in soil: 'unrestricted' and 'industrial' (Washington) and 'residential' vs 'non-residential' (New Jersey). Other agencies such as EPA and DOE recognize several levels of recreational use, between unrestricted and industrial, and likewise there are several levels of residential use as well. Cleanup criteria may allow or preclude the use of ground water for drinking, swimming pools, gardens, or lawns. Tribal unrestricted scenarios include the use of water (probably surface water in most scenarios) for sweat lodges, and have calculated high level exposure pathways for both dermal and inhalation pathways as well as ingestion. For residential scenarios, inadvertent ingestion of soil, drinking of ground water, and consumption of local foods represent the highest exposure pathways. Intermediate, recreational pathways may be non-consumptive (hiking, bird watching, photography) or consumptive (hunting, fishing, harvesting plants and medicines), the latter entailing much higher potential exposures. For each land-use there is a corresponding exposure scenario, with different assumptions about the maximally exposed individual, their age, and the amounts of air, water, soil, and foods they consume. For each exposure pathway one can compute the ratio between the exposure assumptions for any two scenarios. The product of the ratios comprises a Vulnerability Index. The index is higher for children than adults. For Washington this Index is reflected in the 'industrial' vs 'unrestricted' soil cleanup levels, which are 43.7 times lower for 'unrestricted'. This paper explores the similarities and differences in the exposure scenarios and vulnerability of the maximally exposed individuals and the consequences of a mismatch between current cleanup levels and possible future land uses. (authors)
The Full Scale Seal (FSS) Experiment is one of various experiments implemented by Andra, within the frame of the French HLW and IL-LLW Deep Geological Repository Project (aka Cigeo) development, to demonstrate the technical feasibility and check the performance of the seals which will be constructed in the shafts, ramps, drifts and disposal vaults, at time of Cigeo underground facilities progressive closure. The FSS experimental objectives, principles and rationale were presented at WM'2013 (Paper 1306): FSS is a technological demonstrator built on surface, inside a concrete made horizontal drift model (also called the 'test box'). FSS is part of the European DOPAS (Demonstration of Plugs and Seals) [2] project, under the umbrella of the Implementing Geological Disposal - Technology Platform (IGD-TP) [3] project. FSS construction activities started in July 2012 and were completed in September 2014. The construction compliance assessment work activities are now ongoing (and will be continued until mid-2015). This paper presents the construction and monitoring story of the FSS components, starting with the construction of a first containment wall based on a low pH self-compacting concrete (SCC), followed by the swelling clay core backfilling sequence and finishing with the erection of a second containment wall based on a low pH shotcrete. The FSS experiment also enabled to qualify the commissioning methods applicable to an industrial sealing work at time of underground operations in the Repository. These commissioning methods are described and the results discussed. The equipment and methods used for the purpose of seal component construction and monitoring are presented. The physical characteristics obtained for each component of the seal are detailed and the compliance of measured values with the initial requirements is commented. The post-mortem work planned (e.g. coring and wire sawing of low pH concrete containment walls, use of penetrometer for the swelling clay core...) is also explained. FSS is a first of a kind experiment, by its size, by the technical choices made. The first technical outcomes were presented to the French Nuclear Authority and to its Technical Support Organization. The successful implementation of the work carried out in the FSS drift model was positively assessed by the evaluators and deemed representative of the real underground conditions (industrial feasibility is proven). This article concludes with a critical analysis of the methods and equipment used, of the results obtained and provides some perspectives of improvement for the construction of the first Cigeo industrial prototype seals scheduled around 2030 in ramps and horizontal drifts (provided the Cigeo construction is authorized in late 2020, and following the licensing request filing scheduled in late 2017). (authors)
The purpose of this white paper is to discuss the importance of having a world class domestic industrial vendor base, capable of supporting the needs of the particle accelerator facilities, and the necessary steps to support and develop such a base in the United States. The paper focuses on economic, regulatory, and policy-driven barriers and hurdles, which presently limit the depth and scope of broader industrial participation in US accelerator facilities. It discusses the international competition landscape and proposes steps to improve the strength and vitality of US industry.
The hydrogen risk generated by radiolysis of organic compounds during a nuclear waste transport is a major issue. The use of irreversible getters is considered to limit this risk. We previously worked on MnO{sub 2}/Ag{sub 2}O getter, in order to better understand the trapping phenomenon and to ensure its reliability. We demonstrated that chemisorption of hydrogen, which is required for its application, has been shown by using several characterization techniques. Proton insertion mechanism in MnO{sub 2} has been elucidated by pair distribution function analysis. Gamma irradiation up to 4 MGy has been performed on MnO{sub 2}/Ag{sub 2}O hydrogen getter and shown that chemical and crystallographic properties are not influenced under gamma irradiation. After those fundamentals studies, industrialization of MnO{sub 2}/Ag{sub 2}O getter preparation has been studied in order to have available getter materials for industrial applications with large amounts of MnO{sub 2}/Ag{sub 2}O powder. The preparation of hydrogen getter at laboratory scale consists of mixing commercial powders with various chemical treatments (grounding, moistening, sonication and drying). The industrialization strategy consists of preparing firstly on a laboratory scale and then increasing the getter preparation up to several kilograms. At each preparation step, hydrogen trapping experiments are performed to confirm the expected performance of getter materials. Several characterizations techniques have been performed (X-Ray Diffraction, Specific Surface Area...) to analyse the properties of the getter and have shown that no impact of upscale preparation is evidenced. (authors)
In February 2009, during his joint address to Congress, President Obama challenged every American to commit to at least one year of college education and set a goal that the United States should once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by the year 2020. This push by the Obama administration reflected the understanding that while a college degree was becoming a prerequisite to obtain many of the jobs in the 21. century economy; the United States still lagged behind other countries with respect to higher education attainment. Because of this, the U.S. is facing a skills gap between the credentials required for the jobs of today and tomorrow, and the number of skilled workers eligible to fill those jobs. Within the energy industry, the skills gap is compounded by two factors: an expanding domestic industry in energy generation and transmission, and an aging workforce set to retire in large numbers. In fact, a 2013 survey administered by Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD) estimates that 36% of the workforce may need to be replaced in the next five years, and nearly 50% will need to be replaced by the year 2023. As a 2014 report by CEWD notes, 'The message for workforce development is clear: qualified and skilled utility technicians and engineers will continue to be in high demand in all types of energy generation, transmission, and distribution jobs'. Simulations provide students the ability to practice proper procedure in a safe environment, test out multiple scenarios to determine an optimal outcome, and repeat practice to solidify learning. Industry currently applies simulation (i.e., 3D Electrical Substation Simulation) as it affords an opportunity for technicians to train in a safe, virtual environment, thus eliminating risks associated with arc flash hazards. The intent of 3D simulation is to enhance the students' understanding of the concepts learned in the course and better prepare students for field work in a related technical discipline. The 3D simulation will reinforce the concepts learned during a specific course and are intended to add real world context to the curriculum. The 3D simulation will be designed such that a student will perform specific job activities incorporating concepts learned during the course. This method of instruction ensures students have an understanding of the concepts and are able to apply the concepts in a real world context. Different scenarios will be developed to ensure a thorough understanding of the concepts with real time feedback when there is a misunderstanding of the concepts. (authors)
The United Kingdom has a legacy of nuclear facilities to decommission and radioactive waste to manage and dispose of. The TRANSCEND programme is an independent research programme with significant participation from industrial organizations that are involved in that decommissioning programme and radioactive waste management. The participation has led to a programme that is both academically robust enough to attract significant funding from the EPSRC, the universities themselves and relevant enough to be supported financially by the industrial partners who see the needs and drivers. The programme offers benefits in terms of the development of people and in enabling and promoting innovation in both hardware and software tools. Industrial engagement is fundamental to being able to capitalise on that innovation. (authors)
Geothermal cost and performance evaluation implemented via technoeconomic assessment (TEA) modeling is critical for the Department of Energy (DOE) and other geothermal industry stakeholders in assessing the current state of geothermal technologies and to identify existing hurdles to commercially viable geothermal development. The Geothermal Electricity Technology Evaluation Model (GETEM) is a major TEA tool used in estimating the economic feasibility and levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of conventional hydrothermal systems and enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). Since 2021, GETEM has been transitioning from an intricate spreadsheet model to a user-friendly tool within the System Advisor Model (SAM) developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Apart from enabling an expanded visibility of the geothermal model among other renewable resources, having GETEM in SAM has the advantage of simulation automation, better usability, updates tracking, active user inputs/feedback, and extended financial modeling. GETEM is used in developing supply curves for the Annual Technology Baseline (ATB). The ATB data are inputs to the Renewable Energy Potential (reV) and the Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS) models. The geothermal module in NREL’s reV model assesses the geothermal energy potential in the conterminous United States by defining the geospatial intersection of geothermal resources with existing grid infrastructure within the constraint of land use characteristics. The ReEDS model is a capacity expansion model used for simulating the long-term build-out and operation of the US generation and transmission system based on current energy costs and policies. To ensure enhanced representation of current industry trends in our model transitions and development, we organized a two-day virtual workshop to elicit geothermal industry stakeholder input and recommendations on our current approaches and assumptions on technoeconomic, resource assessment, and deployment scenarios modeling of geothermal technologies. Participants included developers, operators, investors, regulatory agencies, system modelers, national laboratory researchers, consultants, and other stakeholders. In this workshop, we gained stakeholder insights on current geothermal plant performance (i.e., capacity factors), updated drilling costs and learning curves, and next generation technologies such as closed loop and superhot rock geothermal. Other outcomes from this workshop and its impact on future geothermal development feasibility, resource availability, and capacity expansion studies are compiled and discussed.
Geothermal cost and performance evaluation implemented via techno-economic assessment (TEA) modeling is critical for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and other geothermal industry stakeholders in assessing the current state of geothermal technologies and to identify existing hurdles to commercially viable geothermal development. The Geothermal Electricity Technology Evaluation Model (GETEM) is a major TEA tool used in estimating the economic feasibility and levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of conventional hydrothermal systems and enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). Since 2021, GETEM has been transitioning from an intricate spreadsheet model to a user-friendly tool within the System Advisor Model (SAM) developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Apart from enabling an expanded visibility of the geothermal model among other renewable resources, having GETEM in SAM has the advantage of simulation automation, better usability, updates tracking, active user inputs/feedback, and extended financial modeling. GETEM is used in developing supply curves for NREL's Annual Technology Baseline (ATB), which provides inputs to the Renewable Energy Potential (reV) and the Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS) models. The geothermal module in NREL's reV model assesses the geothermal energy potential in the conterminous United States by defining the geospatial intersection of geothermal resources with existing grid infrastructure within the constraint of land use characteristics. The ReEDS model is a capacity expansion model used for simulating the long-term build-out and operation of the U.S. generation and transmission system based on current energy costs and policies. To ensure enhanced representation of current industry trends in our model transitions and development, we organized a two-day virtual workshop to elicit geothermal industry stakeholder input and recommendations on our current approaches and assumptions on techno-economic, resource assessment, and deployment scenarios modeling of geothermal technologies. Participants included developers, operators, investors, regulatory agencies, system modelers, national laboratory researchers, consultants, and other stakeholders. In this workshop, we gained stakeholder insights on current geothermal plant performance (i.e., capacity factors), updated drilling costs and learning curves, and next-generation technologies such as closed-loop and superhot rock geothermal. Other outcomes from this workshop and its impact on future geothermal development feasibility, resource availability, and capacity expansion studies are compiled and discussed.
Applying combined heat and power concepts to advanced nuclear reactors can enable increased nuclear utilization in the future clean economy, as well as provide safe and reliable clean energy to industrial systems. Analyses have been performed to evaluate the integration of nuclear energy with industrial processes for both clean electricity production and providing process heat for direct use to reduce emissions in the production of chemical commodities. The key research question that needs to be answered is: "What are the prospective approaches for integrating nuclear-generated heat energy into non-electric applications that can facilitate combined heat and power operations by advanced nuclear reactor systems?" This presentation will highlight several case studies showing conceptual designs for thermal delivery systems to integrate small modular reactor (SMR) process steam and electricity with industrial processes including oil refining, hydrogen production, and methanol production.
At the time of writing, the nuclear industry is on the precipice of a long-hoped for, but as-yet-unrealized, “nuclear renaissance.” Nuclear power plants in the United States and around the globe are aging, emphasizing the criticality of this moment. The importance of carbon free power sources combined with advancements in nuclear technology and innovation have brought a new potential landscape. As existing reactors and utilities cope with increased economic pressure by seeking out efficiencies the push towards novel nuclear platforms like microreactors and fission batteries will only increase this quest for efficiency gains, potentially at the detriment of safety. This paper argues that the concepts of efficiency and resiliency are fundamentally linked and that the change in one necessarily affects the other. As nuclear power is known for being incredibly resilient, this dichotomy needs attention from the current wave of research towards nuclear power efficiencies. This paper argues for resiliency at any cost. We argue that this resilience-first approach is the right path for nuclear power to take in this net-zero future. The paper is laid out as follows. Section 1 introduces the economic context and resilient nature of nuclear power. Section 2 discusses efficiency, resiliency, and the struggle between the two in nuclear power. Section 3 exemplifies our argument through case studies in the aviation and manufacturing industries and extends the argument to the nuclear industry. Section 4 concludes with a discussion of the implications of this idea.
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.
Steam generation in the food sector requires substantial energy and cost expenditures, requiring nearly half of its energy intake. Here, we used life cycle assessment and life cycle cost assessment to investigate the cost and energy impacts of steam generating alternatives: NG, biomass and hydrogen boilers and grid-supplied and self-generated electric steam generation systems (electric boilers, renewable thermal energy storage and industrial heat pumps). The analysis starts with a set of average U.S. conditions, where biomass boilers are the most cost-competitive alternative to NG. In a series of scenarios beyond average conditions, the analysis shows energy procurement costs dominate the total life cycle cost for all technologies and, unfortunately, are highly variable geographically and temporally, significantly affecting the viability of the alternatives. Results show that site-energy consumption ranges from 0.3 MMBtu/klb for industrial heat pumps to 1.6 MMBtu/klb for biomass boilers, with heat pumps achieving up to 78% lower energy use compared to natural gas systems. For the steam costs, the results show a range between $\$$8 and $\$$50/klb for NG, with biomass following closely ($\$$11 – $\$$44/klb) and grey hydrogen and IHP next ($\$$13 – $\$$33/klb and $\$$6 - $\$$78/klb), with cost reductions if IHP's cooling is utilized. Factors like operating hours, the need for cooling, and the ability to negotiate utility rates complicate the decision, making site-specific analyses critical. Therefore, we present a decision-making matrix to help manufacturers identify which steam generating technology is the best business decision for their situation. Overall, these results highlight the importance of steam generation for the facility's organizational goals, as well as the criticality of conducting individual site analyses.
Steam systems consume approximately one third of energy applied at U.S. industrial facilities. To reduce energy consumption, steam system energy assessments have been conducted on a wide range of industry types over the course of five years through the Energy Savings Assessment (ESA) program administered by the U.S. Department of Energy (U.S. DOE). ESA energy assessments result in energy efficiency measure recommendations that are given potential energy and energy cost savings and potential implementation cost values. Saving and cost metrics that measure the impact recommended measures will have at facilities, described as percentages of facility baseline energy and energy cost, are developed from ESA data and used in analyses. Developed savings and cost metrics are examined along with implementation and rejection rates of recommended steam system energy efficiency measures. Based on analyses, implementation of steam system energy efficiency measures is driven primarily by cost metrics: payback period and measure implementation cost as a percentage of facility baseline energy cost (implementation cost percentage). Stated reasons for rejecting recommended measures are primarily based upon economic concerns. Additionally, implementation rates of measures are not only functions of savings and cost metrics, but time as well.
This report examines today’s domestic wind workforce, projected workforce needs as the industry grows, and how existing and new programs can meet the wind industry's future education and training needs.