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At least 703 records · Page 39

Advanced Laboratory and Field Arrays (ALFA)/Lab Collaboration Project (LCP) for Marine Energy (Final Scientific/Technical Report)

The objective of the Advanced Laboratory and Field Arrays (ALFA) project was to reduce the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) of Marine and Hydrokinetic (MHK) energy by leveraging research, development, and testing capabilities at Oregon State University, University of Washington, and the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. ALFA is a project within the Pacific Marine Energy Center (PMEC; formerly NNMREC), a multi-institution entity with a diverse funding base that focuses on research and development for marine renewables. The ALFA project aimed to accelerate the development of next-generation arrays of wave energy conversion (WEC) and tidal energy conversion (TEC) devices through a suite of field-focused R&D activities spanning a broad range of strategic opportunity areas identified in the Funding Opportunity Announcement: • Device and/or array operation and maintenance (O&M) logistics development; • High-fidelity resource characterization and/or modeling technique development and validation; • Array-specific component technology development (e.g. moorings and foundations, transmission, and other offshore grid components); • Array performance testing and evaluation; and • Novel cost-effective environmental monitoring techniques and instrumentation testing and evaluation. The objective of the Lab Collaboration Project (LCP) was to accelerate the development of next-generation marine energy conversion systems. The LCP aimed to achieve these project objectives in collaboration with the national laboratories by: • Developing concept generation and assessment tools; • Improving access to existing testing resources; • Validating collision risk models between fish and turbines; and • Advancing analysis and simulation capabilities for wave-WEC interactions and PTO analysis in nonlinear ocean waves. The ALFA portion of the project was comprised of six overarching technical tasks: • Task 1: Debris Modeling, Detection and Mitigation; • Task 2: Autonomous Monitoring & Intervention; • Task 3: Resource Characterization for Extreme Conditions; • Task 4: Robust Models for Design of Offshore Anchoring and Mooring Systems; • Task 5: Performance Enhancement for Marine Energy Converter (MEC) Arrays; and • Task 6: Evaluating Sampling Techniques for MHK Biological Monitoring. The LCP was divided into four overarching technical tasks: • Task 7: Project Management and Reporting • Task 8: Novel Design and Assessment Methodologies for Wave Energy Converter Design (Wave- SPARC) • Task 9: Testing Access for Commercial Marine Renewable Energy Technology Developers • Task 10: Quantifying Collision Risk for Fish and Turbines • Task 11: Nonlinear Ocean Waves and PTO Control Strategy Each ALFA/LCP task listed above functioned as a separate and discreet project. A final Technical Report was written for each individual task and these reports were uploaded to OSTI, after receiving DOE approval. The following document is a compilation of each of these final, approved reports arranged as individual chapters.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗

60 years of science in ICF: from conception to scientific breakeven on the National Ignition Facility

The recent achievements of a burning plasma, fusion ignition, and scientific energy gain with deuterium-tritium (DT) fuel at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s National Ignition Facility (NIF) represents a major milestone in the development of inertial confinement fusion (ICF) and all of fusion research. In these experiments, fuel pressures well in excess of hundreds of GBars were achieved in the compressed fuel, and robust alpha heating of the fuel, far in excess of the energy provided by the implosion, were demonstrated for the first time. These achievements occurred 60 years after the inception of ICF and the first laser demonstration, and were made possible by more than five decades of research at laser facilities around the world. Advances in laser technology both in wavelength and precision, motivated by improved understanding of laser-plasma interaction physics and the demands of targets; improvements in target fabrication inspired by the need to control and minimize hydrodynamic instabilities in the implosion; and multi-dimensional simulations and diagnostics have been critical to this achievement. This paper will summarize the scientific and technical advances, the surprises, and the challenges that had to be overcome to achieve these goals.

fusion↗

Clean Energy Roadmap: From Reconstruction to Decarbonization in Ukraine

The Net Zero World Initiative, committed to accelerating decarbonization and fostering more inclusive, equitable, and resilient energy systems, is pleased to support the Government of Ukraine in developing decarbonization pathways for its energy sector. In a collaborative effort to promote the resilience and sustainability of the energy system as part of the country’s reconstruction, the leading US Department of Energy’s national laboratories and distinguished Ukrainian research institutes and think tanks worked on this study. Together, we have developed scenarios for achieving net zero emissions in the energy sector, which are in line with the goals set out in the Energy Strategy of Ukraine through 2050. The Ministry of Energy of Ukraine report will present this report at the Conference of the Parties (COP28).

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Evaluation of 3D pixel silicon sensors for the CMS Phase-2 Inner Tracker

The high-luminosity upgrade of the CERN LHC requires the replacement of the CMS tracking detector to cope with the increased radiation fluence while maintaining its excellent performance. An extensive R&D program, aiming at using 3D pixel silicon sensors in the innermost barrel layer of the detector, has been carried out by CMS in collaboration with the FBK (Trento, Italy) and CNM (Barcelona, Spain) foundries. The sensors will feature a pixel cell size of 25 × 100 µm 2 , with a centrally located electrode connected to the readout chip. The sensors are read out by the RD53A and CROCv1 chips, developed in 65 nm CMOS technology by the RD53 Collaboration, a joint effort between the ATLAS and CMS groups. This paper reports the results achieved in beam test experiments before and after irradiation, up to a fluence of approximately 2 . 6 × 1 0 16 n eq /cm 2 . Measurements of assemblies irradiated to a fluence of 1 × 10 16 n˙eq/cm 2 show a hit detection efficiency higher than 96% at normal incidence, with fewer than 2% of channels masked, across a bias voltage range greater than 50 V . Even after irradiation to a higher fluence of 1.6 × 10 16 n˙eq/cm 2 , similar performance is maintained over a bias voltage range of 30 V , remaining well within CMS requirements.

3D pixel↗

Ta compressibility to 20+ Mbar

Developing techniques for experimentally constraining equation of state (EOS) models for important programmatic materials under extreme conditions is vital for advancing our modeling and predictive capabilities. Tantalum is a frequently used standard material for both calibration and testing, and this report describes our work to both measure Ta compressibility to very high pressures and densities using the Ramp Compression Equation of State platform on the National Ignition Facility (NIF). Using a series of seven shots, increasing in peak pressure with each shot, we have made absolute measurements of the compressibility of Ta along the ramp compression path up to 2.3 TPa. Previous experimental measurements constrained the cold compressibility up to ~400 GPa, and there is a spread in the EOS models above that pressure. To improve communication and collaboration between the experimental team and the EOS development group, these new data, along with other experimental and theoretical constraints, were used to develop a Ta equation of state table, M73000. This report first describes the experimental measurements made at the NIF, and then discusses the construction of the EOS model. The ramp compression data can be found in tabular form in Appendix A. Appendix B contains some additional experimental details. In Appendix C we include some additional details on the EOS modeling. At the end of this document, we have attached a detailed report on the NIF ramp compression platform itself and in the main text referenced specific sections for additional details.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Light Water Sustainability Program: Optimizing Information Automation Using a New Method Based on System-Theoretic Process Analysis

This report describes the interim progress for research supporting the design and optimization of information automation systems for nuclear power plants. Much of the domestic nuclear fleet is currently focused on modernizing technologies and processes, including transitioning toward digitalization in the control room and elsewhere throughout the plant, along with a greater use of automation, artificial intelligence, robotics, and other emerging technologies. While there are significant opportunities to apply these technologies toward greater plant safety, efficiency, and overall cost-effectiveness, optimizing their design and avoiding potential safety and performance risks depends on ensuring that human-performance-related organizational and technical design issues are identified and addressed. This report describes modeling tools and techniques, based on sociotechnical system theory, to support these design goals and their application in the current research effort. The report is intended for senior nuclear energy stakeholders, including regulators, corporate management, and senior plant management. We have developed and employed a method to design an optimized information automation ecosystem (IAE) based on the systems-theoretic constructs underlying sociotechnical systems theory in general and the Systems-Theoretic Accident Modeling and Processes (STAMP) approach in particular. We argue that an IAE can be modeled as an interactive information control system whose behavior can be understood in terms of dynamic control and feedback relationships amongst the system’s technical and organizational components. Up to this point, we have employed a Causal Analysis based on STAMP (CAST) technique to examine a performance- and safety-related incident at an industry partner’s plant that involved the unintentional activation of an emergency diesel generator. This analysis provided insight into the behavior of the plant’s current information control structure within the context of a specific, significant event. Our ongoing analysis is focused on identifying near-term process improvements and longer-term design requirements for an optimized IAE system. The latter analyses will employ a second STAMP-derived technique, System-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA). STPA is a useful modeling tool for generating and analyzing actual or potential information control structures. Finally, we have begun modeling plantwide organizational relationships and processes. Organizational system modeling will supplement our CAST and STPA findings and provide a basis for mapping out a plantwide information control architecture. CAST analysis findings indicate an important underlying contributor to the incident under investigation, and a significant risk to information automation system performance, was perceived schedule pressure, which exposed weaknesses in interdepartmental coordination between and within responsible plant organizations and challenged the resilience of established plant processes, until a human caused the initiating event. These findings are discussed in terms of their risk to overall system performance and their implications for information automation system resilience and brittleness. We present two preliminary information automation models. The proactive issue resolution model is a test case of an information automation concept with significant near-term potential for application and subsequent reduction in significant plant events. The IAE model is a more general representation of a broader, plantwide information automation system. From our results, we have generated a set of preliminary system-level requirements and safety constraints. These requirements will be further developed over the remainder of our project in collaboration with nuclear industry subject matter experts and specialists in the technical systems under consideration. Additionally, we will continue to pursue the system analyses initiated in the first part of our effort, with a particular emphasis on STPA as the main tool to identify weak or weakening control structures that affect the resilience of organizations and programs. Our intent is to broaden the scope of the analysis from an individual use case to a related set of use cases (e.g., maintenance tasks, compliance tasks) with similar human-system performance challenges. This will enable more generalized findings to refine the Proactive Issue Resolution and IAE models, as well as their system-level requirements and safety constraints. We will use organizational system modeling analyses to supplement STPA findings and model development. We conclude the report with a set of summary recommendations and an initial draft list of system-level requirements and safety constraints for optimized information automation systems.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

Inclusive Shared Solar Initiative (ISSI) (Final Technical Report)

Between 2020 and 2024, the Inclusive Shared Solar Initiative (ISSI) served as a forum for three states to navigate the design and development of LMI-accessible community solar projects. A collaboration between the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) and National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA), ISSI provided financial and technical assistance to teams of State Energy Offices and State LIHEAP Agencies in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. The key goals guiding ISSI were to develop four new community solar frameworks in three new states and create greater momentum among state governments, community solar developers, and the finance community in scaling and investing in community solar projects that are affordable and accessible to LIHEAP households. Ultimately, in addition to developing and launching four new shared solar projects serving LMI subscribers, the ISSI state partners pioneered community solar policy and program design strategies that increased protections for low-income consumers, reduced barriers to enrollment and project development, and fostered inter-program coordination.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Development and Commercialization of a Nanosegrated Oxygen Evolution Reaction Electrocatalyst (CRADA)

This collaborative project leverages advanced characterization tools, catalyst treatment and electrochemical testing capabilities at LBNL to help commercialize a bimetallic nanosegrated catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction in proton-exchange membrane water electrolyzers. This project also has three industrial partners who are involved in catalyst scale-up synthesis, large electrode fabrication and large electrode electrochemical testing. This project investigates a broad range of topics including electrocatalysis, ink rheology and electrode fabrication and testing. This knowledge could help bridge the performance and durability gap from laboratory-developed materials (such as electrocatalysts) to applications in commercial devices. The research results also bring fundamental understanding of possible degradation mechanisms that occur under extremely oxidative potentials including material and morphological changes. The project will help accelerate the deployment of proton-exchange membrane water electrolyzers. The public benefits could include creating jobs and increasing public awareness of potential clean technologies for green hydrogen production. Ultimately, the project will help national wide effort of flighting climate change and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗

An agent-based modeling tool supporting bioenergy and bio-product community communication regarding cellulosic bioeconomy development

The emergence of the cellulosic bioeconomy requires not only adequate technological, economic, and policy advances, but also effective communication and coordination among the multiple stakeholders in the bioeconomy community. Aiming to facilitate stakeholder communication and collaboration for cellulosic bioeconomy growth, an agent-based model is developed as a community communication tool in this study. The tool simulates the behaviors and interactions of key stakeholders, as well as the responses and interactions between the stakeholders and biophysical, socioeconomic, and environmental conditions. The agent behavior rules are developed and validated based on behavior and economic theories and information attained from a stakeholder focus group study and a land use survey. A pilot study in a Central Illinois watershed shows stakeholder synergies, i.e., positive feedback loops across multiple stakeholders. The modeling tool's role in facilitating community communication is demonstrated via the focus group study. A comparison of policy scenarios suggests that the cellulosic bioeconomy development is fastest under a portfolio of policies combining the views of the multiple stakeholders. Critically, subsidy for small-scale bio-facilities is essential as it rapidly initializes an early market for cellulosic feedstocks and the adoption of Miscanthus. As a result, the communication tool is applied to bringing stakeholders and researchers together to develop shared visions, assess barriers, and explore solution portfolios to initialize and speed up the regional cellulosic bioeconomy.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

High throughput single cell multiomics platform [Abstract]

In this collaborative project, PNNL and Scienion will co-develop an integrated microfluidic technology to co-measure the transcriptome and proteome in single cells. The technology will enable us to efficiently separate proteins from mRNA transcripts between two microchips, barcode the molecules, and measure them separately with next-generation sequencing and mass spectrometry, respectively. Multicellular organisms contain diverse cell types and tremendous cell-to-cell heterogeneity that dictates a multitude of biological functions in both physiological and pathological environments. Even in the case of microbes, these genetically identical organisms can randomly differentiate into many subpopulations that assume different roles for the survival of the community. Bulk-scale measurements are insufficient to resolve such complexities. The development and applications of high throughput single-cell omics technologies have transformed our understanding of cellular heterogeneities and their differential responses to internal signaling events or external stimulations. Despite these advances, most current single-cell omic technologies provide information on only one type of biomolecule. Perse, such measurements provide incomplete information because the cell phenotype is determined by multiple layers of biomolecules and the interplay between genome, epigenome, transcriptome, and proteome. For example, mRNA abundance in one cell can not be precisely referred to the corresponding DNA and protein in other cells because of the potential subtle difference in genotype (e.g., somatic mutation or copy number variation) or phenotype (external microenvironment and cell-cell interactions). As such, parallel measurement of multiple biomolecules in the same single cells can offer unique advantages compared with measuring them separately in different single cells. Scienion is a world-leading biotech company focusing on precision liquid handling and its application in single-cell whole-genome sequencing and RNA sequencing. PNNL is the leading institution in ultrasensitive mass spectrometry, microfluidics, and untargeted single-cell proteomics (scProteomics). This collaboration will facilitate a unique fusion between scTranscriptomics capability at Scienion and scProteomics capabilities at PNNL to, for the first time, perform both untargeted transcriptomics and proteomics from the same single cells.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Sensitivity Analysis Comparisons on Geologic Case Studies: An International Collaboration

Over the past four years, an informal working group has developed to investigate existing sensitivity analysis methods, examine new methods, and identify best practices. The focus is on the use of sensitivity analysis in case studies involving geologic disposal of spent nuclear fuel or nuclear waste. To examine ideas and have applicable test cases for comparison purposes, we have developed multiple case studies. Four of these case studies are presented in this report: the GRS clay case, the SNL shale case, the Dessel case, and the IBRAE groundwater case. We present the different sensitivity analysis methods investigated by various groups, the results obtained by different groups and different implementations, and summarize our findings.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Tools for Design and Scale-Up of Solar Thermochemical Reactors: Cooperative Research and Development Final Report, CRADA Number CRD-13-00530

NREL will be collaborating with the Participant on a United States - Australia Solar Energy Collaboration (USASEC) Project Number 1-USO034 "Tools for design and scale-up of solar thermochemical reactors." The grant funds for the Participant's 3.5 year project number 1-US034 commencing on 1 February 2013 have been awarded to the Participant by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency and NREL will be collaborating with the Participant during the final 28 months of this project. This project seeks to provide basic knowledge required to design solar thermochemical reactors able to perform the required energy conversions. In several proposed and demonstrated reactors, concentrated sunlight directly irradiates small solid particles suspended in fluid, enabling very high heat transfer rates to the particles which are the sites of chemical reaction. The reactors, therefore, involve the complex and couple dynamics of turbulent, chemically reacting, particle-laden flows and their interaction with concentrating solar radiation. A strong understanding of these coupled interactions will be crucial important in predicting and optimizing the performance of prototype reactors, but this understanding does not yet exist, since they have never been studied in any fundamental way. The project has a assembled an internationally leading team from The University of New South Wales (UNSW) and the University of Adelaide in Australia and the NREL in the United States to address this key gap in available know-how. The project will use U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) supercomputers, among the most powerful available worldwide, with cutting-edge software tools to perform first-principles simulations of the relevant interactions. These studies will be combined with detailed laser-based measurements in Australia to provide the first comprehensive databases concerning the governing phenomena in directly irradiated solar-thermochemical reactors. The outcomes will be the basic scientific knowledge, engineering knowhow and modeling tools necessary to design new reactor concepts and then scale up from the laboratory bench to practical size systems.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

ASCR@40: Four Decades of Department of Energy Leadership in Advanced Scientific Computing Research

Throughout its long history, the Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) has built the critical technologies to ensure U.S. leadership in energy science and national security. It has made its parent agency, the Department of Energy (DOE) and its Office of Science, the world’s recognized leader in computational science. ASCR’s stated mission is “to discover, develop, and deploy computational and networking capabilities to analyze, model, simulate, and predict complex phenomena important to the DOE.” To accomplish this goal, ASCR oversees a large complex of computing and networking facilities and is responsible for procuring, deploying and operating high-performance computing (HPC), networking and storage resources; conducting basic research in mathematics and computer science; developing and sustaining a large body of software; and collaborating with other Office of Science programs, academia and industry. ASCR’s computational science leadership has a long history, predating even DOE’s inception. Applied mathematics and advanced computing were both elements of the Manhattan Project’s Theoretical Division. In the 1950s, DOE’s predecessor, the Atomic Energy Commission, created a mathematics program to develop and apply digital computing by supporting researchers at universities and AEC laboratories. Several organizational and name changes later, this program would grow and become ASCR.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

SolarAPP+ Enhancements and Commercialization (Final Technical Report)

With millions of distributed photovoltaic (PV) systems expected to be installed over the next five years, the permitting and inspection processes of authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) may become overburdened, causing delays and increased costs for installed systems (Cruce et al. 2022). The central goal of this project was to automate and streamline permitting processes for distributed PV systems and complementary technologies, such as battery storage. Deploying automated permitting has been hypothesized to reduce permit review times, resulting in reduced costs and improved customer experience. This has the potential to expand the PV and PV-plus-storage market nationwide. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and its project partners, including UL Solutions, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), the International Code Council (ICC), and more, developed the Solar Automated Permit Processing (SolarAPP+™) software platform to reduce permit review times. NREL and its partners also collaborated with the solar industry, the building safety community, and local governments to develop SolarAPP+.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Designing interagency responses to wicked problems: A viable system model board game

Government agencies struggle to address wicked problems because they are open-ended, highly interdependent issues that cross agency, stakeholder, jurisdictional, and geopolitical boundaries. While both quantitative modelling and qualitative problem structuring methodologies have been used to support interagency decision making in the past, co-designing an effective interagency organization to collaboratively tackle wicked problems is more challenging. Few approaches have been developed to enable such efforts. This paper explains how the viable system model (VSM) was implemented through a board game, which was employed to co-design an interagency meta-organization that would be capable of more effectively collaborating to jointly address a wicked problem: international organized drug crime and its interface with local gangs in Chicago, USA. The board game was developed to make the VSM easier for the participants to learn, given that the cybernetic language and engineering-influenced diagrams in the original literature can be off-putting to leaders and managers. The board game was used as the final stage of a multi-method, systemic approach, which involved boundary critique and problem structuring as well as deployment of the VSM. The research findings indicate that the VSM board game, used as part of a larger mixed-methods systemic intervention, contributes to building trust in the value of systems thinking amongst the participants, and sets up a rich context for collaboration on multi-agency co-design. The game therefore offers significant promise as part of the co-design of interagency responses to wicked problems because it creates an embodied process for stakeholders to learn about the VSM. It also reduces the work involved in this learning. Thus, the game enables an effective appropriation of the VSM language and criteria.

Business & Economics↗

Quantifying Climate Change Effects of Bioenergy and BECCS: Critical Considerations and Guidance on Methodology

Bioenergy is a critical element in many national and international climate change mitigation efforts, including as a carbon dioxide removal strategy combined with the capture and durable geological storage of flue gas emissions (BECCS). However, divergent results on the effectiveness of bioenergy as a climate change mitigation measure are reported in the scientific literature. Climate impacts of bioenergy depend on case-specific factors, primarily biophysical features of the biomass production system, and the design and efficiency of conversion and capture processes. Estimates of climate impacts are also strongly affected by methodological choices and assumptions, and much of the divergence between studies derives from differences in the assumed alternate use of the land or feedstock, the alternate energy source and the system boundaries applied. We present a methodology to support robust estimates of the climate change effects of bioenergy systems, updating the standard methodology developed by the International Energy Agency's Technology Collaboration Program on Bioenergy. We provide guidance on the key choices including the reference land use and energy system that bioenergy is assumed to displace, spatial and temporal system boundaries, co-product handling, climate forcers considered, metrics applied and time horizon of impact assessment. Researchers should consider the whole bioenergy system including all life cycle stages, and choose system boundaries, reference systems and treatment of co-products that are consistent with the intended application of the results. The assessment should be normalised to a functional unit that can be compared with other systems delivering an equivalent quantity of the same function. All significant climate forcers should be included, and climate effects should be quantified using appropriate impact assessment methods that distinguish the impact of time. Consistency in methodology and interpretation will facilitate comparison between studies of different bioenergy systems.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

National Community Solar Partnership States Collaborative

This fact sheet discusses the National Community Solar Partnership States Collaborative, which aims to help stages of market maturity and development explore, design, launch, administer, and expand programs that improve affordable community solar access.

solar, solar energy, national community solar part↗

Developing in-situ capabilities for synchrotron light source relevant to PNNL mission research areas

The main objective of the proposed research is to engage synchrotron light source capabilities to address the critical mission areas at PNNL. We have carried out Multi-model chemical analysis and imaging to unravel the role of surface chemistry during realistic heterogeneous interfacial processes - through a close collaboration that will help BES and BER research projects. In particular, we performed the following activities to understand role of surface chemistry on metal and oxide reactivity and metal ion transfer across oxide surface and aqueous solutions: 1) Perform light source experiments utilizing samples generated at PNNL; 2) Develop early career PNNL scientists utilizing light sources; 3) Build collaborations with ALS scientists in developing new in-situ capabilities; 4) Complete AMBER capabilities in collaboration with ALS scientists and make those available to the scientific community including PNNL scientists.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗