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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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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2012

Detailed high-accuracy megavoltage transmission measurements: A sensitive experimental benchmark of EGSnrc

Purpose: There are three goals for this study: (a) to perform detailed megavoltage transmission measurements in order to identify the factors that affect the measurement accuracy, (b) to use the measured data as a benchmark for the EGSnrc system in order to identify the computational limiting factors, and (c) to provide data for others to benchmark Monte Carlo codes. Methods: Transmission measurements are performed at the National Research Council Canada on a research linac whose incident electron parameters are independently known. Automated transmission measurements are made on-axis, down to a transmission value of {approx}1.7%, for eight beams between 10 MV (the lowest stable MV beam on the linac) and 30 MV, using fully stopping Be, Al, and Pb bremsstrahlung targets and no fattening filters. To diversify energy differentiation, data are acquired for each beam using low-Z and high-Z attenuators (C and Pb) and Farmer chambers with low-Z and high-Z buildup caps. Experimental corrections are applied for beam drifts (2%), polarity (2.5% typical maximum, 6% extreme), ion recombination (0.2%), leakage (0.3%), and room scatter (0.8%)-the values in parentheses are the largest corrections applied. The experimental setup and the detectors are modeled using EGSnrc, with the newly added photonuclear attenuation included (up to a 5.6% effect). A detailed sensitivity analysis is carried out for the measured and calculated transmission data. Results: The developed experimental protocol allows for transmission measurements with 0.4% uncertainty on the smallest signals. Suggestions for accurate transmission measurements are provided. Measurements and EGSnrc calculations agree typically within 0.2% for the sensitivity of the transmission values to the detector details, to the bremsstrahlung target material, and to the incident electron energy. Direct comparison of the measured and calculated transmission data shows agreement better than 2% for C (3.4% for the 10 MV beam) and typically better than 1% for Pb. The differences can be explained by acceptable photon cross section changes of Less-Than-Or-Slanted-Equal-To 0.4%. Conclusions: Accurate transmission measurements require accounting for a number of influence quantities which, if ignored, can collectively introduce errors larger than 10%. Accurate transmission calculations require the use of the most accurate data and physics options available in EGSnrc, particularly the more accurate bremsstrahlung angular sampling option and the newly added modeling of photonuclear attenuation. Comparison between measurements and calculations implies that EGSnrc is accurate within 0.2% for relative ion chamber response calculations. Photon cross section uncertainties are the ultimate limiting factor for the accuracy of the calculated transmission data (Monte Carlo or analytical).

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2013

Sustaining the National Geothermal Data System: Considerations for a System Wide Approach and Node Maintenance, Geothermal Resources Council 37th Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, Nevada, September 29-October 2, 2013

Since the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act the U.S. Department of Energy’s Geothermal Technologies Office has funded $33.7 million for multiple data digitization and aggregation projects focused on making vast amounts of geothermal relevant data available to industry for advancing geothermal exploration. These projects are collectively part of the National Geothermal Data System (NGDS), a distributed, networked system for maintaining, sharing, and accessing data in an effort to lower the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). Determining “who owns” and “who maintains” the NGDS and its data nodes (repositories in the distributed system) is yet to be determined. However, the invest- ment in building and populating the NGDS has been substantial, both in terms of dollars and time; it is critical that this investment be protected by ensuring sustainability of the data, the software and systems, and the accessibility of the data. Only then, will the benefits be fully realized. To keep this operational system sustainable will require four core elements: continued serving of data and applications; maintenance of system operations; a governance structure; and an effective business model. Each of these presents a number of challenges. Data being added to the NGDS are not strictly geothermal but data considered relevant to geothermal exploration and develop- ment, including vast amounts of oil and gas and groundwater wells, among other data. These are relevant to a broader base of users. By diversifying the client base to other users and other fields, the cost of maintaining core infrastructure can be spread across an array of stakeholders and clients. It is presumed that NGDS will continue to provide free and open access to its data resources. The next-phase NGDS operation should be structured to eventually pursue revenue streams to help off-set sustainability expenses as necessary and appropriate, potentially including income from: grants and contracts (agencies, foundations, pri- vate sector), membership, fees for services (consulting, training, customization, ‘app’ development), repository services (data, services, apps, models, documents, multimedia), advertisements, fees for premier services or applications, subscriptions to value added services, licenses, contributions and donations, endow- ments, and sponsorships.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Making Northway, Alaska Resilient and Sustainable Through Energy Efficiency and Solar Power

This project implemented energy efficiency measures and installed 6 kW solar arrays on three community buildings in Northway, Alaska, in a collaboration between the Department of Energy - Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, the Northway Village Council (NVC), the Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC), and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC). Northway is a small community in interior Alaska, close to the Canadian border, with high fuel and energy costs: $3.00 per gallon of diesel and $0.56 per kWh, respectively, in 2016, when the project began. The energy efficiency and solar power installation plans aligned with Northway’s long-term energy goals of increasing renewable energy and decreasing reliance on fossil fuels, per the Northway Community Energy Action Plan, the Alaska Interior Regional Energy Plan, and TCC Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. The project focused on three buildings: (1) the community hall (and later office) building, (2) the washeteria building, and (3) the water/sewer garage. It included multiple directions for energy efficiency measures, such as installing LED lighting upgrades, programmable thermostats, vending machine energy misers, efficient pumps, and adding glycol loops at the water/sewer plant. Since the village has a high potential for solar energy, in order to increase resilience and decrease costs, solar systems were installed on three community buildings. Later, a battery was installed in the community hall to capture solar power produced but not used during the day, and allow the flexibility to use that power during evening and night, further decreasing the reliance on grid power for that building. Electricity savings realized by the village between 2011-2012 and 2018-2019 by improving energy efficiencies in the buildings and adding solar was 23%. This is despite the community hall doubling in size during the same time period. If that is taken into consideration (by adding community hall usage into the 2011-2012 usage one additional time), the energy savings from 2011-2012 to 2018-2019 was 37%.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Integrating solar into Florida's power system: Potential roles for flexibility

Although Florida has very little photovoltaic (PV) generation to date, it is reasonable to expect significant deployment in the 2020s under a variety of future policy and cost scenarios. To understand these potential futures, we model Florida Reliability Coordinating Council operations in 2026 over a wide range of PV penetrations with various combinations of battery storage capacity, demand response, and increased operational flexibility. By calculating the value of PV under a wide range of conditions, we find that at least 5%, and more likely 10-24%, PV penetration is cost competitive in Florida within the next decade with baseline flexibility and all but the most pessimistic of assumptions. For high PV penetrations, we demonstrate Florida's electrical net-load variability (duck curve) challenges, the associated reduction of PV's value to the system, and the ability of flexibility options-in particular energy-shifting resources-to preserve value and increase the economic carrying capacity of PV. A high level of demand response boosts the economic carrying capacity of PV by up to 0.5-2 percentage points, which is comparable to the impact of deploying 1 GW of battery storage. Adding 4 GW of battery storage expands the economic carrying capacity of PV by up to 6 percentage points.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Database Fitness and Suitability Review

In 2014, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Science and Technology Innovation (NE-4) initiated the Nuclear Energy-Infrastructure Management Project by tasking the Nuclear Science User Facilities (NSUF) to create a searchable and interactive database of all pertinent NE supported or related infrastructure. This database will be used for analyses to establish needs, redundancies, efficiencies, distributions, etc. in order to best understand the utility of NE’s infrastructure and inform the content of the infrastructure calls. The NSUF developed the database by utilizing data and policy direction from a wide variety of reports from the Department of Energy, the National Research Council, the International Atomic Energy Agency and various other federal and civilian resources. The NEID contains data on 802 R&D instruments housed in 377 facilities at 84 institutions in the US and abroad. A Database Review Panel (DRP) was formed to review and provide advice on the development, implementation and utilization of the NEID. The panel is comprised of five members with expertise in nuclear energy-associated research. It was intended that they represent the major constituencies associated with nuclear energy research: academia, industry, research reactor, national laboratory, and Department of Energy program management. The Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Database Review Panel concludes that the NSUF has succeeded in creating a capability and infrastructure database that identifies and documents the major nuclear energy research and development capabilities across the DOE complex. The effort to maintain and expand the database will be ongoing. Detailed information on many facilities must be gathered from associated institutions added to complete the database. The data must be validated and kept current to capture facility and instrumentation status as well as to cover new acquisitions and retirements.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Preshot Report for the NIF DDCyl Campaign: H_Hyd_DDCyl_DRT_AAA/BBB/CCC

The first two cylinder shot days on the National Ignition Facility, allocated through the Discovery Science program, provided a successful demonstration of the cylinder platform on the NIF. Both of these shot days used cylinders that were nominally 3 times larger in radial dimension than cylinders fielded at the OMEGA laser facility, here referred to as scale-3 targets. In the first Discovery Science shot day, we demonstrated that Rayleigh-Taylor instability growth during the deceleration phase is scale-invariant between the scale-1 OMEGA experiments and similarly tailored scale-3 NIF experiments at the same convergence ratio of CR=initial radius/final radius=2.25. In the second Discovery Science shot day, we increased the convergence ratio by lowering the density of the central foam from 300 mg/cm 3 to roughly 40 mg/cm 3 with the same laser drive, resulting in a higher CR=5 at the time when the rebounding shock strikes the aluminum marker. We also greatly improved the imaging setup for the second shot day, resulting in much higher quality (greater signal-to-noise) radiographs of the implosion. This current shot day was awarded through the High Energy Density (HED) Council, following this demonstration of platform viability. It was originally scheduled for June 2020, but it was postponed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is currently scheduled for January 6, 2021. For this shot day, we will increase the radial dimension of the cylinder to four times the OMEGA-scale targets, and these will be referred to as scale-4 cylinders. Increasing the radial dimension of the target is advantageous as we push these targets to higher convergence ratio. By starting with an initially larger target, the target can push to a higher CR while maintaining the same final viewing area. Other than the larger radial dimension, the targets are very similar in design to the previous ones, consisting of an epoxy ablator, an embedded aluminum marker layer, and a low density central CH foam. These will also use a 40 mg/cm3 CH foam, reaching a CR~4.5 with the same laser energy (the added target mass reduces the final CR slightly). Note that this is NOT designed to be scale-invariant with the previous scale-1 OMEGA and scale-3 NIF shots. It was determined that the laser energy required to achieve a scale-invariant implosion was above the allowable optics damage limits (though achievable on the NIF) for these scale-4 targets.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2012

Wynkoop Building Performance Measurement: Water

This report is a summary of the water analysis performance for the Denver, Colorado Wynkoop Building. The Wynkoop Building (Figure 1) was built in 2006 as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8 Headquarters intended to house over 900 occupants in the 301,292 gross square feet (248,849 rentable square feet). The building was built on a brownfield in the Lower Downtown Historic District as part of an urban redevelopment effort. The building was designed and constructed through a public-private partnership with the sustainable design elements developed jointly by General Services Administration (GSA) and EPA. That partnership is still active with all parties still engaged to optimize building operations and use the building as a Learning Laboratory. The building design achieved U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for New Construction (LEED-NC) Gold Certification in 2008 (Figure 2) and a 2008 EPA Energy Star Rating of 96 with design highlights that include: (1) Water use was designed to use 40% less than a typical design baseline. The design included low flow fixtures, waterless urinals and dual flush toilets; (2) Native and adaptive vegetation were selected to minimize the need for irrigation water for landscaping; and (3) Energy use intensity was modeled at 66.1 kBtus/gross square foot, which is 39% better than ASHRAE 90.1 1999. The Wynkoop Building water use (10 gallons/square foot) was measured at lower than industry average (15 gallons/square foot) and GSA goals (13 gallons/square foot), however, it was higher than building management expected it would be. The type of occupants and number of occupants can have a significant impact on fixture water use. The occupancy per floor varied significantly over the study time period, which added uncertainty to the data analysis. Investigation of the fixture use on the 2nd, 5th, and 7th floors identified potential for water use reduction if the flush direction of the dual-flush toilet handles was reversed. The building management retrofitted the building's toilets with handles that operated on reduced flush when pushed down (0.8 gallons) and full flush when pulled up (1.1 gallons). The water pressure on the 5th floor (< 30 psi) is less than half the pressure on the 7th floor (>80 psi). The measured water savings post-retrofit was lower on the 5th floor than the 7th floor. The differences in water pressure may have had an impact on the quantity of water used per floor. The second floor water use was examined prior to and following the toilet fixture retrofit. This floor is where conference rooms for non-building occupants are available for use, thus occupancy is highly variable. The 3-day average volume per flush event was higher post-retrofit (0.79 gallons per event), in contrast to pre-retrofit (0.57 gallons per event). There were 40% more flush events post retrofit, which impacted the findings. Water use in the third floor fitness center was also measured for a limited number of days. Because of water line accessibility, only water use on the men's side of the fitness center was measured and from that the total fitness center water use was estimated. Using the limited data collected, the fitness center shower water use is approximately 2% of the whole building water use. Overall water use in the Wynkoop Building is below the industry baseline and GSA expectations. The dual flush fixture replacement appears to have resulted in additional water savings that are expected to show a savings in the total annual water use.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Combined Cycle Integrated Thermal Energy Storage “CiTES” (Final Scientific/Technical Report)

The Phase I of this project confirmed the technical feasibility of a Combined Cycle integrated Thermal Energy Storage “CiTES” system, calculated the key performance parameters like power efficiency and costs, and proved its commercial value with full-year simulations for several US electricity markets with high degree of variable renewable generation and volatile hourly electricity prices. The core element of this project is the Electro Thermal Energy Storage (ETES) technology from Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy GmbH, using thermally stable and inexpensive volcanic rocks as storage material and air as heat transfer medium. This technology is backed by more than 10 years of experience and a 440MMBTU (130MWh-th) pilot plant in Hamburg, Germany, which is in operation since 2019. The integration of this thermal storage in an existing combined cycle power plant (CCPP) is typical power plant technology without any major technology risks. It allows the storage of inexpensive renewable energy during times of surplus renewable generation and the discharge of this energy in times of high energy demand when the fossil plant is in operation. This supplements the fossil power generation with CO2-emission-free energy. The secondary effect of the CiTES system is that a small part of the stored thermal energy is used to keep the heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) and steam turbine (ST) of the combined cycle power plant in hot and ready-to-start condition. This enables the plant to start rapidly when fossil generation is required to satisfy demand as soon variable generation drops off in the evenings or during cloud cover and calm wind periods. Without pre-warming of the HRSG and ST, the CCPP would need several hours for a cold or warm start, burn a lot of gas and release high NOx emissions during start and wouldn’t be able to use the short times of high energy prices in an efficient or economical manner. The economic parameters of CiTES were determined by a full year “8760” simulation using a data set calculation for each of the hours of the year, and historical electricity and gas prices. For consistency, the simulations were focused on the pre-COVID year 2019. The financially most attractive markets were in the Energy Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) region, which allowed substantial value generation with arbitrage (charge with cheap energy during renewable surplus times and discharge when energy is needed and expensive). The improvement of flexibility with the CiTES system by pre-heating and warm-keeping of the CCPP allowed for additional power generation during short time periods when demand is high but renewable generation is down; when the hourly energy prices are highest in these markets. The simulations are based on 2019 data, when ERCOT had 27GW of installed photovoltaic (PV) and wind generation. They showed that the created revenue with the prototypically sized CiTES system of 1,000MMBTU (300MWh-th) falls a little bit short of what is expected from a commercially viable investment. The system has optimization opportunities for cost reduction and increased effectiveness which will be realized during a potential Phase II Pre-FEED study following this project. Furthermore, it is safe to assume that a lot of renewable generation capacity will be added all over the US in the coming years. As an example, ERCOT is predicting to more than double its renewable generation from 27GW in 2019 to a forecasted 63GW in 2023. This will increase the amount of renewable overproduction exponentially. This rapid increase of local overproduction and the need to curtail renewable generation is well documented by the California ISO (www.CAISO.com / managing oversupply). However, the simulations also revealed a weakness in the structure of the electricity markets in the US. More specifically, when electricity prices are very low and approaching negative levels, the owners of Variable Renewable Energy (VRE) will curtail a part of their facility to stabilize the price by reducing supply. This results in a situation in which storage facilities, which are integrated in existing fossil assets and don’t have the behind-the-meter benefit of a VRE, won’t be able to purchase low cost – otherwise curtailed – renewable energy off the grid. A special tariff, which motivates VRE owners to sell otherwise curtailed renewable energy to storage facilities (Hydrogen, thermal, pumped hydro, etc.) can solve this issue. The implementation of such a regulating tariff by Independent System Operators, thus avoiding renewable curtailment, is a pre condition for successful commercialization for renewable energy storage technologies. With this advancement of design and technology and improvements in the market environment, it can be expected that the Combined Cycle integrated Thermal Energy Storage proves itself as an important innovation to keep highly efficient, natural gas-based power generation economically successful and relevant for the power industry in the United States of America.

Wolf, Thorsten↗
DOE OSTI2023

Geospatial Information, Metadata, and Maps for Global River Corridor Science Focus Area Sites (v5)

This dataset provides geospatial information, metadata, and maps for the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) River Corridor Science Focus Area (RC-SFA; https://www.pnnl.gov/projects/river-corridor) sites. The RC-SFA works to transform understanding of spatial and temporal dynamics in river corridor hydrobiogeochemical functions from molecular reaction to watershed and basin scales. The knowledge we gain is used to formulate and test hypotheses and to improve mechanistic representation of river corridor processes and their response to disturbances in multiscale models of integrated hydrobiogeochemical function. The data provided includes Site ID, latitude, longitude, stream name, and common ID (COMID) for sites used across the RC-SFA. The COMID can be used to find and download data from NHDPlus (https://www.epa.gov/waterdata/nhdplus-national-hydrography-dataset-plus) and other platforms. The sites included are non-exhaustive. Sites (including past sites) will be added to this data package in the future. Data generated from the RC SFA can be accessed at https://data.ess-dive.lbl.gov/portals/PNNLRiverCorridorSFA. This data package was originally published in April 2023. It was updated in June 2023 (v2; modified files), December 2023 (v3; modified files), January 2025 (v4; modified files), and December 2025 (v5; modified files). See the change history section in the readme for more details. This dataset is comprised of one main data folder. The data folder consists of (1) file-level metadata; (2) data dictionary; (3) readme; (4) methods codes; (5) geospatial information for all RC SFA sites including International Generic Sample Number (IGSN); (6) maps of all sites and sites in Washington State, USA; and (7) a subfolder with the shapefile of all sites. All files are .csv, .pdf, .shp, .cpg, .dbf, .prj, .qmd, or .shx. We thank the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation for access to field locations where some data were collected in Washington state. We also thank the Yakama Nation Tribal Council and Yakama Nation Fisheries for working with us to facilitate sample collection and optimization of data usage according to their values and worldview.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

SU-D-16A-02: A Novel Methodology for Accurate, Semi-Automated Delineation of Oral Mucosa for Radiation Therapy Dose-Response Studies

Purpose: The significant morbidity caused by radiation-induced acute oral mucositis means that studies aiming to elucidate dose-response relationships in this tissue are a high priority. However, there is currently no standardized method for delineating the mucosal structures within the oral cavity. This report describes the development of a methodology to delineate the oral mucosa accurately on CT scans in a semi-automated manner. Methods: An oral mucosa atlas for automated segmentation was constructed using the RayStation Atlas-Based Segmentation (ABS) module. A radiation oncologist manually delineated the full surface of the oral mucosa on a planning CT scan of a patient receiving radiotherapy (RT) to the head and neck region. A 3mm fixed annulus was added to incorporate the mucosal wall thickness. This structure was saved as an atlas template. ABS followed by model-based segmentation was performed on four further patients sequentially, adding each patient to the atlas. Manual editing of the automatically segmented structure was performed. A dose comparison between these contours and previously used oral cavity volume contours was performed. Results: The new approach was successful in delineating the mucosa, as assessed by an experienced radiation oncologist, when applied to a new series of patients receiving head and neck RT. Reductions in the mean doses obtained when using the new delineation approach, compared with the previously used technique, were demonstrated for all patients (median: 36.0%, range: 25.6% – 39.6%) and were of a magnitude that might be expected to be clinically significant. Differences in the maximum dose that might reasonably be expected to be clinically significant were observed for two patients. Conclusion: The method developed provides a means of obtaining the dose distribution delivered to the oral mucosa more accurately than has previously been achieved. This will enable the acquisition of high quality dosimetric data for use in dose-response studies. We would like to thank the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council for funding. We acknowledge support from the NIHR RM/ICR Biomedical Research Centre. RayStatation was used under an evaluation agreement with RaySearch Laboratories AB.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Austin Sustainable and Holistic Integration of Energy Storage and Solar PV [Austin SHINES]. Final Report, Version 2

The Austin SHINES project and solution is a software management platform, for an electric grid with a high penetration of dispersed photovoltaic (PV) solar generation sites, which maintains the traditional power quality and reliability associated with grid service. This project developed and deployed the platform as a Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS), engaging multiple advanced controls, to evaluate operation and optimization of a fleet of diverse DER assets, installed at several locations among Austin Energy’s customers and distribution system. The project also produced a methodology to create a replicable DERMS template, adaptable to other regions and market structures. Last, Austin SHINES aimed to demonstrate the solution’s methodology would enable the DER grid ecosystem to serve load at a technical cost (System Levelized Cost of Electricity, or System LCOE) of less than the U.S. Department of Energy SHINES program metric of $0.14/kWh, in a defined boundary, while enabling a high penetration of distributed PV. Research was categorized in 6 reports (Final Deliverables = FD) listed below, with titles and descriptions indicating which area of understanding was investigated: FD-1: System Levelized Cost of Electricity (System LCOE) Methodology The creation and use of the System LCOE to Serve Load metric that encompasses the holistic, system-level costs and benefits of all resources, and enables them to be evaluated based on their ability to support an efficient and low-cost integrated grid ecosystem. FD-2: Software Platform Product Description The creation of new DER control methodologies deployable within a utility-grade software platform that enable DER's to maximize their benefit within a grid, that is capable of serving load enabling a high penetration of distributed PV generation. FD-3: Optimal Design Methodology Optimal design methodologies for individual DER installations that enable utilities to determine the optimal combinations and sizing for individual DER sites. FD-4: Austin SHINES Ownership and Operation Models for DER System Performance A comparison of multiple DER aggregation and ownership methodologies including direct utility control, third-party aggregator, and autonomous. FD-5: Economic Modeling & Optimization A comparison of multiple DER technology mixes and configurations within the distribution system, providing insight into an optimal blend of technologies that best enable the distribution system to serve load at the lowest cost at high penetrations of solar. FD-6: Fielded Assets Deployed DER assets within the Austin Energy SHINES circuits. Austin SHINES provided an opening for state-of-the-art technology products to be deployed, providing a rich opportunity for improving how each of the products perform as stand-alone products, and in concert with other complementary products. The Austin SHINES project comprised of two key metrics for System LCOE: SystemLCOE_SHINES<$0.14/kWh Modeled ΔSystemLCOE_SHINES/ΔSystemLCOE_Base≥20% at same solar penetration The System LCOE calculation uses the costs of the utility-owned infrastructure as it exists today, the cost of the DERs that exist in the system today, and the cost of the purchase of energy from ERCOT wholesale markets over the course of the calendar year. All costs are on an annualized basis. The capital and operating costs are derived from the rate case, which produces a yearly cost. The net cost of energy and services imported to the system is integrated over the test year, as is the load served and solar penetration. The first metric was easily achieved by every scenario considered. The goal was set when the Department of Energy’s SHINES Funding Opportunity Announcement was written in 2015 and was a more difficult target at the time. Due mostly to rapidly declining costs for DERs and the significant decrease in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) energy market prices, which results in lower net cost of energy purchases, the System LCOE is well below this target for all scenarios considered. A fleet of DERs can assume different mixtures, each of which serves the load at a different LCOE. The optimal mixture of DERs serves load at the smallest System LCOE. The second metric (hereinafter %delta metric) asks that the holistic DERMS controls reduce the incremental cost above the baseline of going to a high solar penetration future by at least 20% as compared to the case of a DER deployment with no sophisticated controls (autonomous). Many comparison sets were created throughout this project. Physical technology was installed for informing utility engineering and testing several types of operational control schemes, through the DERMS. The types of operational control which were compared for valuation of the System LCOE Metric were: Holistic control = using the full suite of the DERMS platform to decide and optimize how/why the systems operate depending on weather, market, and reliability signal input. Autonomous control = a local mode at the asset site, wherein a schedule operates the asset, with visibility into performance only No control = the baseline for comparing value against the other two types of control The types of ownership control included: Direct Utility control = the utility dispatches a signal to each asset Third-Party Aggregator = a third party aggregates a fleet of assets and the utility dispatches one signal for all Autonomous = a local mode is set for operation at the asset site, wherein a schedule operates the asset, with visibility into performance only The types of control methodologies deployable within a utility-grade software platform included: Utility Peak Load Reduction = Lower transmission cost obligation Day-Ahead Energy Arbitrage = Realize economic value through price differential Real-Time Price Dispatch = Realize economic value from real-time price spikes Voltage support = Reduce losses and increase solar generation Distribution Congestion Management = Increase local grid reliability Demand Charge Reduction = Lower customer bills and realize system benefit The fielded assets deployed for the project were: Utility Scale Kingsbery Energy Storage System: 1.5 MW / 3 MWh Li-Ion battery storage Mueller Energy Storage System: 1.75 MW / 3.2 MWh Li-Ion battery storage, 7 Energy Storage Units (250 kW each) La Loma Community Solar: 2.6 MW Commercial Scale Aggregated storage installations at 3 sites, with existing solar (300+ kW): One 18 kW / 36 kWh Li-Ion battery storage Two 72 kW / 144 kWh Li-Ion battery storage Residential Scale Aggregated storage installations: -Six stationary battery storage systems (10 kWh each) at homes with existing solar -One Electric Vehicle installed as Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Utility-Controlled Solar via Smart Inverters at 12 homes Autonomously-Controlled Smart Inverters at 6 homes Over the course of the project, Austin SHINES undertook installing more than 3 MW of distributed battery energy storage, smart PV inverters, a DER control platform, and other enabling technologies utilizing customer and utility locations and aggregation models. All of these resources were to be integrated and optimized at the utility level. DER assets and control methodologies were designed to achieve a credible pathway to a System LCOE for energy delivered to load of $0.14//kWh or less by 2020, while maximizing distributed solar generation and maintaining acceptable standards of power quality. The project also established a template for other regions to follow, to maximize the adoption of distributed solar PV in support of an economic and efficient grid. In total, the Austin SHINES project added value to the DER subject area in each layer of integration. From utility, to commercial to residential scales, the sheer hierarchy of communication and coordination was a significant accomplishment in addition to learnings from what these communications revealed was unique to each. Economically, the most effective method demonstrated was the criticality of planning phases. Contingencies and multiple projection scenarios helped guide the project to deploy optimal design as close as feasible, in real world conditions. The project and reports will serve public benefit by outlining specific areas of DER strategy and installation where many stakeholders and needs can be addressed with improved efficiency. Overall, communities and utilities should use the results to guide the increasing options available for powering the grid with DER, renewables, and carbon considerate energy.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS2019

White Papers for the Next Decadal Survey: Thermal Protection Systems and Instrumentation

NASA is anticipated to commission the next Planetary Science Decadal Survey (PSDS) with preparation expected in early calendar year 2020. The new PSDS will outline the priorities of science missions for the decade spanning 2023-2032. For the previous PSDS, the science and technology communities have been invited to submit white papers to the PSDS sub-panels as background information to guide the PSDS recommendations. The National Research Council has previously stated that white papers that represent the opinion of many authors from different institutions carried more significance and weight, and the recommendations from the previous PSDS attempted to reflect more of a consensus opinion. In 2009, a total of 4 white papers were submitted to the PSDS panels regarding thermal protection system (TPS) readiness for missions, as well as one on TPS instrumentation. The TPS readiness papers were co-authored by 90 individuals from many institutions. These white papers surveyed the TPS materials for both forebody and afterbody of a probe and analyzed the suitability of materials for missions to each destination. In addition, each paper outlined the ground testing required and ongoing technology development. Recommendations were provided for further technology development and ground test capability in order to fulfill future missions. Many improvements and changes have occurred in the past 10 years with regard to TPS materials and instrumentation. New materials have been developed and tested, such as the high density material Heat-shield for Extreme Entry Environment Technology (HEEET), and new capabilities for ground testing for high heating and high pressures have been added such as the 3-inch nozzle at the Ames arc jet. NASA has also flown several TPS instrumentation suites, such as MEDLI (Mars Science Laboratory Entry, Descent, and Landing Instrument) and EFT-1 (Exploration Flight Test-1). In order to provide the PSDS sub-panels with the most current information about the state-of-the-art suitability for TPS materials for entry missions, we are beginning to update and draft new white papers. We will present the outline for material to be covered in the white papers, and we invite all IPPW (International Planetary Probe Workshop) attendees to particiate in co-authoring these papers.

Hwang, Helen H.↗
NASA NTRS2019

White Papers for the Next Decadal Survey: Thermal Protection Systems and Instrumentation

NASA is anticipated to commission the next Planetary Science Decadal Survey (PSDS) with preparation expected in early calendar year 2020. The new PSDS will outline the priorities of science missions for the decade spanning 2023-2032. For the previous PSDS, the science and technology communities have been invited to submit white papers to the PSDS sub-panels as background information to guide the PSDS recommendations. The National Research Council has previously stated that white papers that represent the opinion of many authors from different institutions carried more significant and weight, and the recommendations from the previous PSDS attempted to reflect more of a consensus opinion.In 2009, a total of 4 white papers were submitted to the PSDS panels regarding thermal protection system (TPS) readiness for missions, as well as one on TPS instrumentation. The TPS readiness papers were co-authored by 90 individuals from many institutions. These white papers surveyed the TPS materials for both forebody and afterbody of a probe and analyzed the suitability of materials for missions to each destination. In addition, each paper outlined the ground testing required and ongoing technology development. Recommendations were provided for further technology development and ground test capability in order to fulfill future missions. Planning for the next PSDS: Many improvements and changes have occurred in the past 10 years with regard to TPS materials and instrumentation. New materials have been developed and tested, such as the high density material Heatshield for Extreme Entry Environment Technology (HEEET), and new capabilities for ground testing for high heating and high pressures have been added such as the 3” nozzle at the Ames arc jet. NASA has also flown several TPS instrumentation suites, such as MEDLI and EFT-1.In order to provide the PSDS sub-panels with the most current information about the state-of-the-art suit-ability for TPS materials for entry missions, we are be-ginning to update and draft new white papers. We will present the outline for material to be covered in the white papers, and we invite all IPPW attendees to parti-ciate in co-authoring these papers.

Hwang, H. H.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Designing an Observing System to Study the Surface Biology and Geology (SBG) of the Earth in the 2020s

Abstract Observations of planet Earth from space are a critical resource for science and society. Satellite measurements represent very large investments and United States (US) agencies organize their effort to maximize the return on that investment. The US National Research Council conducts a survey of Earth science and applications to prioritize observations for the coming decade. The most recent survey prioritized a visible to shortwave infrared imaging spectrometer and a multispectral thermal infrared imager to meet a range of needs for studying Surface Biology and Geology (SBG). SBG will be the premier integrated observatory for observing the emerging impacts of climate change by characterizing the diversity of plant life and resolving chemical and physiological signatures. It will address wildfire risk, behavior, and recovery as well as responses to hazards such as oil spills, toxic minerals in minelands, harmful algal blooms, landslides, and other geological hazards. The SBG team analyzed needed instrument characteristics (spatial, temporal, and spectral resolutions, measurement uncertainty) and assessed the cost, mass, power, volume, and risk of different architectures. We present an overview of the Research and Applications trade‐study analysis of algorithms, calibration and validation needs, and societal applications with specifics of substudies detailed in other articles in this special collection. We provide a value framework to converge from hundreds down to three candidate architectures recommended for development. The analysis identified valuable opportunities for international collaboration to increase the revisit frequency, adding value for all partners, leading to a clear measurement strategy for an observing system architecture.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2023

Designing an Observing System to Study the Surface Biology and Geology (SBG) of the Earth in the 2020s

Observations of planet Earth from space are a critical resource for science and society. Satellite measurements represent very large investments and United States (US) agencies organize their effort to maximize the return on that investment. The US National Research Council conducts a survey of Earth science and applications to prioritize observations for the coming decade. The most recent survey prioritized a visible to shortwave infrared imaging spectrometer and a multispectral thermal infrared imager to meet a range of needs for studying Surface Biology and Geology (SBG). SBG will be the premier integrated observatory for observing the emerging impacts of climate change by characterizing the diversity of plant life and resolving chemical and physiological signatures. It will address wildfire risk, behavior, and recovery as well as responses to hazards such as oil spills, toxic minerals in minelands, harmful algal blooms, landslides, and other geological hazards. The SBG team analyzed needed instrument characteristics (spatial, temporal, and spectral resolutions, measurement uncertainty) and assessed the cost, mass, power, volume, and risk of different architectures. We present an overview of the Research and Applications trade-study analysis of algorithms, calibration and validation needs, and societal applications with specifics of substudies detailed in other articles in this special collection. We provide a value framework to converge from hundreds down to three candidate architectures recommended for development. The analysis identified valuable opportunities for international collaboration to increase the revisit frequency, adding value for all partners, leading to a clear measurement strategy for an observing system architecture.

Observing System↗
DOE OSTI2024

Annual Site Environment Report for Calendar Year 2023 - Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

This report provides the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the public with information on the level of radioactive and non-radioactive pollutants (if any) that are added to the environment as a result of Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory’s (PPPL) operations. This report fulfills the annual public reporting requirements of DOE Order 231.1B. The results of PPPL’s 2023 environmental surveillance and monitoring program are presented and discussed. The report also summarizes environmental initiatives, assessments, and community involvement programs that were undertaken in 2023. This report provides the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the public with information on the level of radioactive and non-radioactive pollutants (if any) that are added to the environment as a result of Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory’s (PPPL) operations. This report fulfills the annual public reporting requirements of DOE Order 231.1B. The results of PPPL’s 2023 environmental surveillance and monitoring program are presented and discussed. The report also summarizes environmental initiatives, assessments, and community involvement programs that were undertaken in 2023. In 2023, PPPL’s radiological environmental monitoring program measured tritium in the air at onsite sampling stations. Using highly sensitive air monitors, PPPL is capable of detecting small changes in the ambient levels of tritium. The operation of monitors located on D-site is used to demonstrate compliance with the National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs) regulations. Also included in PPPL’s radiological environmental monitoring program, are water monitoring – ground, surface, and waste waters. PPPL’s radiological monitoring program characterized the background levels of tritium in the environment and those data are presented in this report. Ground water monitoring continued under New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (NJDEP) Site Remediation Program regulations. PPPL monitored for non-radiological contaminants, mainly volatile organic compounds (components of common degreasing solvents). In 2023, PPPL complied with permit limits for surface water and sanitary wastewater discharges. PPPL was honored with an award for EPEAT-certified electronics purchasing from the Global Electronics Council on July 27, 2023.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS2008

Reaching for the APEX at Ames

The multidimensional design of the APEX program is the result of an extensive research and development effort dating back nearly a decade. "In the late 1990s and early 2000, we were pretty successful at getting new research and technology projects here at the center," Johnson says, "and we had a lack of critical mass of project managers. We were taking people who were primarily researchers and putting them in the position of managing projects." Smith and Johnson held a series of workshops across the center during 2000 and 2001 to gather feedback about how to address this issue. When they briefed the center's senior management on their findings, one of the top recommendations was to establish a project manager development program at Ames. At that point, they cast a wide net for ideas and information. "We did centerwide needs assessment, we did focus groups, we did surveys," Smith says. "We came up with a proposal for what a program would look like, tying in what we knew about the Academy of Program1 Project Leadership (now the Academy for Program/Project and Engineering Leadership, or APPEL), what we've seen at other centers, what other centers have tried. We were always checking to make sure our program mapped to APPEL. We also looked at the PMI [Project Management Institute] model, INCOSE [International Council on Systems Engineering], CMMI [Capability Maturity Model Integration], you name it." "We had a lot of conversations with the Jet Propulsion Lab and Goddard," Johnson adds. "We saw those centers as models for what Ames was aspiring to be in terms of a center for managing space flight missions." Their research confirmed what they already knew-that strong practitioner involvement would be critical to their program design process. 'XPEX is for the practitioner by the practitioner," Smith says. "They have to be a part of designing it. Otherwise there's no way we could design a program that meets their needs." At the same time that they worked at the grassroots level, they also solicited feedback from the center's senior management. "We recognized that in order for anything to succeed here, we needed to have a champion at the center management level," Johnson said. "You have to have champions, and you have to listen to what the senior managers are saying. They have their own ideas." In the case of APEX, one of those ideas fundamentally reshaped the program. "When we originally started, it was a project management development program," Johnson says, "but in our meeting with our center director, he said, 'Project management is important, but we also need to strengthen our systems engineering.' So we basically added that component to the program based on what he wanted."

Kohut, Matthew↗
DOE OSTI2016

EERE Showcase Event (Solar Decathlon 2015)

The goal of the Orange County Great Park Corporation (Great Park) is to successfully host the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2015. In furtherance of that goal, tasks to be performed within the current reporting period include the following: Task 1.0 Arrange Site Team Visits for January 2015 The Great Park arranged appropriate meeting space for the site team visits over a three-day period, January 8, 2015 through January 10, 2015. Instead of a meeting in Hanger 244, the DOE requested a different meeting space. The working team met in the Operations offices on January 8th. The student teams were welcomed at the City of Irvine’s Lakeview Senior Center on January 9th, and came back on January 10th for breakout sessions. Task 2.0 Outreach Activities The following outreach activities related to the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2015 occurred during and prior to the event: • Promoted the return of the Solar Decathlon 2015 on the City’s website. (cityofirvine.org) • Promoted the return of the Solar Decathlon 2015 through the City’s and Great Park’s social media channels, including Facebook and Twitter. (facebook.com/cityofirvine, facebook.com/orangecountygreatpark, twitter.com/City_of_Irvine, twitter.com/ocgreatpark) • Promoted the return of the Solar Decathlon 2015 and student visit through a City Council Announcement. • Worked to set-up meetings between the U.S. Department of Energy team and potential donors/key stakeholders in Irvine. • Began ICTV filming and coverage of the Solar Decathlon 2015 teams. This includes student team interviews, interview with Richard King and b-roll footage. • Facilitated an interview with Sarah Farrar and the Orange County Register during the recent student visit in January • Information in May was provided to Irvine Unified School District and Tustin Unified School District promoting the three Education Days that the DOE will host during the event. More DOE information is due in August, which will be forwarded to the school districts that will provide important information for school tours. • A promotional ICTV video has been sent through the Irvine Chamber of Commerce and to dozens of businesses in Irvine promoting the Solar Decathlon 2015 and inviting attendance. • Cover story of Fall Inside Irvine magazine detailed teams competing in Solar Decathlon. Magazine goes to more than 100,000 Irvine residences. • Produced public service announcement with KPCC radio to air 9/28-10/16. Outreach also included a web banner on the station’s website. • Full-page advertisements in special sections of the Orange County Register, including UCI 50th Anniversary magazine that went to over 1 million readers of the Register, the Riverside Press Enterprise and the L.A. Times; Best of Orange County magazine; and Solar Decathlon special section. • Full-page ad in Urban Land magazine Sept./Oct. issue. • Produced ad for Irvine Global Village Festival brochure (tens of thousands in attendance at event.) • Ten posters displayed at Irvine Company properties throughout the City, including the Irvine Spectrum Center. • Rack cards promoting Solar Decathlon displayed at Irvine Spectrum Center, Discovery Science Center, Orange County Farm Bureau (at farmers markets) and at City facilities. • Tote bags promoting Solar Decathlon filled with magnets and rack cards on the event distributed at Irvine Global Village Festival, Great Park farmers market and UCI Festival of Discovery; some 8,000 bags handed out. • E-blast from City of Irvine Community Services Department included information on Solar Decathlon. (List contains 51,000 recipients.) • E-blast to Irvine Co. mailing list sent out 9/30. Web banner posted at shopirvinespectrumcenter.com. • E-blast sent to Orange County Register mailing list on 10/6. • Web banner posted on Orange County Register’s homepage. • E-blast sent by Irvine Chamber of Commerce on 10/9. • E-blast using City’s GovDelivery to 2,100 on 10/12. • Produced additional ads for the Orange County Register to fulfill the in-kind agreement between the DOE and the Register: Friday, Oct. 9, Local front page strip ad; Saturday, Oct. 10, half-page Home & Garden section ad; Sunday, Oct. 11, full page Local section ad; Wednesday, Oct. 14, ½ page Main or Local ad; Friday, Oct. 16, full Local or Main section ad; Saturday, Oct. 17, half-page Home & Garden section ad; Sunday Oct. 18, full page Local or Main ad. • Produced two additional Register ads promoting final days of the event: Full page Main or Local ad for Thursday, Oct. 15 and full page ad in Irvine World News weekly publication. • Produced separate press releases on Solar Decathlon, Volunteer Effort, Children’s Activities Area and Final Days. • Produced and distributed Children’s Activities Days rack cards. • Continued to promote the event on the City’s webpage, Great Park webpage and social media channels. • ICTV produced the “Solar Decathlon Minute” videos, which were posted on the City’s YouTube channel and the solardecathlon.gov website. • Four-minute video promoting Solar Decathlon shown on iShuttles in the City in weeks leading up to event. • Promoted a “Business Day” to local businesses in which businesses could sign up for tour led by Solar Decathlon docents. • Access Irvine Special Event Button running 9/28-10/18/15. • Access Irvine Push Notification on 10/15/15. • Facebook ad boost 10/13-10/18.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗