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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 811 records · Page 45
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Scalable Truck Charging Demand Simulation for Cost-Optimized Infrastructure Planning

This project developed a scalable, high-resolution model to simulate medium- and heavy-duty (MHD) electric truck charging demand and assess its impact on grid infrastructure. Using generative modeling, simulation, and cost optimization, the project delivered an end-to-end software pipeline and a library of 96 real-world scenarios for the Dallas–Houston megaregion. We demonstrated a modular architecture for transportation and grid modeling, implemented cost-optimized infrastructure planning methods, and quantified grid capital, operational, and environmental costs across a wide range of truck electrification scenarios. The results have been adopted by major utility stakeholders and contributed to regional planning efforts.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2025

A Framework for Assessing Economic and Environmental Trade-offs of Internalized Emission Costs in ERCOT Grid Planning

The power grid is on the cusp of a massive transition driven by three major areas: 1) the growth in demand for electricity, 2) efforts to decarbonize the United States economy, and 3) a desire to mitigate social disparities from the impact of electricity generation on local populations. However, most studies of the electricity sector do not include equity impacts in their models. This study seeks to do so by developing a comprehensive and generalizable model tailored to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid, designed to incorporate the equity impacts of electricity generation in a decarbonized and resilient framework. To integrate equity into our research, we incorporate environmental externalities into our capacity expansion model of ERCOT. Specifically, we factor in intermediate-level local marginal damages of precursor pollutants (NH3, NOx, primary PM2.5, SO2, and VOC) and global pollutant CO2 into the cost of generating electricity. We do this by taking into account county population, county ambient pollution concentration, and generator emission rates. Leveraging open-source modeling tools, such as PowerGenome, pyGRETA, and GenX we construct a county-level model to account for these costs. We integrate these marginal damages into the variable operations and maintenance costs of generators, for both existing and potential future builds. This study’s findings suggest that the value of a dynamic social cost of carbon (SSC) will cover criteria pollutant marginal damages within the ERCOT grid and solar and wind is expected to increase out to 2035. Key metrics evaluated within this research include fuel mix distribution across technologies, transmission and grid infrastructure costs, CO2 emissions, local pollutants marginal damages, and the variation in generation capacity built by the model. These results and framework can be used to support grid decisions that explicitly include distributional and procedural equity within a decarbonized and sustainable grid framework.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2022

Demonstration and Evaluation of the Human-Technology Integration Guidance for Plant Modernization

The significance of nuclear power in its role producing carbon-free electricity to the U.S. cannot be overstated. However, with changes in the energy market coupled with changes in incentives given to certain resources like solar and wind, the operating and maintenance costs for these sources have seen a significant reduction, which has consequently negatively impacted the economic viability of the existing U.S. nuclear power plant fleet. Digital instrumentation and control (I&C) and control room modernization is a major critical work domain to reduce operating and maintenance costs. Existing nuclear power plants are commonly configured with mostly legacy analog I&C as well as isolated pockets of digital I&C (a plant process computer, digital recorders, etc.). One challenge with this analog I&C is that replacement parts are becoming prohibitively more expensive and difficult to obtain. Moreover, a significant challenge with the existing analog I&C is that the way in which plants are currently operated and maintained is no longer competitive with other electricity generating sources, like natural gas, where advanced digital I&C technologies are commonplace. This gap between the waynuclear power plants are operated compared to other electricity generating sources significantly challenges the economic viability of the nuclear industry. Indeed, digital I&C systems can fundamentally change the way the plant is operated (i.e., the concept of operation). The introduction of digital I&C technologies offers a wealth of benefits to the nuclear industry. However, it is important to emphasize that, to realize these benefits, a careful understanding of how to integrate technology in a collaborative way that leverages the capabilities of people and technologies is necessary. Human-technology integration applies human factors engineering methods and tools to ensure the safe and reliable use of these technologies while ensuring that the inherent features of the technologies that provide economic value are not missed. The scope of this work documents the demonstration of the recently developed human and technology integration methodology, as applied to developing a new vision and concept of operations for a major U.S. nuclear power plant fleet. This report focuses on the methodological aspects of developing a vision and concept of operations. This report shares the tools, activities, and lessons learned during a modernization currently underway for industry as a whole to consider when planning any significant digital modification and developing a new vision and concept of operations.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Coordinated Ramping Product and Regulation Reserve Procurements in CAISO and MISO using Multi-Scale Probabilistic Solar Power Forecasts (Pro2R)

How can probabilistic solar forecasts lower costs and improve reliability for independent system operator (ISO) markets? We tackle this question in three steps. First, we enhance an existing solar forecasting system to provide well-calibrated hours-ahead probabilistic forecasts. We then relate the degree of uncertainty in those forecasts to error distributions for net load ramps for the California ISO (CAISO) using statistical and machine learning methods. Projected net load errors conditioned on solar uncertainty are translated into flexible ramp requirements that therefore reflect real-time meteorological and solar conditions, improving on typical ISO procedures. Finally, a multi-period look-ahead production cost model quantifies how conditional ramp requirements can a) decrease operating costs by lowering requirements compared to often conservative unconditional methods, and b) reduce generation scarcity events and consequently improve reliability by increasing flexibility requirements at times when unconditional forecast-based requirements understate actual ramp uncertainty. In addition to the products just described (quantification of solar uncertainty, its translation into requirements for ramp capability product, and quantification of the benefits of more accurate ramp requirements), this project also developed a visualization system that alerts system operators of ramp and uncertainty conditions within the network based on solar forecasts. The system is called Resource Forecast and Ramp Visualization for Situational Awareness (RaVIS). These four products represent significant advances in the state-of-the-art of probabilistic solar forecasting, development of weather-informed reserve requirements, production costing methods for estimating the benefits of more accurate reserve requirements, and visualization of system status, respectively. Yet the products are also practical and can be immediately implemented, potentially enabling system operators to save millions of dollars in ramp product procurement costs per year.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Bipolar Membrane Electrodialyzers as Flexible Demand Response Resources: Co-Optimization of Cost Savings and Product Formation

Bipolar membrane electro dialyzers (BPMED) are widely used for chemical production and processing, including in the emerging ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) industry. In this paper, we explore the potential of BPMED devices as flexible electrochemical loads within power system operations. Using a multi-objective optimization framework, we evaluate BPMED operation across 24-hour and monthly horizons to examine how dispatch strategies respond to electricity price and grid conditions. Simulation results show that altering the relative weights of the choices in the objective function strongly shape the operating patterns, with cost-focused strategies that suppress the operation during peak prices. Furthermore, we propose alternative formulations that optimize operations to achieve both cost savings and alignment with periods of lower grid-side carbon intensity (CI), as low grid-side CI is key to maximize OAE efficiency. Additionally, a detailed sensitivity analysis highlights the importance of device properties, where low area-specific resistance (ASR) of membrane and high current efficiency (CE) are observed to jointly unlock cost-effective operation. However, even modest shunt efficiency losses are observed to erode performance and decrease system value. Importantly, the analysis demonstrates that BPMED can serve as a controllable and flexible demand response resource, shifting load to support multiple grid-side objectives, including (but not limited to) renewable integration, alleviate peak demand, and provide co-benefits for system reliability. These findings underscore BPMED’s dual role as a process technology and a grid-supporting asset, pointing to promising pathways for operational optimization of multiple objectives.

Bhattacharya, Saptarshi (ORCID:0000000308902060)↗
DOE OSTI2020

Addressing Soiling: From Interface Chemistry to Practicality

Natural soiling has reduced the energy output of photovoltaic (PV) systems since the technology was first used. Projecting even a small average annual soiling loss translates to billions of dollars in annual lost revenue worldwide. Production losses due to soiling can be very high in some locations, substantially increasing the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) due to lost power production, increased operating and maintenance costs, and/or increased finance cost due to the uncertainty. Furthermore, although soiling has been discussed in the literature for more than 70 years, solutions to many problems are still needed. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is working with the PV industry to develop the tools/knowledge so that the effects of soiling can be predicted for different environmental conditions and cost-effective mitigation can be implemented. For this project, NREL performed a number of research and development tasks/subtasks in the following general areas to 1) predict PV module soiling losses based on environmental factors at a PV installation and from its energy production data, 2) quantitatively measure the adhesion forces to understand the physics enabling soiling, and 3) develop related standards on PV module coatings and artificial soiling. At the inception of the project, the PV industry considered these efforts to be the most important and immediate soiling issues that we could address to have the highest impact on LCOE. These focused efforts have led to outstanding accomplishments that have been communicated and very well received by the community.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Cost Drivers for a Tokamak-Based Compact Pilot Plant

A comprehensive systems code that includes a range of physics and engineering considerations along with a simplified costing model has been utilized to evaluate the primary cost drivers for a compact tokamak pilot plant. The systems code has been benchmarked against several tokamak reactor designs and is utilized with sophisticated optimization algorithms to develop optimal solutions for a set of user-specified assumptions and design constraints. Here, in contrast to previous models that have focused on the cost of electricity as the key cost metric, this study uses the estimated capital cost of the facility. The analysis suggests that a pilot plant with the following features may offer potential for a cost-attractive pilot plant: A ~ 3, H 98y2 > 1.5, P net = 200 MW, 𝜏 𝑝⁢𝑢⁢𝑙⁢𝑠⁢𝑒 ~ 1 to 2 h utilizing rare-earth barium copper oxide (REBCO) magnet technology and a plug-bucked central solenoid/toroidal field (CS/TF) magnet support structure. While REBCO magnets offer some advantages relative to Nb 3 Sn magnets in all cases, the most gain is obtained when combined with the plug-bucked CS/TF bucking solution. Pulsed operation reduces capital cost requirements relative to steady-state operation, especially at low confinement. Cost sensitivity studies indicate that there are significant cost uncertainties associated with the achievable confinement quality, tritium breeding capability, attainable thermal efficiency, and achievable neutron wall loading, suggesting that these areas are the most critical areas in reducing the cost risk for a compact tokamak pilot plant. Further cost sensitivity studies indicate that the estimated cost is most sensitive to the underlying cost of the magnetic coils, providing further impetus to better establish cost-effective means for producing fusion magnets.

Compact pilot plant↗
DOE OSTI2021

Best Practices at the End of Photovoltaic System Performance Period

Responsible and cost-effective dissolution of photovoltaic (PV) system hardware at the end of the performance period has emerged as an important business and environmental consideration. Alternatives include extending the performance period and existing contracts for power purchase, lease, and utility interconnect; refurbishing the plant by correcting any deficiencies; repowering the plant with new PV modules and inverters; or decommissioning the plant and removing all the hardware from the site. Often key decisions are made very early in the project development and might require decommissioning by some certain date after the end of a power purchase agreement. To “abandon in place” is not an alternative acceptable to landowners and regulators, so any financial prospectus should include costs associated with decommissioning, even if those costs are deferred by extending operations, refurbishment, or repowering. Decommissioning costs are driven by regulations regarding the handling and disposal of waste, with reuse and recycling of PV modules and other components preferred as a way to reduce both costs and environmental impact. Each alternative is discussed with order-of-magnitude costs, and recommendations are provided considering site-specific details of that situation, such as estimated costs to refurbish or repower, projected revenue from continued operations, and tax considerations.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Assessment of the Effect of Prototypic High-Burnup Operating Conditions of Fuel Fragmentation, Relocation, and Dispersal Susceptibility

The US nuclear energy industry is investigating strategies that further reduce the cost of energy production by using its existing fleet of nuclear generating stations. Most nuclear power plant operating costs are associated with purchasing fresh fuel assemblies or the efficiency of the reactor core design. Material costs are typically beyond the operator’s control; however, the core design optimizations offer potential operational savings. The core design envelope available to operators is constrained by two primary regulatory criteria: an enrichment limit of 5% 235 U and a burnup limit of 62 GWD/tU. These constraints have resulted in renewed efforts by the nuclear industry to pursue extending the peak rod-average burnup beyond 62 GWd/tU. This effort will likely require additional safety analyses beyond what is currently accepted by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The purpose of this work is to demonstrate a best estimate plus uncertainty pin-by-pin high-burnup loss of coolant accident analysis technique to assess full-core high-burnup fuel fragmentation, relocation, and dispersal (FFRD) and identify approaches for minimizing or potentially mitigating FFRD through core design optimizations.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Tightest Mixed-Integer Programming Formulations for Quadratic SCUC Optimization

In this project, we developed new, tighter Mixed-Integer Programming (MIP) formulations for the combined Alternating Current (AC) Security-Constrained Unit Commitment (SCUC) and Security-Constrained Optimal Power Flow (SCOPF). The work addresses a critical challenge in power system operations: efficiently determining which generation units to commit and how to optimally dispatch them while maintaining network reliability constraints for both normal and contingency scenarios. Our efforts: 1. Advance the Understanding of SCUC/SCOPF Modeling: By introducing tighter MIP formulations and leveraging cutting-edge optimization tools (Julia/JuMP, PowerModels.jl), this project has pushed forward the state of the art in efficient power systems scheduling. 2. Enhance Technical and Economic Feasibility: The methods developed provide more accurate and potentially faster solutions to large-scale, realistic scheduling and dispatch problems in electric power systems, which can translate into improved reliability and potentially lower costs for grid operations. 3. Benefit to the Public: Greater efficiency in power system operations leads to cost savings for utilities and end-users. Improved reliability and integration of advanced modeling approaches can facilitate the adoption of clean energy resources and better accommodate uncertainties in renewable generation. Because this technology could impact bulk power markets and reliability, these innovations have far-reaching public benefits in terms of cost savings, reliability, and sustainability.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2026

Energy Storage Cost and Performance Database

In support of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Storage Grand Challenge, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is applying its rich history of battery research and development to provide the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and industry with a guide to current energy storage costs and performance metrics for various technologies. Cost and performance metrics for individual technologies track the following to provide an overall cost of ownership for each technology: cost to procure, install, and connect an energy storage system; associated operational and maintenance costs; and end-of-life costs. These metrics are intended to support DOE and industry stakeholders in making sound decisions about future R&D directions and priorities that move the United States closer to its goal of energy independence. The technologies currently being evaluated are lithium-ion [lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and nickel manganese cobalt (NMC)] batteries, vanadium redox flow batteries, lead-acid batteries, zinc-based batteries, hydrogen energy storage, pumped storage hydropower, gravitational energy storage, compressed air energy storage, and thermal energy storage.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2022

White Paper on Lithium-Ion Battery Safety for use in Safety Planning at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) is an underground facility designed to safely dispose of radioactive waste. The WIPP uses many heavy vehicles to transport materials and equipment underground. Most of these vehicles are powered by traditional internal combustion engines (ICE) with diesel fuel. Recently, electric vehicles (EVs) powered with batteries have been used at the WIPP. EVs have very low operational and maintenance costs, not considering battery replacements, and they have zero emissions during operation. This absence of emissions makes them ideal for underground facilities with limited ventilation. Even if a facility has robust ventilation normally, ventilation systems can break down leading to restrictions in ICE powered operations. Figure 1 shows a rendering of the WIPP.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2025

Elastic Stochastic Full Waveform Inversion (eSFWI)

This collaboration between Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (LLNS) as manager and operator of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and Chevron USA Inc., acting through its Chevron Technical Center division, aimed at developing next-generation computational methods for the Elastic Stochastic Full Waveform Inversion (eSFWI). Seismic imaging is heavily used in the oil and gas industry for identifying and operating subsurface reservoirs. Improved seismic imaging methods can improve productivity, lower costs, and improve operational and environmental safety. This CRADA demonstrated that new high-performance computing (HPC) architectures being rolled out over the next five years can enable unprecedented seismic imaging resolution when using eSFWI techniques to process active seismic data. An open-source computational mini-application was developed, capable of demonstrating near-peak performance for eSFWI algorithms on CPU and GPU enabled HPC platforms. Performance was demonstrated on LLNL HPC systems such as Lassen, as well as on Chevron systems. This project benefited Chevron USA Inc. by demonstrating the potential computational efficiency of their full waveform inversion capabilities used to characterize oil/gas reservoirs, which in turn benefits the public through potential increases in capabilities to perform analysis of leasing sites.

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

CSP Design Study for Sandia National Laboratories and Kirtland Air Force Base

This report provides a design study to produce 100% carbon-free electricity for Sandia NM and Kirtland Air Force Base (KAFB) using concentrating solar power (CSP). CSP plant designs of 50 MW and 100 MW are assessed to meet the electricity needs of Sandia NM and/or KAFB. Probabilistic modeling is performed to evaluate inherent uncertainties in performance and cost parameters on total construction costs and the levelized cost of electricity. Estimated annual electricity production was ~200 – 300 GWh for the 50 MW plant and ~400 – 700 GWh for the 100 MW plant. The overnight construction costs ranged between ~$300M - $400M for the 50 MW CSP plant and between ~$500M - $800M for the 100 MW CSP plant. The heliostat field was the most significant subsystem cost, followed by the thermal energy storage, power cycle, and fixed operation and maintenance costs. Other considerations such as land availability and permitting, funding options, and interconnections are discussed.

Ho, Clifford K.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Beam optics design of a prototype 20 kW conduction-cooled SRF accelerator for medical sterilization

Superconducting technology has significantly advanced the capabilities of particle accelerators, facilitating higher beam-power operations for fundamental research at a comparatively lower cost. However, the conventional implementation of superconducting technology introduces complexities in the form of cryogenic plants, cryogenic distribution systems and substantial construction and operational cost. In response to these challenges, recent research efforts at Fermilab have been dedicated to the development of a cryogen-free, conduction-cooled Nb3Sn-based superconducting technology. This paper outlines the beam optics design of a 20-kW conduction-cooled compact superconducting accelerator for medical sterilization. The paper reviews both the physics and practical constraints associated with high beam-power operation within the context of industrial applications. The focus is on providing insights into the potential of this innovative technology to overcome existing challenges and pave the way for more accessible and efficient industrial particle accelerators.

Saini, A. [Fermilab]↗
DOE OSTI2024

Beam Optics Design of A Prototype 20 kW Conduction-Cooled SRF Accelerator for Medical Sterilization

Superconducting technology has significantly advanced the capabilities of particle accelerators, facilitating higher beam-power operations for fundamental research at a comparatively lower cost. However, the conventional implementation of superconducting technology introduces complexities in the form of cryogenic plants, cryogenic distribution systems and substantial construction and operational cost. In response to these challenges, recent research efforts at Fermilab have been dedicated to the development of a cryogen-free, conduction-cooled Nb3Sn-based superconducting technology. This paper outlines the beam optics design of a 20-kW conduction-cooled compact superconducting accelerator for medical sterilization. The paper reviews both the physics and practical constraints associated with high beam-power operation within the context of industrial applications. The focus is on providing insights into the potential of this innovative technology to overcome existing challenges and pave the way for more accessible and efficient industrial particle accelerators.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Beam Optics Design of a Prototype 20 KW Conduction-cooled SRF Accelerator for Medical Sterilization

Superconducting technology has significantly advanced the capabilities of particle accelerators, facilitating higher beam-power operations for fundamental research at a comparatively lower cost. However, the conventional implementation of superconducting technology introduces complexities in the form of cryogenic plants, cryogenic distribution systems and substantial construction and operational cost. In response to these challenges, recent research efforts at Fermilab have been dedicated to the development of a cryogen-free, conduction-cooled Nb3Sn-based superconducting technology. This paper outlines the beam optics design of a 20-kW conduction-cooled compact superconducting accelerator for medical sterilization. The paper reviews both the physics and practical constraints associated with high beam-power operation within the context of industrial applications. The focus is on providing insights into the potential of this innovative technology to overcome existing challenges and pave the way for more accessible and efficient industrial particle accelerators.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Energy Efficient Waste Heat Coupled Forward Osmosis for Effluent Water Management at Coal-Fired Power Plants

This project sought to evaluate the technical and economic viability of the Aquapod©, a transformational low energy (<200 kJ/kg water) waste heat coupled forward osmosis (FO) technology, to manage effluents, meet cooling water demands, and achieve water conservation in a coal-fired power plant environment. The Aquapod© process is innovative because it is heat-driven, avoids the evaporation of water, and uses no toxic chemicals such as ammonia or amines. The Aquapod© process accomplishes this using an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) coupled FO process. The evaluation revealed that the Aquapod© process offers a pathway to exploit waste heat resources within a power plant to achieve flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) wastewater volume reduction and water recovery with minimal pretreatment. Water recovery of 80% from FGD wastewater was achieved with minimal pretreatment, exceeding the project target of 50%. The estimated electrical energy of 2.16 kWh/m 3 of water produced for the Aquapod© process met the project target of < 3.6 kWh/m 3 . The heat required for the process operation was approximately 186 kJ/kg of produced water, which was slightly lower than the project target of 200 kJ/kg. The estimated treatment cost for installing and operating the Aquapod© process in conjunction with a spray dryer evaporator to achieve zero-liquid discharge (ZLD) of the 100 gpm FGD wastewater was $13.24/m 3 over a 30-year lifetime. As a point of reference, this study’s host power plant currently incurs a cost of $3.70/m 3 – $8.87/m3 on a discharged volume basis to discharge its wastewater into the publicly owned treatment works (POTW) after physical-chemical treatment. Therefore, the Illinois power plant would incur an incremental cost increase of $4.37/m 3 – 9.54/m 3 to achieve ZLD using the Aquapod© and spray dryer combination. Ample opportunities exist to further lower the ZLD capital and operating costs in the next design iteration to attain pipe parity at the higher end of the site treatment costs.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗