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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Residential Solar Adoption Timelines and Impacts from the COVID-19 Pandemic

In this study we evaluate PII and other PV adoption timelines from 2017-2021. We use project-level data collected by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for the Solar Time-Based Residential Analytics and Cycle Time Estimator (SolarTRACE). Additionally, we conducted a survey of 171 AHJs about their experiences, challenges, and process changes during the first 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey findings were supplemented with follow up interviews with 5 AHJs from 4 states. We find that the pandemic moderately increased the duration and variability of pre-install timelines (contract signing to install), particularly in the permit review phase (permit submit to approval). In contrast, post-install timelines (install to final utility interconnection) continued to decline during the pandemic. The net result is that overall project timelines (contract signing to final interconnection) continued to decline during the pandemic. Our findings suggest that AHJs and installers faced challenges throughout the pandemic but ongoing improvements in PII processes - particularly post-install processes - more than offset these challenges. Furthermore, the pandemic may have catalyzed or accelerated a widespread adoption of online/electronic permitting, among other process efficiency improvements.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Quantifying Impacts of Renewable Electricity Deployment on Air Quality and Human Health in Southeast Asia Based on AIMS III Scenarios

This study augments the ASEAN Interconnection Masterplan Study III (AIMS III) by quantifying changes to air quality and human health that result from its renewable integration and transmission interconnection scenarios. Performing this analysis requires translation of the changes in projected generation from different power sector fuel sources in the AIMS III scenarios to changes in air pollutant emissions, developing what is known as an emissions inventory for each scenario and year evaluated. An emissions inventory represents who emits air pollutants, from where the pollutants are emitted, when, and how much of which air pollutants are emitted. With the assistance of the ASEAN Centre for Energy and leveraging the best available in-region public data sources, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) team compiled a detailed inventory of power plants in the ASEAN region, mapping their PM 2.5 , sulfur oxides (SOx), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions. A new, first-of-its-kind, and user-friendly global air quality model, Global InMAP (Thakrar et al. 2022), is then used to transform the inventory of changes in emissions to changes in concentration of fine particulate matter. Global InMAP then maps the location of human populations in ASEAN countries to calculate humans' exposure to PM 2.5 and estimate excess PM 2.5 -caused mortality attributable to thermal generation sources, as modeled in the AIMS III scenarios.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Quantifying Impacts of Renewable Electricity Deployment on Air Quality and Human Health in Southeast Asia Based on Aims III Scenarios

Exposure to outdoor air pollution is the largest environmental risk factor for death and disease worldwide, associated with millions of cases of excess deaths (mortality) each year. Although there are many pollutants in the air that affect our health, the most important class of pollutants is fine particulate matter, PM 2.5 , which are airborne particles of diameter ≤2.5 micrometers (µm). These particles are small enough to deposit deep in the respiratory system where they can then enter the bloodstream, traveling and causing damage to other bodily systems. Exposure to outdoor (ambient) PM 2.5 has been found to be the most important environmental risk factor for mortality in Southeast Asia, associated with 130,000 - 320,000 excess deaths in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries in 2019. Southeast Asia, especially its mega-cities, but also other areas, has some of the worst air quality in the world. Almost all human activity emits air pollutants. Fine particulate matter is both directly emitted and formed in the atmosphere through chemical reactions, the latter of which requires modeling to predict. Power generation is one of the major sources of air pollutants that lead to elevated concentrations of fine particulate matter, including in Southeast Asia. Fossil fuel combustion for power generation, especially coal but also diesel, is the main source of air pollutant emissions from power generation. While natural gas burns cleaner than coal or diesel, in the quantities combusted for power generation in Southeast Asia, it is also a significant emitter. This study augments the ASEAN Interconnection Masterplan Study III (AIMS III) by quantifying changes to air quality and human health that result from its renewable integration and transmission interconnection scenarios. Performing this analysis requires translation of the changes in projected generation from different power sector fuel sources in the AIMS III scenarios to changes in air pollutant emissions, developing what's known as an emissions inventory for each scenario and year evaluated. We then use for the first time a new global, reduced-complexity air quality model to transform the changes in emissions to changes in air pollutant concentration of the deadliest air pollutant for human health, fine particulate matter (or PM 2.5 ). The air quality model, Global InMAP, then utilizes the location of human population in ASEAN countries to calculate exposure to PM 2.5 concentration changes and translates that to estimates of excess mortality attributable to the AIMS III scenarios.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Powered by PRECISE [Slides]

This presentation is part of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL's) Powered By webinar series, hosted by the Grid Planning and Analysis Center. The series highlights NREL's impressive suite of grid planning and analysis tools to help attendees better understand their capabilities and applications. In this presentation, NREL power grid researchers, Killian McKenna and Darice Guittet, and the principal electrical distribution engineer at Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Sheikh Hassan, discuss NREL's PRECISE interconnection tool. PRECISE automates holistic distributed energy resource interconnection studies for distribution utilities by leveraging diverse utility datasets.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Status Quo in V2G/V2H: Closer Look at CA's Progress

This presentation will guide participants through the progress of V2G interconnection, using California's regulatory development as a case study. The focus will be on utility-side considerations rather than EVs themselves, and as such, EV-EVSE interactions will not be covered. Since V2G DC is already accommodated within the existing grid interconnection process, the majority of the discussion will center on V2G AC, particularly the regulatory and standards development.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2026

UL 1741SC Conformance Development, Evaluation, and Proposal [Slides]

V2G AC is a type of grid interconnection by mobile battery that transforms an EV into a DER with the potential to stabilize the grid and lower costs for electricity. UL 1741SC is a critical new standard to enable grid interconnection of V2G AC-capable vehicles, by defining requirements for V2G AC-intended EVSEs as a gatekeeper between the grid and the EV to support grid safety, such as through redundant voltage trip (namely oversight). EVSE manufacturers need a clear set of conformance test cases and criteria by which to evaluate their equipment and confirm the compliance with UL 1741SC, so that the EVSEs performs as intended for the grid safety. Hence, NLR identified necessary conformance tests and performed the tests identified to understand the maturity.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Eastern Renewable Generation Integration Study: Redefining What’s Possible for Renewable Energy

NREL project manager Aaron Bloom introduces NREL’s Eastern Renewable Generation Integration Study (ERGIS) and high-performance computing capabilities and new methodologies that allowed NREL to model operations of the Eastern Interconnection at unprecedented fidelity. ERGIS shows that the Eastern Interconnection can balance the variability and uncertainty of wind and solar photovoltaics at a 5-minute level, for one simulated year.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2017

Where Might We Be Headed? Signposts from Other States

Presentation on the state of distributed energy resources interconnection in Wisconsin from the Wisconsin Distributed Resources Collaborative (WIDRC) Interconnection Forum for Distributed Generation. It addresses concerns over application submission and processing, lack of visibility into the distribution system, and uncertainty in upgrade costs.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Understanding Community Microgrids

Increasing need for distribution circuit reliability and resilience prompt a clearer understanding of community microgrid interconnection and operational requirements. While customer-owned, behind-the-meter microgrid implementation is not always simple, increasing demand for reliability has commercialized many installation approaches. This rapid commercialization has broadened industry understanding of single-customer microgrid integration. Moreover, off-grid behaviors of such microgrids are not required to meet utility standard interconnection requirements. However, multi-customer community microgrids (utility- or third-party operated), are less well explored and introduce more complex design and operational challenges. The control of DER along with distribution automation devices, unmanned operation, protection coordination, and other aspects makes community microgrids challenging to implement and operate in both on-grid and off-grid modes. This whitepaper is a technical primer for understanding community microgrids. It provides a foundation for understanding the components, configurations, design, and operational considerations for community microgrids.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Cyber-Informed Engineering (CIE) Guide for States

The Cyber-Informed Engineering (CIE) Guide for States provides state energy offices, public utility commissions, and partner organizations with a structured framework for integrating cyber-resilient engineering practices into energy planning, grantmaking, interconnection processes, and workforce development. As grid digitalization and the adoption of distributed energy resources accelerate, states face expanding cyber-physical risks that traditional cybersecurity measures alone cannot fully address. CIE offers a proactive, consequence-focused engineering methodology that emphasizes eliminating or mitigating high-impact failure modes through design, physical controls, and operational safeguards. The guide outlines the 12 core CIE principles, demonstrates their application through state-focused use cases—including grant evaluation rubrics, interconnection reviews, allow-list development, and training programs—and provides practical tools such as scoring frameworks, impact assessment methods, and implementation checklists. It also highlights pathways for state–utility collaboration and opportunities for technical assistance from national laboratories. By adopting CIE, states can enhance grid reliability, reduce lifecycle costs, strengthen supply-chain assurance, and foster a security-aware engineering culture that aligns with broader resilience and modernization goals. November 2025

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Cyber-Informed Engineering (CIE) Guide for States

The Cyber-Informed Engineering (CIE) Guide for States provides state energy offices, public utility commissions, and partner organizations with a structured framework for integrating cyber-resilient engineering practices into energy planning, grantmaking, interconnection processes, and workforce development. As grid digitalization and the adoption of distributed energy resources accelerate, states face expanding cyber-physical risks that traditional cybersecurity measures alone cannot fully address. CIE offers a proactive, consequence-focused engineering methodology that emphasizes eliminating or mitigating high-impact failure modes through design, physical controls, and operational safeguards. The guide outlines the 12 core CIE principles, demonstrates their application through state-focused use cases—including grant evaluation rubrics, interconnection reviews, allow-list development, and training programs—and provides practical tools such as scoring frameworks, impact assessment methods, and implementation checklists. It also highlights pathways for state–utility collaboration and opportunities for technical assistance from national laboratories. By adopting CIE, states can enhance grid reliability, reduce lifecycle costs, strengthen supply-chain assurance, and foster a security-aware engineering culture that aligns with broader resilience and modernization goals. November 2025

29 - ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2019

Silk Flexible Electronics: From Bombyx mori Silk Ag Nanoclusters Hybrid Materials to Mesoscopic Memristors and Synaptic Emulators

Functionalization of flexible materials based on mesoscopic reconstruction is a key strategy in fabricating biocompatible flexible electronics. This work is to acquire new mesoscopic bioelectronic hybrid materials of silk fibroin (SF)-Ag nanoclusters (AgNCs@BSA; BSA: bovine serum albumin), which enhance significantly the performance of silk memristors. It is to build AgNCs@BSA into SF mesoscopic networks by templated ß-crystallization. Atomic force microscopy potential probing indicates that AgNCs@BSA serve as electronic potential wells that change completely the transport behavior of charge particles within the SF films. This leads to significant enhancement in the switching speed (˜10 ns), very good switching stability, extremely low set/reset voltages (0.3/-0.18 V) of SF meso-hybrid memristors, compared with the original and other organic memristors, and displays unique synapse characteristics and the capability of synapse learning. Classical density functional theory Poisson–Nernst–Planck simulations indicate that the enhanced performance is subject to the low potential paths interconnecting the AgNCs@BSA, which guide charges' transport (Ag+) and deposition in SF films.

Shi, Chenyang↗
DOE OSTI2020

High-Performance, Long-Life, Rechargeable Li–CO 2 Batteries based on a 3D Holey Graphene Cathode Implanted with Single Iron Atoms

A highly efficient cathode catalyst for rechargeable Li-CO 2 batteries is successfully synthesized by implanting single iron atoms into 3D porous carbon architectures, consisting of interconnected N,S-codoped holey graphene (HG) sheets. The unique porous 3D hierarchical architecture of the catalyst with a large surface area and sufficient space within the interconnected HG framework can not only facilitate electron transport and CO 2 /Li+ diffusion, but also allow for a high uptake of Li 2 CO 3 to ensure a high capacity. Consequently, the resultant rechargeable Li-CO 2 batteries exhibit a low potential gap of approximate to 1.17 V at 100 mA g -1 and can be repeatedly charged and discharged for over 200 cycles with a cut-off capacity of 1000 mAh g -1 at a high current density of 1 A g -1 . Density functional theory calculations are performed and the observed appealing catalytic performance is correlated with the hierarchical structure of the carbon catalyst. This work provides an effective approach to the development of highly efficient cathode catalysts for metal-CO 2 batteries and beyond.

(2) batteries↗
DOE OSTI2018

Rational Design of Hierarchically Open-Porous Spherical Hybrid Architectures for Lithium Ion Batteries

Controlling the internal microstructure and overall morphology of building blocks used to form hybrid materials is crucial for the realization of deterministically designed architectures with desirable properties. Here, we demonstrate an integrative spray-frozen (SF) assembly for forming hierarchically structured open-porous microspheres (hpMSs) composed of Fe 3 O 4 and reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The SF process drives the formation of a radially-aligned microstructure within the sprayed colloidal droplets and also controls the overall microsphere morphology. The Fe 3 O 4 /rGO hpMSs contain interconnected open-pores and spherical morphology, which, when used as a lithium-ion battery anode, enables then to provide gravimetric and volumetric capacities of 1069.7 mAh g -1 and 686.7 mAh cm -3 , much greater than those of samples with similar composition and different morphologies. The hpMSs have good rate and cycling performances, retaining 78.5% from 100 to 1000 mA g -1 and 74.6% over 300 cycles. Using in-situ synchrotron x-ray absorption spectroscopy, the reaction pathway and phase evolution of the hpMSs are monitored observing the very small domain size and highly disordered nature of Fe x O y . Here, the reduced capacity fading relative to other conversion systems is due to the good electrical contact between the pulverized Fe x O y particles and rGO, the overall structural integrity of the hpMSs, and interconnected openporosity.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Tailoring the mechanical properties of nanoparticle networks that encompass biomimetic catch bonds

Biological “catch” bonds display the distinctive attribute that the bond lifetime can increase under an applied force. Insertion of biomimetic catch bonds into hybrid materials could lead to composites that exhibit remarkable mechanical properties. We model the tensile behavior of polymer-grafted nanoparticle (PGN) networks interconnected by a mixture of catch bonds and conventional “slip” bonds, whose lifetimes decrease with force. We formulate a kinetic master equation that provides the complete probabilistic description of a system of two PGNs. The master equation is used to analyze the parameter space that determines the rupture behavior of the catch bonds in the two-particle system. We then utilize two exemplary sets of catch bond parameters in three-dimensional computer simulations of larger PGN networks under strain-controlled tensile deformation. We demonstrate that the strain at break and toughness of the networks can be altered by “tuning” the attributes of the catch bonds and varying the fraction of catch bonds in the network. We show that networks encompassing the catch bonds could exhibit a several-fold increase in the strain-at-break and toughness relative to those interconnected solely by the slip bonds. Our studies can provide valuable guidelines for tailoring the mechanical properties of novel, bio-inspired nanocomposites.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Freestanding NiFe Oxyfluoride Holey Film with Ultrahigh Volumetric Capacitance for Flexible Asymmetric Supercapacitors

In this work, a freestanding NiFe oxyfluoride (NiFeOF) holey film was prepared by electrochemical deposition and anodic treatments. With the combination of good electrical conductivity and holey structure, the NiFeOF holey film offers superior electrochemical performance, due to the following reasons: (i) The residual metal alloy framework can be used as the current collector to improve electrode conductivity. Moreover, the as-prepared freestanding NiFeOF holey film can be used as a supercapacitor electrode without reliance on binders and other additives. The residual metal alloy framework and binder-free electrode effectively reduces electrode resistance, thus improving electron transport. (ii) The highly interconnected holey structure and hierarchical pore distribution provides a high specific surface area to improve electron transport, enhancing rapid ion transport and mitigating diffusion limitations throughout the holey film. (iii) The excellent mechanical characteristics facilitate flexibility and cyclability related performance. Additionally, the NiFeOF holey film presents exceptional electrochemical performance, showing that it is a promising alternative for small/micro-size electronic devices.

holey film↗
DOE OSTI2018

Mechanically Assisted Self‐Healing of Ultrathin Gold Nanowires

Abstract As the critical feature sizes of integrated circuits approaching sub‐10 nm, ultrathin gold nanowires (diameter <10 nm) have emerged as one of the most promising candidates for next‐generation interconnects in nanoelectronics. Also due to their ultrasmall dimensions, however, the structures and morphologies of ultrathin gold nanowires are more prone to be damaged during practical services, for example, Rayleigh instability can significantly alter their morphologies upon Joule heating, hindering their applications as interconnects. Here, it is shown that upon mechanical perturbations, predamaged, nonuniform ultrathin gold nanowires can quickly recover into uniform diameters and restore their smooth surfaces, via a simple mechanically assisted self‐healing process. By examining the local self‐healing process through in situ high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, the underlying mechanism is believed to be associated with surface atomic diffusion as evidenced by molecular dynamics simulations. In addition, mechanical manipulation can assist the atoms to overcome the diffusion barriers, as suggested by ab initio calculations, to activate more surface adatoms to diffuse and consequently speed up the self‐healing process. This result can provide a facile method to repair ultrathin metallic nanowires directly in functional devices, and quickly restore their microstructures and morphologies by simple global mechanical perturbations.

Wang, Binjun↗
DOE OSTI2022

Scaling SQL to the Supercomputer for Interactive Analysis of Simulation Data

AI and simulation workloads consume and generate large amounts of data that need to be searched, transformed and merged with other data. With the goal of treating data as a first-class citizen inside a traditionally compute-centric HPC environment, we explore how the use of accelerators and high-speed interconnects can speed up tasks which otherwise constitute bottlenecks in computational discovery workflows. BlazingSQL is SQL engine that runs natively on NVIDIA GPUs and supports internode communication for fast analytics on terabyte-scale tabular data sets. We show how a fast interconnect improves query performance if leveraged through the Unified Communication X (UCX) middleware. We envision that future computing platforms will integrate accelerated database query capabilities for immediate and interactive analysis of large simulation data.

Glaser, Jens↗