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DOE OSTI2022

Revisiting Current Paradigms: Subject Matter Expert Views on High Consequence Facility Security Assessments

Security assessments support decision-makers' ability to evaluate current capabilities of high consequence facilities (HCF) to respond to possible attacks. However, increasing complexity of today's operational environment requires a critical review of traditional approaches to ensure that implemented assessments are providing relevant and timely insights into security of HCFs. Using interviews and focus groups with diverse subject matter experts (SMEs), this study evaluated the current state of security assessments and identified opportunities to achieve a more "ideal" state. The SME-based data underscored the value of a systems approach for understanding the impacts of changing operational designs and contexts (as well as cultural influences) on security to address methodological shortcomings of traditional assessment processes. These findings can be used to inform the development of new approaches to HCF security assessments that are able to more accurately reflect changing operational environments and effectively mitigate concerns arising from new adversary capabilities.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2022

Utilizing Coal as a Source for REE/CMs

The Department of Energy’s program to produce Rare Earth Elements (REE) and Critical Minerals (CM) from coal and related materials was created to alleviate concerns over U.S. dependence on foreign supplies and to provide domestic industry a secure supply of the materials they need to participate in evolving markets. The lack of a mature domestic REE supply chains, however, present a major obstacle to achieving this goal. Engineers in the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)’s Research and Innovation Center (RIC) have conducted numerous market and techno-economic analyses on domestic REE needs and pathways, as well as extensive interviews with industry leaders, all with the goal of investigating the opportunities for coal-derived REE and CM products. This talk will highlight some of the major challenges and key takeaways from this work (Presented at the ACS 26th Annual Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference).

Summers, William↗

DOE OSTI2022

The Future of Energy Efficiency for U.S. Buildings - Drivers and Market Scenarios

This paper identifies likely drivers of building efficiency over the next ten years and expectations for how efficiency markets may evolve over this period. To prepare these predictions, we conducted an extensive literature review, interviewed 22 experts, reviewed legislation and executive orders in 12 states, and implemented a detailed questionnaire completed by 41 efficiency practitioners. The two most important drivers revealed by our research are (1) public policies and regulations, particularly those associated with climate change mitigation and adaptation and (2) the cost of energy relative to the cost of delivering efficiency. Other important drivers are technology changes, economic conditions, social priorities, and industry (including utility) business practices for increasing the uptake of efficiency in buildings. Our research indicates that efficiency markets will increasingly focus on supporting building decarbonization and enabling demand flexibility through the use of controls in grid-interactive efficient buildings and communities. Efficiency improvements for specific technologies (e.g., heat pumps, controls, and windows) and technological advances not specific to energy technologies (e.g., interoperability, artificial intelligence, and universal internet access) will improve the efficacy of efficiency measures and actions. Marketing of efficient products and services will increasingly focus on grid services, decarbonization, non-energy benefits for consumers, and integration with other distributed energy resources (DERs). We anticipate increased investment in disadvantaged and historically underserved communities, recognizing the social, health, and safety benefits of efficient energy usage and remediating historical biases. Lastly, we predict that while state and local government actions will vary, jurisdictions will increase their efficiency goals overall.

Schiller, Steven R↗

DOE OSTI2022

Engaging a Diverse Workforce in the Building Sciences Through the JUMP Into STEM Program: Impact Study; Preprint

Ensuring inclusivity in building science professions requires engaging people from underrepresented demographics; unfortunately, many races, ethnicities, and genders continue to be underrepresented. The JUMP into STEM program works to rectify this, encouraging creative ideation and highlighting the unique perspectives of a diverse array of students. The top students are awarded internships that provide opportunities to work in building science research with close supervision from mentors in the field. In the research presented here, we investigate the impact of participation in JUMP into STEM on students' careers, including the impact on students from diverse backgrounds. Furthermore, we research students' awareness of career opportunities in building science, students' perception of their ability to meaningfully contribute to this field, and the career building opportunities that JUMP into STEM provides for students. Through participant interviews and data analysis, we measure program diversity, inclusion, and effectiveness at achieving goals. We find that among the hundreds of students who have participated in this program, more than 25 different majors and/or educational degree programs are represented and more than 45% of students attend minority serving institutions or historically black colleges and universities. The JUMP into STEM experience had a significant effect on career choices or career development for more than 80% of participants. Our results also indicate that the JUMP into STEM program is effective at promoting diversity in the building sciences and is successfully contributing to the larger effort within the building science industry to promote and ensure equity in technological progress and innovation.

building energy science↗

DOE OSTI2022

Community Energy Planning: Best Practices and Lessons Learned in NREL's Work with Communities

The clean energy transition is accelerating due to local, state, and national actions combined with external market forces. Regardless of where goals are set and decisions are made, clean energy deployment occurs on the ground in communities. As a result, communities increasingly need technical expertise and assistance with planning for and managing the energy transition. Building on decades of work with state, local, and tribal jurisdictions, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) increasingly provides community-driven modeling, analysis, and technical assistance to enable more data-driven and equitable community energy planning. To inform and enhance NREL's capabilities in community energy planning and provide a resource for others working in this space, the Joint Institute for Strategic Energy Analysis (JISEA) Sustainable Communities Catalyzer supported this best-practices presentation based on interviews with seasoned NREL practitioners and a literature review on equitable community energy planning. Findings include five best practices for community energy planning that NREL practitioners and others can apply to strengthen their impact: 1) do your homework in preparation for community interactions; 2) be humble, authentic, and honest in your interactions with community members; 3) respect community agency in every step of the process; 4) meet the community where they are; 5) democratize participation.

best practices↗

DOE OSTI2022

National Renewable Energy Laboratory History: 1977-2016

Like the political and energy landscape at the time, the birth of the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI) in 1977, which then became the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in 1991, was at times tumultuous. Born from a need for better energy solutions, the newly formed U.S. Department of Energy realized that creating an organization solely dedicated to clean energy was crucial to our nation's ability to achieve energy independence. Forty-five years later, the "little lab in the hills" is at the forefront of clean energy innovation and is helping tackle our most daunting energy challenges. This book documents the creation of SERI and the politics and context of the times, from 1977 to 2016. It's the culmination of extensive independent research and formal oral history interviews - and it took more than a decade to complete. The "NREL History Project" was launched in 2009 to comprehensively record the birth and history of the laboratory to date. The project concluded in 2016 but was put on hold until 2021.

Adams↗

DOE OSTI2022

Industrial Load Flexibility, the U.S. Power Grid and Ammonia

A variable renewable power grid is a new technological regime that involves real time harvesting and low-cost availability of energy resources coupled with storage to meet additional needs. Decarbonization through electrification of end uses formerly met by combustion processes will be a concurrent trend. Taken together, these two changes may make flexibility on the demand side more valuable to the grid and to industrial users. Industry accounted for 26% of US power demand in 2021. Traditionally, industrial processes for producing ammonia and other basic materials have been optimized for a system based on fossil resources, where energy can be called upon according to needs. Large capital expenditures as well as safety considerations have favored plants running at steady state at close to their maximum capacity. It is possible, however, that the renewable energy transition will offer opportunities to sectors that can operate in a more flexible manner. Innovations that make use of flexibility to enhance their business model to move forward, individuals and groups active in their development, use and regulation, together with institutions and infrastructures, can be considered as a technological innovation system (TIS). Beyond economic and technical factors on their own, the TIS is an important analysis framework for studying the development and diffusion of technologies. This work attempts to map the TIS of flexible industrial loads and their interaction with electric power in the US, with a particular focus on ammonia as a case study. We have conducted interviews with stakeholders involved in ammonia projects, working in system operators, trade groups, regulators and utilities. We assess to what extent a technological innovation system is functioning and document characteristics that allow industries to operate flexibly.

ammonia↗

DOE OSTI2022

Energy I-Corps Annual Report 2022

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Technology Transitions is pleased to provide an update on the Energy I-Corps program. Now in its eighth year, Energy I-Corps addresses critical gaps in workforce development for our National Lab researchers. It provides meaningful real-world opportunities for the application of commercialization and entrepreneurial skills to DOE technologies. As of November 2022, 191 teams from 12 National Labs have participated in Energy I-Corps over the course of 15 cohorts and the pilot. Since its inception, Energy I-Corps participants have learned from more than 180 industry mentors and conducted over 13,600 discovery interviews with companies like: EPRI, Shell, Ford, World Bank, Breakthrough Energy, John Deere, Siemens Gamesa, Chevron, Eaton, Samsung, Lowes, Johns Manville, LEGO, U.S. Army, Trane, Tesla, GM, Dow Chemical, 3M, Whirlpool, GE, Home Depot, and Amazon. Over 20 teams have launched new businesses based on their Energy I-Corps technology. Post Energy I-Corps, technologies have attracted over $140M in post-program funding and executed over 75 licenses.

cohort↗

DOE OSTI2023

DuraMAT Technology Scouting Report: Assessing Module Reliability Risks Associated with Projected Technological Changes

Maintaining the reliability of photovoltaic (PV) modules in the face of rapidly changing technology is critical to maximizing solar energy's contribution to global decarbonization. Our presentation describes expected changes in PV technology and their impacts on performance and reliability. We leverage PV market reports, interviews with PV researchers and other industry stakeholders, and peer-reviewed literature to narrow the multitude of possible changes into a manageable set of 11 impactful trends likely to be incorporated in near-term crystalline-silicon module designs. We group the trends into four categories (module architecture, interconnect technologies, bifacial modules, and cell technology) and explore the drivers behind the changes, their interactions, and associated reliability risks and benefits. Our analysis identifies specific areas that would benefit from accelerating the PV reliability learning cycle, to assess emerging module products and designs more accurately. We recommend that researchers continue tracking module technologies and their reliability implications so efforts can be focused on the most impactful trends. As the rapid technological turnover continues, it is also critical to incorporate fundamental knowledge into models that can predict module reliability. Predictive capabilities complete the PV reliability learning cycle-reducing the time required to assess new designs and mitigating the risks associated with large-scale deployment of new products.

bifacial↗

DOE OSTI2023

Impacts of Thawing Permafrost on Residential Infrastructure: Results and Resources

Permafrost underlies approximately 20% of the landmass in the Northern Hemisphere. Inevitably human infrastructure has been and will be built on permafrost; however, due to climate change, the permafrost in many regions has begun to thaw. Using past reports and surveys as guidance, a survey was conducted to track the effects of permafrost thaw on housing infrastructure in the community of Point Lay, Alaska. The Cold Climate Housing Research Center, Inc. and the National Renewable Energy Lab conducted a literature review and interviews to document community issues from thawing permafrost and identify potential mitigation strategies for existing and new infrastructure. Researchers also identified strategies for individual homeowners to inspect their foundations for current issues or anticipate future ones. This poster will cover the results from the survey on the effects of permafrost thawing to Point Lay and include permafrost basics, common concerns from thawing permafrost, steps to identify permafrost sites and visible signs of permafrost degradation, and potential mitigation strategies that may be beneficial to Alaskans and increase resilience in the Arctic.

Alaska↗

DOE OSTI2022

Real-World Experiences Adopting Workflows at Exascale on the ExaAM Project

The purpose of this study is to discuss the experiential lessons associated with adopting scientific workflows in the Exascale Additive Manufacturing project (ExaAM) through the lens of Perceived Characteristic of Innovation (PCI). Besides the implementation, the factors we considered critical to the adoption of the workflow are provenance, sustainable automation, implementation challenges, and integration/compatibility challenges. Through conversations and interviews among the program managers, project leads, and software engineers, we have developed critical insight and strategies to overcome the obstacles and augment the successful adoption and long-term use of these workflows in ExaAM and beyond. We hope our work will pave the way for others in the research community to develop and use workflows in their respective science domains.

Malviya, Addi Thakur↗

DOE OSTI2023

Unlocking the Value of Deep Energy Retrofits

This publication is based on an extensive study conducted on behalf of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the U S Department of Energy (DOE) to explore financial and risk products to accelerate the implementation of deep energy retrofit (DER) solutions to reduce costs These financial products are intended to speed market development via three fundamental themes: reallocating risk from building owners and lenders to insurers, quantifying and monetizing previously unrecognized value associated with DERs, and providing building owners and lenders with confidence in the performance of building systems Findings are based on a comprehensive analysis and characterization of 100+ existing DER case studies, and more than 40 qualitative interviews with industry experts, including insurers, researchers, building owners, and policymakers In addition, a quantitative model of overall project economics with baseline, high, and low cases was developed This data informed the analysis that resulted in three recommended financial product solutions, which were evaluated for their potential to raise projected cash flows and finance DERs: 1) Building System Performance and Energy Savings Guarantee; 2) Trade Credit Insurance; 3) Ancillary Revenue Contracts. This report identifies many value streams associated with DERs and introduces these three potential financial products, which aim to reallocate risks and reduce barriers to the adoption of advanced envelope DERs.

ancillary renenue contracts↗

DOE OSTI2017

The Radiation Unit is Difficult for the General Public to Understand - An Easier Alternative Unit is Required - 17223

One of the difficult things to explain about nuclear power and/or radiation to the public is the 'radiation unit'. Especially after the Fukushima accident, many people are concerned about radiation, but over 70% of public who responded to the survey do not understand what the Bq (Becquerel) refers to. Changing the SI unit (International System of Units) is not easy, and instead, auxiliary units can be used. We considered several auxiliary units: one using an index number (like that for earthquakes), one that makes a comparison to general drug risk, one that makes a comparison to an amount of foodstuff (like BED), an introducing index comparing annual dose limit, using number compared to the background, and colorizing (i.e, red, green, blue). KHNP-CRI surveyed the public about radiation and radiation unit indexes to determine which was easiest to understand. For the question 'Do you know what the radiation unit Becquerel (Bq) is?', over 70% answered 'No'. When asked,'Do you think radioactivity is contagious and can be transmitted through a person's respiratory system or via skin contact?', over 47% answered 'It is definitely or possibly contagious'. When asked, 'Which would you prefer as an easier to understand radiation auxiliary unit, if it were to be changed?', over 70% preferred 'colorizing or figure'. It is interesting that men prefer figures whereas women prefer colorizing. The sample population of the survey was 500 adult men and women in Korea. The sampling error was based on random sampling, a confidence interval of 95%, and a standard maximum allowable sampling error of ± 4.4% point. The survey method was 'Computer Aided Telephone Interview' (CATI). (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

DOE OSTI2018

NORM in Building Materials: A Case Study in Releasing and Disposing of Building Debris within the DOE System - 18123

In 2013, the Office of Management and Budget issued Memorandum 2013-02, clarifying its 'Freeze the Footprint' policy. Memorandum 2013-02 requires that all federal agencies maintain or reduce their total square footage, within each subsequent year, from a FY2012 baseline. Memorandum 2013-02 also requires that total square footage remain constant with respect to the type/intended use of a building. At Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), this means that new construction cannot occur without demolition of equivalent (both in type and square footage) building(s). Since 2013, decommissioning and demolition of aging, unused facilities at LANL has increased. In 2016, the TA16-280 building complex was scheduled for demolition. TA16-280 is a former high explosives (HE) processing facility that consists of six buildings connected to each other via weatherproof walkways. It was constructed in the 1950's and has been subsequently used for HE shipping, receiving, and storage. Interviews with radiation protection staff suggest that some of the buildings within the complex may have been used to store depleted uranium metal parts in a non-dispersible form. It is LANL policy to conduct decommissioning surveys for radioactive materials when building history cannot confirm that a structure is radiologically non-impacted. LANL follows the Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Assessment of Materials and Equipment (MARSAME) process to develop its surveys and clear structures from radiological control. After clearance, a structure may be dispositioned as non-regulated waste, at a significant cost savings compared to regulated disposition pathways such as low-level waste. MARSAME measurements conducted in the 16-280 complex were elevated compared to reference measurements of surrogate materials, and a majority of the survey units failed to pass indistinguishable from background (IFB), which is LANL's unregulated clearance criteria. Further measurements conducted both in situ and in the laboratory indicated the presence of naturally-occurring thorium in several building materials including: poured concrete, the glaze atop ceramic blast tiles, and the porcelain enamel on the exterior of blast-proof ceiling lamps. Other than naturally-occurring thorium, there were no elevated radionuclide concentrations detected in building materials. It should be noted that there was no history of thorium use in the 16-280 complex, and the material in question was in all cases fixed to and within the building materials in question. Except in certain specific cases, such material is exempt from regulation under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 [3], as amended, and is therefore exempt from regulation under the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Department of Energy, and agreement state regulatory frameworks. Despite this regulatory exemption, disposition of material from the 16-280 complex proved to be challenging, principally because local industrial landfills stipulate 'No radioactive material' in their Waste Acceptance Criteria. This disconnect between what is regulated and what is disposable creates a situation where some DOE sites find it easier to disposition property as Low Level Waste in lieu of pursuing a non-regulated disposition pathway. This presentation will explore the specifics of the 16-280 decommissioning project as well as the implications of the release/disposition disconnect for naturally occurring radioactive material and project planning at LANL. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

DOE OSTI2018

Nuclear, Land marker for a Waste Isolation Site: International Architecture Competition - 18240

The design and construction of a nuclear waste marker must include many architectural considerations. Very little research has been conducted by architects to address this issue to date. Historically, the task of designating a nuclear waste site has been a discussion predominantly contained within the scientific and engineering communities. In an effort to engage architects within this dialogue, arch out loud hosted the NUCLEAR competition as an international, architectural investigation into the design of a nuclear waste site marker. The NUCLEAR competition asks participants to design a marker to designate the site of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) located near Carlsbad, New Mexico. The marker will be meant to be a means of passive institutional controls (PICs) to deter inadvertent human intrusion upon the site and should last 10,000 years. The NUCLEAR competition defined the purpose of the nuclear waste site marker as a means to communicate the danger of inadvertent intrusion from future generations. The competition requires that entries must be both legible in communication and durable in their construction. The competition brief challenged participants to consider how customs and languages will evolve over time and to predict what motivations future generations might have for digging at the site. Other background information was provided about the site such as how waste was stored and how the unique geology of the site seals the waste. The 1993 Sandia National Laboratories report titled Expert Judgment on Markers to Deter Inadvertent Human Intrusion into the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant [1] was referenced along with the 1992 WIPP Land Withdrawal Act [2], interviews with WIPP scientists [3] involved with the WIPP PICs program and the Nuclear Energy Agency Records Knowledge and Memory working group. Competition participants were given digital 3-D Computer-Aided Design models for reference that included the underground storage portion of the site, existing buildings and the 16-square-mile site boundary identified in the 1992 WIPP Land Withdrawal Act [2]. This paper will: - Provide a detailed description of the submitted proposals including graphic analysis of the visualizations, diagrams, technical drawings, jury comments and statements. - Catalogue and identify the consistent themes within all submissions with possible categories including: 1) overall architectural form and language, 2) integration of written language and symbols within architecture, 3) use of technology and robotics, 4) construction methods and materials. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

DOE OSTI2018

Media Relations Strategies in a Post-Information Age - 18452

Many organizations that deal with radioactive materials reluctantly engage in media relations and social media. This paper explores the drivers behind the dramatic coverage of clean-up activities nearest to large media markets. Interviews and media analysis reveal how companies and government actors responded to aggressive media investigations. Insights from professional journalists demonstrate the significance of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and computer assisted reporting on past and future coverage. Coverage of Hanford and Santa Susana Field Laboratory set the stage for creative engagement strategies developed to support public interest in clean-up efforts. Industrial and engineering firms, particularly small to mid-sized subcontractors, often place less priority on media and public relations. However, recent examples demonstrate that organizations that deal with scientific risk must evolve. Firms that acknowledge changing media trends update their communication strategies in ways that improve public trust and understanding. It's easy to understand why many organizations resist communicating when public concerns arise. Legal issues and contract restrictions may limit communications. The return on investment may seem low. Understanding exposure and hazard requires perspective, context and accuracy. Reporters and citizens also have better access to primary sources. Computer assisted reporting (CAR) and the dramatic rise of requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lay bare details of the inner workings of complex situations, often without context. Examples from FOIA requests and challenges filed in the U.S. district courts, are described to help project administrators understand the points of view that can take shape on government projects from filings and disclosures. The range of benefits and risks of ongoing interaction with reporters provides a framework for assessing the right level of effort. For remediation efforts near large media markets, the influence of effective communication is magnified. (authors)

96 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION↗

DOE OSTI2018

Analysis of the Current and Future Impacts of the AECOM Early Career Technical Exchange - 18497

As the average age of the engineering workforce approaches retirement, early career professionals are hired to supplement the decreasing workforce. Their transition is challenging to implement because new hires typically lack the experience that DOE's nuclear waste facilities have come to rely on. AECOM-partnered corporations have developed the Early Career Professionals Technology Exchange (ECPTE) program to facilitate new hire transitions. This program includes semi-annual workshops that develop both soft and technical skills through extensive networking opportunities, technical presentations, facility tours, and workshop preparation. Early career participants develop reliable peer networks that support their technical collaboration. AECOM's Facility Area Coordination Team (FACT) supports the program by participating during their workshops, which are been scheduled to coincide with ECPTE workshops, allowing early career professionals the opportunity to network with management and technical experts in addition to peers. Early career professionals conduct technical presentations on topics associated with their facilities and projects, developing technical communication skills utilized in professional settings. Early career leadership at the hosting facility prepares tours of local projects for interested attendees. By attending these presentations and tours, attendees gain an understanding of facilities and projects in the U. S. Department of Energy nuclear complex. Since the initiation of the ECPTE, an increasing number of AECOM-partnered corporations have begun to participate in the program. Based on participant interviews and program reviews, this paper discusses the expanding ECPTE program and its impacts on the participants, the facility, and the AECOM-partnered corporations. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

DOE OSTI2018

How Much Weight Can Be Expected to be Handled with a Telemanipulator for a Worker; Limits and Possibilities of the Systems - 18638

Mechanical tele-manipulators reproduce the effects of the hand and arm movements of the worker by means of mechanical transmission elements, installed in a shielding or a containment wall. It shall be constructed in such a manner that the motions, forces and torques, executed by the hand of the worker on the handle of the cold arm, are transmitted respectively to the hot arm and the tongs. The tele-manipulator shall ensure force reflection from the hot arm to the cold arm. The cold arm and hot arm are arranged to have identical kinematics. Additional components are provided on the cold arm, in particular, counter-weights balancing the arms of the tele-manipulators and, where necessary, lockable brakes and/or the control elements for motorized relative motions or off-sets between the hot arm and the cold arm (i.e. indexing). Mechanical tele-manipulators shall be equipped with an electrical indexing of the Y-motion (forward-backward) and X-motion (right-left). For some tele-manipulators with telescopic arm it may also include an electrical extension of the Z-motion (up and down), consisting of a double telescopic arm. The latter is called extended reach. The indexing and extended reach allow the range of action of the hot arm to be increased, while keeping the cold arm in a good ergonomic position.[1] Consequently and in other words the workers are feeling exactly 1:1 the weight of the object handled on the hot arm. Additionally to the forces applied on the mechanical components, it also should be considered the physically effort of the worker to handle objects. How much weight can a worker handle on a short time period and how much weight during whole shift? To answer this question, a description of the mechanical tele-manipulators and the available feature should be made to get a general idea of what is already done to make the work of the workers easier. Interviews of workers will bring their point of view on the situation today. At the end it will be described what kind of solutions are already available to make the work easier and increase the work capacity. (authors)

42 ENGINEERING↗