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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Safety Analysis for the Versatile Test Reactor Conceptual Design

Safety analysis simulations have been carried out using the SAS4A/SASSYS-1 safety analysis code system to update the baseline set of results for the Versatile Test Reactor conceptual design. Results from a previous revision of this work provided input for the Conceptual Safety Design Report summarizing the overall safety basis for the VTR. This work will also support future analyses that will be required for Chapter 13, “Accident Analysis,” of a preliminary safety analysis report. A number of transients have been evaluated based on categories of postulated accident sequences suggested for consideration in NUREG-1537. Ultimately, the full spectrum of event initiators and subsequent accident sequences will be defined through a probabilistic risk assessment of the plant design following the implementation of the Licensing Modernization Project guidelines as described in the VTR Safety Design Strategy. Since that process is ongoing, the present analysis addresses several transients that are expected to be bounding accident scenarios that represent the three key ways to perturb a reactor: through changes to the core inlet temperature, mass flow rate, or reactivity. These correspond to a loss of heat sink (LOHS), loss of flow (LOF) or station blackout (SBO), and transient overpower (TOP), respectively. Both Protected and Unprotected versions of these transients have been evaluated, along with additional transients that include transient overpower with one stuck rod, pump coast-down failures, seismic events, and overcooling events. At the current stage of design, transient simulation results for the Versatile Test Reactor indicate that large safety margins exist for many event initiators. However, several “enabling” assumptions have been made, in terms of both design features and design limits, in order to perform the analyses; and these assumptions will need to be revised as the design matures. In addition, a larger spectrum of events needs to be evaluated as part of the on-going probabilistic risk assessment process.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Risk-Informed Initiating Events and Accident Response

Emerging nuclear technologies and advanced reactor developments have brought proposed changes to the regulatory framework which can be leveraged to improve safety implementation and regulatory oversight processes at existing operating nuclear power plants. Specifically, opportunities exist to make plants’ regulatory compliance processes more efficient. This can be done by decreasing reliance on purely deterministic and prescriptive approaches and expansion of the use of risk informed and performance-based approaches to demonstrate reactor safety while achieving economic gains and efficiencies. In this report, we researched possibilities of economic benefits potentially available from the application of concepts associated with a modernized regulatory framework developed for advanced reactors to the existing light water reactors. We used timing factors to demonstrate the complexity of the existing risk assessments and described how these complexities affect regulatory compliance activities at the plants. We also investigated regulatory framework for both existing and new reactors and provided an overview of potential improvements. Lastly, we evaluated various areas of existing plant operations where modernization of compliance activities can offer substantial benefits.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Assessing biogeographic survey gaps in bacterial diversity knowledge: A global synthesis of freshwaters

Freshwaters account for 0.8% of Earth's surface area, yet support >10% of known plant and animal species making them disproportionately biodiverse. Modern molecular techniques have begun to reveal microbial diversity, but application of these approaches to address global microbial biogeography is relatively unknown in freshwaters. Our aim was to identify gaps in microbial data coverage along climatic and landscape disturbance gradients and among terrestrial biomes and hydrographic regions for all freshwater ecosystems and three freshwater habitat types: lakes and reservoirs (lentic); streams and rivers (lotic); and wetlands. We reviewed literature on microbial diversity in freshwaters surveyed using 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing which identify microbial taxa. We georeferenced survey locations and used a geographic information system to identify and map gaps in survey coverage using open-source data for climate, landscape disturbance, terrestrial biomes, and freshwater ecoregions. In our study, we compiled 3,425 georeferenced survey locations reported from 963 studies. Streams were surveyed most frequently (60.8% of survey locations), followed by lakes (33.5%) and wetlands (5.6%). Surveys were concentrated in North America, central and western Europe, and Southeast Asia; 35% of freshwater ecoregions were surveyed at least once across freshwater habitat types, whereas 23%, 23%, and 12% were surveyed at least once for lentic, lotic, and wetland habitat types, respectively. The climatic gap analysis indicated coverage is high for temperate regions but lacking in the tropics and Arctic, particularly for wetland ecosystems. Our assessment revealed high climatic coverage of freshwater microbial diversity knowledge, but expansive ecoregional gaps attributable to biased sampling near research institutions in North America, western Europe, and China. Future surveys should target ecoregions in Africa, South America, Central Asia, Australia, and Antarctica. An essential next step will be to curate and disseminate sequencing efforts to facilitate the study of processes driving global diversity patterns.

16S rRNA↗
DOE OSTI2024

Parabolic Trough Collector Cost Update for Industrial Process Heat In The United States

Despite great potential, the worldwide adoption of concentrating solar thermal (CST) collectors for solar industrial process heat (SIPH) is modest. Industrial process heat (IPH) demands for heat and steam are typically below 300 degrees C, where CST collectors can provide the needed heat. Parabolic trough collectors (PTCs) are the most deployed CST technology for SIPH applications. This paper is focused on the United States, and a summary of known operating parabolic trough plants is shown. A previous analysis of a modern PTC in 2016 found that for SIPH applications, the installed solar field cost could be $200/m2 (2016$). Recent advances in PTC design and manufacturing have led to reduced cost per square meter of aperture area, and for a field of 510 solar collector assemblies (SCAs), the installed cost was $120/m2 (2020$). On one hand, the results from this study showed that the solar field cost for large solar fields (510 SCAs or ~804,000 m2) would increase to $184/m2 (2023$) due to post pandemic inflation and increase in metal prices. On the other hand, medium SIPH sized fields (90 SCAs or ~142,000 m2) cost analysis indicated an installed cost could be $197/m2 (2023$). When small SIPH fields (12 SCAs or ~19,000 m2) are considered, this jumps to $297/m2 (2023$). These are cost estimates for the Installed Cost of the solar fields using the United States 2023$ steel prices. When Chinese steel is used for comparison, the installed cost could be between $162 - $210/m2 for the range of SIPH sizes.

concentrating solar thermal↗
DOE OSTI2025

A Study on Co-existing Heterogeneous Wireless Networks for Data Transmission within a Nuclear Facility

Deployment of wireless technologies is a salient need for modernization, automation and improved operation of nuclear power plants (NPPs). As a single technology cannot support the ever-changing needs, it is required to have a heterogeneous wireless network architecture to address the different technical and economic challenges. However, the coexistence of these multiband heterogeneous wireless networks brings numerous challenges due to the factors including dissimilarity in their channel access mechanism, distance between nodes, transmit power level and many more. This paper develops real-world experiments and simulations of wireless coexistence for Wi-Fi, Fifth generation cellular (5G) and Zigbee in the unlicensed band to understand the challenges and opportunities. The experiments were conducted over the Platform for Open Wireless Data-driven Experimental Research (POWDER) testbed at the university of Utah. In addition, this paper is the first to propose a novel packet rate control technique at the network layer to create temporary opportunities for 5G or Zigbee signal transmissions focusing its application in a nuclear facility while using the shared band. The performance of the proposed coexistence solution is validated with experimental results and simulation.

5G↗
DOE OSTI2020

Imaging of multiple fluorescent proteins in canopies enables synthetic biology in plants

Reverse genetics approaches have revolutionized plant biology and agriculture. Phenomics has the prospect of bridging plant phenotypes with genes, including transgenes, to transform agricultural fields. Genetically encoded fluorescent proteins (FPs) have revolutionized plant biology paradigms in gene expression, protein trafficking and plant physiology. While the first instance of plant canopy imaging of green fluorescent protein (GFP) was performed over 25 years ago, modern phenomics has largely ignored fluorescence as a transgene expression device despite the burgeoning FP colour palette available to plant biologists. Here, we show a new platform for stand-off imaging of plant canopies expressing a wide variety of FP genes. The platform-the fluorescence-inducing laser projector (FILP)-uses an ultra-low-noise camera to image a scene illuminated by compact diode lasers of various colours, coupled with emission filters to resolve individual FPs, to phenotype transgenic plants expressing FP genes. Each of the 20 FPs screened in plants were imaged at >3 m using FILP in a laboratory-based laser range. We also show that pairs of co-expressed fluorescence proteins can be imaged in canopies. The FILP system enabled a rapid synthetic promoter screen: starting from 2000 synthetic promoters transfected into protoplasts to FILP-imaged agroinfiltrated Nicotiana benthamiana plants in a matter of weeks, which was useful to characterize a water stress-inducible synthetic promoter. FILP canopy imaging was also accomplished for stably transformed GFP potato and in a split-GFP assay, which illustrates the flexibility of the instrument for analysing fluorescence signals in plant canopies.

abiotic stress↗
DOE OSTI2025

The Technical, Economic, Risk, and Adoption Assessment for Evaluating Work Reduction Opportunities in the Nuclear Industry

Automation and cost-saving initiatives, such as process automation with advances in artificial intelligence, are gaining traction in modernization efforts across the nuclear industry. As these innovations are increasingly adopted, it becomes crucial to evaluate their impacts comprehensively. Various technical and economic attributes, along with risk and human readiness factors, must be achieved to ensure that innovative projects enabling automation and modernization are successful. However, no systematic or integrated framework exists that allows plants to evaluate these innovative projects. To address this gap, the Technical, Economic, Risk, and Adoption (TERA) assessment offers a structured method to evaluate innovative technologies, ensuring solutions meet both operational and safety standards. The TERA framework integrates the disparate perspectives to assess modernization opportunities in nuclear operations. It combines qualitative and quantitative models to evaluate the relationship between performance and business impacts, while also enabling continuous re-evaluation during project development. This approach helps plant owners identify high-priority opportunities, optimize cost savings, and minimize risks, ensuring projects remain on track to achieve desired returns. By providing a comprehensive, systematic methodology, TERA enables informed, data-driven decisions that support successful modernization efforts, enhancing efficiency, safety, and cost savings across nuclear operations. This paper explains the TERA framework and its benefits for the nuclear industry.

22 - GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2020

CTES Pilot Plant Detailed Design Report

Energy storage is becoming an increasingly important component on modern power grids to ensure sufficient balancing capability for intermittent renewable power generations is available to maintain system reliability. Although energy storage has traditionally been provided by pumped storage hydroelectric systems, it is not possible to install these at every location and they can be expensive to construct. Lithium Ion batteries are increasingly being used to carry out energy storage grid services, however these can be expensive when specified over a few hours of capacity. An alternative way to store substantial energy is to use thermal energy storage (TES). This has been deployed on concentrated solar units using molten nitrate salts as a storage media. Again, the cost of the material can be prohibitive, thus lower cost alternative materials are being actively sought, such as sand, rocks and concrete. This project investigates the potential for Concrete Thermal Energy Storage (CTES) when used to directly store thermal energy from a thermal plant source. This report represents the Detailed Design phase deliverables comprising of the process, mechanical, electrical, piping along with control and instrumentation documents. Civil and structural deliverables are included on a preliminary basis due to outstanding site investigation activities. CTES block transportation testing results and the pilot plant testing plan is also included in this report.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Development of a Technical, Economic, and Risk Assessment Tool for the Evaluation of Work Reduction Opportunities

Efficient and cost-effective operation of a nuclear power plant (NPP) is essential to ensuring long-term economical and safe operation. Multiple cost saving opportunities exist, referred to here as work reduction opportunities (WRO). These WROs reduce plant operating costs by employing various cost-effective strategies (e.g., implementation of modern technologies). Identifying and objectively screening WROs is an essential task to help reduce overall costs. However, there is no comprehensive framework for assessing WROs in the nuclear industry and evaluating their impact on plant operations. This report presents a novel framework for systematically evaluating WROs from a technical, economic, and risk perspective. As NPPs continue to add new technology and implement modernization strategies into their current processes, potential WROs are commonly identified. Although most WROs have the potential to reduce costs, not all opportunities will result in significant cost savings due to unforeseen risks, large implementation costs, or benefits that fall short of expectations. Examples of this can be the result of a technology that is not fully developed, uncertainty in the amount of cost reduction, or difficulties introducing a new process into an organization. These uncertainties can manifest several ways and can result in a WRO with limited cost savings or even a loss of investment. The framework developed emphasizes the importance of effectively screening the WROs from a holistic perspective to objectively identify inefficiencies and ensure a positive impact to the organization. This report presents the Technical, Economic, and Risk Assessment (TERA) as a key methodology for the screening and evaluation of potential WROs. The TERA framework begins with a screening phase where the process is examined through a hybrid combination of Lean Six Sigma and Integrated Operations for Nuclear (ION) guiding principles. This framework examines the current processes using the Lean Six Sigma SIPOC (Suppliers, Inputs, Process, Outputs, Consumers) methodology but retains the ION key elements of People, Technology, Process, and Governance as important factors to the nuclear decision-making process. By combining the principles of Lean Six Sigma and ION, the developed screening process is specific to the nuclear industry in that it systematically evaluates WROs in order to implement new technology that is comprehensively evaluated. The TERA begins by mapping current processes as they relate to WROs and examining the inefficiencies. Furthermore, the created process map can be used to identify and evaluate potential solutions. Using key performance indicators (KPIs), the TERA evaluates each area—technology, economics, and risk—for uncertainties and to perform cost-benefit analysis. The results of the TERA are important KPIs that allow for an evaluation of different processes and technology implementations. This assessment enables decision-makers to compare various WROs based on metrics and then make informed decisions for which opportunity to implement first. This research includes not only the creation of the TERA framework, but also the evaluation of its performance. A case study for screening potential WROs at Southern Nuclear Company is presented that utilizes the TERA methodology. Through the use of TERA, various WROs were screened, and the solutions evaluated for cost-benefit expectations. The report concludes by summarizing the overall effort and implications for utility modernization. The performance of the screening and TERA are discussed as well as the impact on the nuclear industry. The TERA process enables utilities to evaluate and inform investment decisions for WROs and mitigate any potential risks. Through this research, we provide utilities with a valuable framework to optimize operations, reduce costs, and drive continuous process improvement.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2021

The Impacts of Distinct Flexibility Enhancements on the Value and Dynamics of Natural Gas Power Plant Operations

The rapid increase of renewable generation and its anticipated continued growth requires greater operational flexibility in modern power systems. Previous studies explored the addition of more flexible resources to improve system flexibility, but this may also be achieved at lower cost by enhancing existing power plants via flexibility retrofits. Potential flexibility upgrades to existing thermal plants include modifications that enable faster ramp rates, increase maximum load levels, decrease minimum load levels, and provide faster and lower cost startup operations. In this paper, we focus on improvements to existing natural gas combined cycle generators, and apply a unit commitment model to analyze the impact that each specific upgrade has on their operational dynamics and profitability from both the system perspective and from the asset owner perspective. We show that the value of each type of flexibility improvement varies depending on the capacity factor and usage pattern of the generator before the upgrade, and that the relative benefit of each type of flexibility varies. We demonstrate diminishing returns to increased flexibility when upgrading multiple generators simultaneously. Sensitivity tests for several shares of renewable generation, different generation mixes and different net load realizations confirm the generality of the results shown.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
NASA NTRS1995

Design of high performance multivariable control systems for supermaneuverable aircraft at high angle of attack

The main motivation for the work under the present grant was to use nonlinear feedback linearization methods to further enhance performance capabilities of the aircraft, and robustify its response throughout its operating envelope. The idea was to use these methods in lieu of standard Taylor series linearization, in order to obtain a well behaved linearized plant, in its entire operational regime. Thus, feedback linearization was going to constitute an 'inner loop', which would then define a 'design plant model' to be compensated for robustness and guaranteed performance in an 'outer loop' application of modern linear control methods. The motivation for this was twofold; first, earlier work had shown that by appropriately conditioning the plant through conventional, simple feedback in an 'inner loop', the resulting overall compensated plant design enjoyed considerable enhancement of performance robustness in the presence of parametric uncertainty. Second, the nonlinear techniques did not have any proven robustness properties in the presence of unstructured uncertainty; a definition of robustness (and performance) is very difficult to achieve outside the frequency domain; to date, none is available for the purposes of control system design. Thus, by proper design of the outer loop, such properties could still be 'injected' in the overall system.

Valavani, Lena↗
DOE OSTI2025

Confinement performance predictions for a high field axisymmetric tandem mirror

This paper presents a Hammir tandem mirror confinement performance analysis based on Realta Fusion’s first-of-a-kind model for axisymmetric magnetic mirror fusion performance. This model uses an integrated end plug simulation model including, heating, equilibrium and transport combined with a new formulation of the plasma operation contours (POPCONs) technique for the tandem mirror central cell. Using this model in concert with machine learning optimization techniques, it is shown that an end plug utilizing high temperature superconducting magnets and modern neutral beams enables a classical tandem mirror pilot plant producing a fusion gain Q > 5. The approach here represents an important advance in tandem mirror design. The high-fidelity end plug model enables calculations of heating and transport in the highly non-Maxwellian end plug to be made more accurately. The detailed end plug modelling performed in this work has highlighted the importance of classical radial transport and neutral beam absorption efficiency on end plug viability. The central cell POPCON technique allows consideration of a wide range of parameters in the relatively simple near-Maxwellian central cell, facilitating the selection of more optimal central cell plasmas. These advances make it possible to find more conservative classical tandem mirror fusion pilot plant operating points with lower temperatures, neutral beam energies and end plug performance requirements than designs in the literature. Despite being more conservative, it is shown that these operating points have sufficient confinement performance to serve as the basis of a viable fusion pilot plant provided that they can be stabilized against magnetohydrodynamic and trapped particle modes.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Confinement performance predictions for a high field axisymmetric tandem mirror

This paper presents Hammir tandem mirror confinement performance analysis based on Realta Fusion's first-of-a-kind model for axisymmetric magnetic mirror fusion performance. This model uses an integrated end plug simulation model including, heating, equilibrium, and transport combined with a new formulation of the plasma operation contours (POPCONs) technique for the tandem mirror central cell. Using this model in concert with machine learning optimization techniques, it is shown that an end plug utilizing high temperature superconducting magnets and modern neutral beams enables a classical tandem mirror pilot plant producing a fusion gain Q > 5. The approach here represents an important advance in tandem mirror design. The high fidelity end plug model enables calculations of heating and transport in the highly non-Maxwellian end plug to be made more accurately. The detailed end plug modelling performed in this work has highlighted the importance of classical radial transport and neutral beam absorption efficiency on end plug viability. The central cell POPCON technique allows consideration of a wide range of parameters in the relatively simple near-Maxwellian central cell, facilitating the selection of more optimal central cell plasmas. These advances make it possible to find more conservative classical tandem mirror fusion pilot plant operating points with lower temperatures, neutral beam energies, and end plug performance requirements than designs in the literature. Despite being more conservative, it is shown that these operating points have sufficient confinement performance to serve as the basis of a viable fusion pilot plant provided that they can be stabilized against MHD and trapped particle modes.

FOS: Physical sciences↗
DOE OSTI2021

Chemical compositions, pharmacological activities, quality control studies of Erycibes plants, and the development of their substitutes

Erycibes are members of the Convolvulaceae family, including more than 10 species worldwide that are distributed in tropical Asia. Some Erycibes species have long been used as traditional remedies for rheumatoid arthritis, fever, hepatitis, and liver injury in China and Thailand. A total of 152 compounds from Erycibes plants have been isolated and identified, categorized as flavonoids, coumarins, quinic acid derivatives, lignans, and alkaloids. Coumarins are the characteristic and active constituents of this species, including scopoletin and scopolin. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that the extracts and bioactive components of Erycibes plants exhibit several biological activities, including antiinflammatory, analgesic, hepatoprotective, anti‐gout, antitumor, antioxidation, and other therapeutic effects. However, in recent years, due to destructive exploitation and utilization, some Erycibes plants' natural resources have become rare or endangered. Developing substitutes is a strategy to alleviate the pressure on those endangered medicinal plant resources. To provide a scientific basis for the development and protection of those threatened Erycibes species, this review summarized the current status of the chemical compositions, pharmacological activities, quality control studies, and the development of substitutes for Erycibes plants. In particular, the rationale for use of Porana sinensis currently on the market is discussed.

Peng, Yu↗
DOE OSTI2025

Transcription factor binding divergence drives transcriptional and phenotypic variation in maize

Regulatory elements are essential components of plant genomes that have shaped the domestication and improvement of modern crops. However, their identity, function and diversity remain poorly characterized, limiting our ability to harness their full power for agricultural advances using induced or natural variation. Here, in this study, we mapped transcription factor (TF) binding for 200 TFs from 30 families in two distinct maize inbred lines historically used in maize breeding. TF binding comparison revealed widespread differences between inbreds, driven largely by structural variation, that correlated with gene expression changes and explained complex quantitative trait loci such as Vgt1, an important determinant of flowering time, and DICE, an herbivore resistance enhancer. CRISPR–Cas9 editing of TF binding regions validated the function and structure of regulatory regions at various loci controlling plant architecture and biotic resistance. Our maize TF binding catalogue identifies functional regulatory regions and enables collective and comparative analysis, highlighting its value for agricultural improvement.

Galli, Mary [Rutgers Univ., Piscataway, NJ (United↗
DOE OSTI2026

Design of a SMART Valve Testbed for Nuclear Thermal Dispatch

By the year 2050, the United States aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions. To achieve this target, the licensing of the Light Water Reactor (LWR) fleet has been extended for 20 more years. To stay economically competitive with other power sources such as renewable and fossil-fuel power plants, the U.S. Department of Energy has introduced a plan to modernize the existing LWR fleet and diversify the revenue stream. One of the plans is to dispatch thermal energy to endothermic industrial processes. SMART valves will play an important role in this initiative by efficiently balancing the load by regulating valves in a coordinated manner while monitoring the thermal-hydraulic systems to enhance safety and maintain the integrity of the power plant. This research aims to develop a facility to test the coordinated control algorithm and produce various test results for training the monitoring system. The constructed facility is capable of simulating various operational and accidental scenarios by coordinating all the valves (positions) and pump (flowrate). The facility is developed with an Internet of Things (IoT)-based custom system and a python-based valve position control and coordination mechanism. It has achieved stable sensor outputs, pump control, and coordinated valve regulation in all three valves with minimum obstruction in the system.

22 - GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Engineering custom morpho- and chemotypes of Populus for sustainable production of biofuels, bioproducts, and biomaterials

Humans have been modifying plant traits for thousands of years, first through selection (i.e., domestication) then modern breeding, and in the last 30 years, through biotechnology. These modifications have resulted in increased yield, more efficient agronomic practices, and enhanced quality traits. Precision knowledge of gene regulation and function through high-resolution single-cell omics technologies, coupled with the ability to engineer plant genomes at the DNA sequence, chromatin accessibility, and gene expression levels, can enable engineering of complex and complementary traits at the biosystem level. Populus spp., the primary genetic model system for woody perennials, are among the fastest growing trees in temperate zones and are important for both carbon sequestration and global carbon cycling. Ample genomic and transcriptomic resources for poplar are available including emerging single-cell omics datasets. To expand use of poplar outside of valorization of woody biomass, chassis with novel morphotypes in which stem branching and tree height are modified can be fabricated thereby leading to trees with altered leaf to wood ratios. These morphotypes can then be engineered into customized chemotypes that produce high value biofuels, bioproducts, and biomaterials not only in specific organs but also in a cell-type-specific manner. For example, the recent discovery of triterpene production in poplar leaf trichomes can be exploited using cell-type specific regulatory sequences to synthesize high value terpenes such as the jet fuel precursor bisabolene specifically in the trichomes. By spatially and temporally controlling expression, not only can pools of abundant precursors be exploited but engineered molecules can be sequestered in discrete cell structures in the leaf. The structural diversity of the hemicellulose xylan is a barrier to fully utilizing lignocellulose in biomaterial production and by leveraging cell-type-specific omics data, cell wall composition can be modified in a tailored and targeted specific manner to generate poplar wood with novel chemical features that are amenable for processing or advanced manufacturing. Precision engineering poplar as a multi-purpose sustainable feedstock highlights how genome engineering can be used to re-imagine a crop species.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Unalakleet Microgrid Optimization for Tribal Community Resilience

The Unalakleet Microgrid Optimization Project aimed to strengthen the reliability and efficiency of the isolated electric power system that serves the Tribal community of Unalakleet, Alaska. The community relies entirely on a local wind-diesel microgrid, consisting of four 475 kW diesel generators and six 100 kW wind turbines, to provide electricity to approximately 745 residents and Tribal facilities. Because Unalakleet is not on a road system and is located nearly 400 miles from the nearest major power grid, maintaining a resilient and efficient local energy system is critical. The scope of this project included upgrading a portion of the transmission line between the wind farm and the power plant to increase voltage and reduce line losses, along with modernizing the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system to improve monitoring, control, and data management of the power system. These upgrades were designed to increase wind energy utilization, reduce diesel fuel consumption by tens of thousands of gallons annually, and improve overall grid stability. By allowing more of the community’s electricity to be supplied by local renewable wind resources, the project was designed to lower operating costs, reduce dependence on imported fuel, and strengthen the long-term resilience of the power system. These improvements represent an important step toward the community’s long-term energy vision of expanding renewable generation, incorporating energy storage, and eventually achieving “diesels-off” operation, where essential Tribal loads are powered primarily by local renewable resources.

17 WIND ENERGY↗