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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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DOE OSTI2022

Interregional Renewable Energy Zones

Interregional Renewable Energy Zones (IREZs) are a component of the National Transmission Planning Study (NTPS), which analyzes strategies for building out transmission infrastructure to support decarbonizing the electricity sector by 2035. In particular, IREZs envision long-distance transmission corridors for moving large amounts of low-cost renewable energy. An IREZ is a transmission collection point that is easily accessible to a very high volume of low-cost developable wind and solar energy potential. This dataset includes 155 IREZs identified across the continental United States where each IREZ is characterized by its primary and secondary resource.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2023

Identifying Potential Candidates for Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) in Bangladesh

Bangladesh faces several hurdles to achieving its renewable energy objectives, such as land availability and transmission congestion. Renewable Energy Zones (REZ), which are geographic areas with high-quality utility-scale renewable resources, suitable land topography, and commercial interest, can help address these challenges and support long-term generation and transmission planning. This study focuses on solar PV (fixed-tilt) and onshore wind, leveraging recently developed high temporal and spatial resolution resource data. In the moderate land exclusion scenario, large "study areas" are identified in Bangladesh with capacity factors in the top 25% for the entire country - 5 for wind and 8 for solar. Within these study areas, 19 candidates for REZ are identified based on the overlap between these study areas and upazilas (i.e., administrative subdivisions) containing economic development zones. Four of the identified candidate zones are opportunities for priority development, given the combination of strong wind and solar resources and the presence of economic zones. Furthermore, the geographic diversity of wind and solar resources in Bangladesh could help increase grid resilience by not concentrating all renewable energy development in the same region. Finally, pairing REZ with economic zones can bolster economic development, take advantage of large electricity demand, and leverage existing infrastructure investments.

Bangladesh↗
DOE OSTI2023

Transmission Planning with Renewable Energy Zones (REZ): Overview, Select Case Studies, and Key Enablers

The renewable energy zone (REZ) transmission planning process is a proactive method to plan, approve, and build transmission infrastructure that connects high-quality and large-scale renewable resources to the power system. This presentation was developed for a technical side event focused on transmission systems to facilitate the rapid decarbonization of power systems at the Clean Energy Ministerial Senior Officials Meeting in March 2023. This document contains a synthesis of key REZ case studies throughout the world and is intended as a resource for policymakers and energy planners.

Australia↗
DOE OSTI2022

Interregional Renewable Energy Zones in National Transmission Analysis

This report describes the interregional renewable energy zone (IREZ) methodology for national application in the United States. The aim is to develop a data-driven, replicable methodology for use in long-term regional and interregional transmission planning. An IREZ is best understood as a conceptual transmission collection point that is easily accessible to a very high volume of low-cost developable wind and solar energy potential. The objective is to identify opportunities for new high-volume long-distance interregional transmission corridors: a limited number of lines with higher voltages, with reduced total cost per megawatt of transfer capability.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Integrating Offshore Wind Into Competitive Renewable Energy Zones (CREZ) for the Philippines

The Philippines is aiming to jumpstart a domestic offshore wind industry and has incorporated offshore wind into several planning efforts. In parallel, the Philippines has also been a leader in incorporating renewable energy zones (REZs) into their power sector development and transmission plans. The objective of this study, conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in partnership with the Philippines Department of Energy (PDOE), is to incorporate offshore wind resources into the Philippines' already established competitive renewable energy zones (CREZs) to support national transmission planning, thereby merging these two previously disparate workstreams and implementing a key recommendation from the World Bank's offshore wind roadmap for the Philippines.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Integrating Offshore Wind Into Competitive Renewable Energy Zones (CREZ) for the Philippines [Slides]

The Philippines is aiming to jumpstart a domestic offshore wind industry and has incorporated offshore wind into several planning efforts. In parallel, the Philippines has also been a leader in incorporating renewable energy zones (REZs) into their power sector development and transmission plans. The objective of this study, conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in partnership with the Philippines Department of Energy (PDOE), is to incorporate offshore wind resources into the Philippines' already established competitive renewable energy zones (CREZs) to support national transmission planning, thereby merging these two previously disparate workstreams and implementing a key recommendation from the World Bank's offshore wind roadmap for the Philippines.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Interregional Renewable Energy Zones

A growing number of studies suggest that fundamental changes in the nation’s power sector have major implications for transmission planning (FERC 2022). The changing landscape suggests, among other things, the need for a concerted reexamination of long-distance interregional transmission solutions. Large, long-distance interregional transmission projects have faced institutional obstacles in the past, however (Homer et al. forthcoming). The purpose of this study is to design and test an approach to interregional transmission that can respond both to the evolving needs of the U.S. power system and to the regulatory questions that states and other authorities must consider when approving new investments in transmission.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Market Analysis of Solar Photovoltaic Development Potential on Bureau of Land Management Land in Arizona

This report explores the magnitude of the potential buildout of new solar development on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land in Arizona based on market conditions in 2023. The BLM currently has 18 solar energy zones (SEZs), including three in Arizona, where land has undergone preliminary reviews and is suitable for expedited environmental review and permitting for solar energy projects. The BLM also administers variance areas that are outside SEZs and may consider right-of-way (ROW) applications for utility-scale solar development on such variance lands. Within variance areas in Arizona, the BLM has further identified Renewable Energy Development Area (REDA) lands that are likely well suited to solar or wind development. The purpose of the analysis reported here is to explore the anticipated extent of new solar development on BLM land in the state by 2035.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Solar Energy Zone Market Analysis for the Afton Region of New Mexico

This report examines the commercial viability of the Afton solar energy zone (SEZ) in southern New Mexico based on market conditions in 2022. The Bureau of Land Management may designate a SEZ on federal land to expedite environmental review and permitting for solar energy projects. The purpose of this analysis is to understand whether current market conditions support solar development in the SEZ.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Ecosystem-Level Biomimicry for the Built Environment: Adopting Systems Ecology Principles for the Control of Heterogeneous Energy Systems

This paper presents, to our knowledge, the first system-level engineering study to bio-mimic the cybernetics and flow dynamics of energy resources in natural ecosystems for the control of heterogeneous energy infrastructures in the built environment. To this end, we introduce a novel Biomimetic Pulsing State (BPS) control that functionally mimics mature ecosystems. A preliminary Modelica-based case study features a single-family residential building with electrical and HVAC subsystems. The BPS control objective is to minimize the energy exchange between the building and the grid for the purposes of future self-supporting buildings and grid stability. The building contains PV, a wind turbine, a battery storage system, and a fan coil/heat pump HVAC system served by an ambient district energy network. Evaluating the control performance (BPS vs. constant setpoint) over several renewable energy scenarios (net importer, net zero, net exporter), simulation results show how the building's HVAC system can dynamically adjust its electrical load and temperatures to the electrical system's net energy status in real-time with BPS control. As a net importer, the heat pump consumed 29% less energy and its peak power reduced by 15% with BPS control compared to the constant setpoint case, with the zone air temperature 1 degree C lower on average. As a net exporter, the heat pump effectively consumed the same energy, but the peak power increased by 34% with BPS control, while the zone air temperature was 1 degree C higher when renewable energy was abundant, preheating the home. BPS and constant setpoint control produced comparable results under a net zero scenario. While further evaluation is essential, BPS control may help communities meet their sustainability and resiliency targets as they transition towards fully distributed and renewable energy grids.

biomimicry↗
DOE OSTI2025

Exploring the interplay between distributed wind generators and solar photovoltaic systems

This study investigates the spatial and temporal dynamics of wind and solar energy generation across the continental United States, focusing on energy availability, reliability, variability, and cooperation. Using data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, we analyze the performance of wind turbines and photovoltaic systems, revealing distinct patterns in energy production and reliability. The classification of wind and solar zones based on energy availability and reliability provides valuable insights for renewable energy planning and grid integration strategies. Overall, this methodology contributes to understanding wind and solar interactions, which will lead to informing effective renewable energy deployment and grid integration efforts.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

The Use of the High-density UN Fuel in Heat-pipe Microreactors

Heat-pipe microreactors (HPMRs) are very small-scale nuclear reactors that employ heat pipes for heat removal. HPMRs can be easily integrated with other forms of renewable energies, used for emergency responses to disaster relief zones, deployed in remote locations not connected to the grid, and removed from sites and replaced by new ones. HPMRs can also be used for space missions as heat pipes do not rely on gravity for heat transfer. Conventional fuel materials, such as UO 2 and UCO, are currently considered in most existing HPMR designs, but ceramic UN fuel that has high uranium density, high thermal conductivity, and a high melting point may become a better fuel candidate.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

The Use of High-Density UN Fuel in Heat-Pipe Microreactors

Heat-pipe microreactors (HPMRs) are very small-scale nuclear reactors that employ heat pipes (HPs) for heat removal. HPMRs can be easily integrated with other forms of renewable energies, can be used for emergency responses to disaster relief zones, can be deployed in remote locations not connected to the grid, and can be removed from sites and replaced by new ones. HPMRs can also be used for space missions as HPs do not rely on gravity for heat transfer. Conventional fuel materials, such as uranium oxide (UO 2 ) and uranium oxycarbide (UCO), are currently considered in most existing HPMR designs, but ceramic uranium nitride (UN) fuel that has high uranium density, high thermal conductivity, and high melting point may become a better fuel candidate. Through neutronics calculations, this paper assesses the impact of using UN fuel in HPMRs with two different neutron spectra (fast and thermal) and two different fuel forms [traditional solid fuel pellets and TRi-structural-ISOtropic (TRISO) fuel compacts]. It was concluded that retrofitting HPMRs with UN fuel has the potential to reduce the initial 235 U enrichment requirement by ~3 wt% (to keep the same cycle length) or increase the cycle length (by keeping the same initial 235 U enrichment), which enables more compact and transportable HPMR core designs. However, using UN fuel decreases the control element worth [by up to 20% for the Special Purpose Reactor (SPR) and 5% for HP-MR] and is up to 80% more costly. Increasing 15 N enrichment can further decrease the initial 235 U enrichment requirement and increase the control element worth but is more costly. In conclusion, compared to fast-spectrum HPMRs fueled with solid pellet fuels, retrofitting UN fuel is more suitable for thermal-spectrum HPMRs fueled with TRISO fuel compacts, where the neutron spectrum hardening caused by using UN is less significant.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Comparative Economic Analysis Between Bioenergy and Forage Types of Switchgrass for Sustainable Biofuel Feedstock Production: A Data Envelopment Analysis and Cost–Benefit Analysis Approach

ABSTRACT The capacity to produce switchgrass efficiently and cost‐effectively across diverse environments can be pivotal in achieving the short‐ and medium‐term Sustainable Aviation Fuel targets set by the U.S. Department of Energy. This study evaluated the economic performance of forage‐ and bioenergy‐type switchgrass cultivars and their response to N fertilization under diverse marginal environments across the US Midwest that included Illinois (IL), Iowa (IA), Nebraska (NE), and South Dakota (SD). Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was used to evaluate the efficiency of 23 Decision‐Making Units (DMUs)—cultivar types and N fertilization rate combinations—while a cost–benefit analysis calculated their profitability over 5 years. Results showed that two energy‐type cultivars—“Independence” and “Liberty”—were superior economically to the forage cultivars. Independence performed best with the highest profit margin when fertilized at 56 kg N ha −1 , particularly in the US hardiness zone 6a (Urbana, IL). Liberty exhibited the highest profit margins in hardiness zone 5b (Madrid, IA, and Ithaca, NE) at 56 kg N ha −1 and showed exceptional profitability with 28 kg N ha −1 in hardiness zone 6b (Brighton, IL). Switchgrass cultivar “Carthage” showed better efficiency score and profitability results in hardiness zone 4b (South Shore, SD) at 56 kg N ha −1 . The profit trends observed in current study sites may indicate broader patterns across similar US hardiness zones. This study provides valuable insights for decision‐makers to optimize input strategies for biomass production of bioenergy switchgrass to meet renewable energy demands.

Arshad, Muhammad Umer [Department of Crop Sciences↗
DOE OSTI2025

Low embodied energy and carbon, high lifetime silicon boules via a combined chemical vapor deposition/float zone process

This work evaluates a new process route to making float zone (Fz)-quality silicon wafers using a combination of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling and technoeconomic analysis. Our analysis finds that the new process competes with Czochralski (Cz)-grown wafers on a levelized cost of energy system level. The new process also decreases embodied energy and carbon of silicon photovoltaics (PV) by ~6x circumventing the energy-costly Siemens process used in polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) production plants to generate feedstock for Fz and Cz boules. Instead of using poly-Si from the Siemens process to feed crystallization, the new process uses the high-purity, trichlorosilane (TCS) precursor gas to grow a poly-Si feed rod in-situ during a modified Fz1,2 boule growth process. The gas-to-boule float zone process enables opportunity to produce high-purity (low metals and oxygen content), uniformly doped single crystal silicon boules and wafers with high bulk lifetimes (τ bulk > 15 ms) to enable higher efficiency cells (>27 %) with fewer known degradation mechanisms than Czochralski (Cz)-grown wafers. These benefits reduce the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of PV-produced electricity. Here we show the results of our CFD and chemical modeling of the process to prove feasibility and economic viability.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Enhancing building resilience in cold climates: Integrating heat pump technologies with renewable energy

As electrification advances and Cold Climate Heat Pump technology progresses, ensuring grid stability becomes increasingly critical for effective heating in cold climates. However, natural disasters, especially during winter, pose significant threats to grid stability, impacting the reliability of air-source heat pumps. Despite these challenges, the integration of renewable energy sources and storage solutions in heating systems has not been extensively studied within the context of resilience. Here, this paper delves into the literature on renewable-powered heat pumps to assess their potential in enhancing building resilience in U.S. cold climate zones, which are particularly susceptible to extreme weather and grid disruptions. By leveraging renewable sources—solar, geothermal, and water—in conjunction with heat pump technology and supported by thermal or battery storage, this approach aims to provide a dependable solution for maintaining indoor heating during grid failures. Our analysis begins with a review of various renewable energy sources suitable for heat pumps, followed by an exploration of their application in cold climate regions across the U.S., and discussions on potential integration strategies with heat pump systems. This study highlights the advantages and suitability of solar irradiance and geothermal resources, emphasizing the importance of tailored, site-specific assessments to maximize energy efficiency and resilience. Additionally, it outlines the economic and environmental considerations necessary for implementing such systems and identifies potential challenges and areas for future research to facilitate the broader integration of renewable energy in heating solutions for enhanced resilience.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2023

Exploring for Superhot Geothermal Targets in Magmatic Settings: 2022 Field Campaign at Newberry Volcano

This paper presents preliminary results from a subset of work carried out as part of a multinational research project entitled DErisking Exploration for multiple geothermal Plays in magmatic ENvironments (DEEPEN), supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Geothermica, a joint effort by EU member states and associated countries. The DEEPEN project will develop a customized approach to exploration for supercritical and superhot geothermal plays in magmatic systems, which will be applied to two demonstration sites. This paper summarizes field activities carried out at the U.S. demonstration site, Newberry Volcano in central Oregon. The objective of this work effort is to refine the subsurface model of Newberry Volcano, with special focus on deeper zones including the magmatic plumbing system and other key geologic elements. New data collection included gravity and wideband magnetotelluric (MT) surveys, as well as reinstallation of a seismic network. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Enthalpion Energy LLC (Enthalpion) worked with the Deschutes National Forest Fort Rock District to use a low ground disturbance method of MT deployment to collect MT data inside the caldera and other restricted areas inside the National Volcanic Monument. This opened these areas to geophysical exploration for the first time in decades. Sites along and adjacent to the south rim of the volcano constituted the primary survey objectives. A team from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and AltaRock also began the process of reinstalling the seismic network from the AltaRock enhanced geothermal system (EGS) demonstration in anticipation of further development activities at the site. The data ingestion, reduction, and analysis phase of the project is ongoing. We are currently processing the MT and gravity data and are developing a new, highly GPU-accelerated, 3D joint MT and gravity inversion to better localize the south rim/south flank conductive target and better understand its relationship to deep heat, fluid sources, and surface extrusive features. Joint inversions, which have not yet been undertaken at Newberry, will allow us to obtain constraints on the geologic model that cannot be determined from each method in isolation, improving our ability to image key geologic features at depth.

geophysics↗