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Results for “Resilience Inputs”

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

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At least 19 records

Structural dynamics of the renewable energy economy: A longitudinal input-output insights for a resilient transition

As countries accelerate their energy transitions, understanding how renewable energy (RE) systems structurally integrate into national economies is essential. This study presents a longitudinal economic input-output (EIO) analysis of the renewable energy sector in South Korea from 2016 to 2022. We develop a novel EIO-based framework that disaggregates the RE sector both by energy source (thermal, hydro, nuclear and renewable) and by industrial function (manufacturing, generation, and services), allowing for a detailed assessment of production dynamics, value-added creation, and import dependency. By quantifying backward and forward linkages and induced economic effects, the analysis reveals persistent structural vulnerabilities in renewable manufacturing and increasing sectoral interdependencies. Results reveal that while the renewable energy sector's production and value-added shares have increased, critical segments remain highly import-dependent, particularly in equipment manufacturing. The analysis highlights systemic gaps in domestic supply chain resilience and offers sector-specific insights for reducing vulnerability and enhancing energy security. Although applied to South Korea as a case study, the proposed framework is designed to be transferable to other national contexts where renewable energy planning requires economic structural insights. The findings offer policy-relevant guidance for enhancing domestic energy resilience and aligning industrial strategy with long-term decarbonization goals.

Economic linkage↗

Cell‐type‐specific transcriptomics uncovers spatial regulatory networks in bioenergy sorghum stems

SUMMARY Bioenergy sorghum is a low‐input, drought‐resilient, deep‐rooting annual crop that has high biomass yield potential enabling the sustainable production of biofuels, biopower, and bioproducts. Bioenergy sorghum's 4–5 m stems account for ~80% of the harvested biomass. Stems accumulate high levels of sucrose that could be used to synthesize bioethanol and useful biopolymers if information about cell‐type gene expression and regulation in stems was available to enable engineering. To obtain this information, laser capture microdissection was used to isolate and collect transcriptome profiles from five major cell types that are present in stems of the sweet sorghum Wray. Transcriptome analysis identified genes with cell‐type‐specific and cell‐preferred expression patterns that reflect the distinct metabolic, transport, and regulatory functions of each cell type. Analysis of cell‐type‐specific gene regulatory networks (GRNs) revealed that unique transcription factor families contribute to distinct regulatory landscapes, where regulation is organized through various modes and identifiable network motifs. Cell‐specific transcriptome data was combined with known secondary cell wall (SCW) networks to identify the GRNs that differentially activate SCW formation in vascular sclerenchyma and epidermal cells. The spatial transcriptomic dataset provides a valuable source of information about the function of different sorghum cell types and GRNs that will enable the engineering of bioenergy sorghum stems, and an interactive web application developed during this project will allow easy access and exploration of the data ( https://mc‐lab.shinyapps.io/lcm‐dataset/ ).

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Gumby: Quantifying multi-modal model resiliency

With the rise of cheap data and sensors, more use cases are emerging for multi-input models. Research has shown that including multiple data modalities can improve performance, suggesting that deep learning models can successfully learn to leverage complementary information from different modalities. However, this improved predictive power comes with unanticipated costs: additional inputs change model resiliency and expand the threat space for adversarial attacks. We first provide theoretical underpinnings for how adversarial success scales with input dimension. We then characterize the performance of a suite of multispectral deep learning models with different fusion approaches, quantify their relative reliance on different input bands, and evaluate their robustness to naturalistic and adversarial image corruptions.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Data for The Stem Cell-Type Transcriptome of Bioenergy Sorghum Reveals the Spatial Regulation of Secondary Cell Wall Networks

Bioenergy sorghum is a low-input, drought-resilient, deep-rooting annual crop that has high biomass yield potential enabling the sustainable production of biofuels, biopower, and bioproducts. Bioenergy sorghum’s 4-5 m stems account for ~80% of the harvested biomass. Stems accumulate high levels of sucrose that could be used to synthesize bioethanol and useful biopolymers if information about stem cell-type gene expression and regulation was available to enable engineering. To obtain this information, Laser Capture Microdissection (LCM) was used to isolate and collect transcriptome profiles from five major cell types that are present in stems of the sweet sorghum Wray. Transcriptome analysis identified genes with cell-type specific and cell-preferred expression patterns that reflect the distinct metabolic, transport, and regulatory functions of each cell type. Analysis of cell-type specific gene regulatory networks (GRNs) revealed that unique TF families contribute to distinct regulatory landscapes, where regulation is organized through various modes and identifiable network motifs. Cell-specific transcriptome data was combined with a stem developmental transcriptome dataset to identify the GRN that differentially activates the secondary cell wall (SCW) formation in stem xylem sclerenchyma and epidermal cells. The cell-type transcriptomic dataset provides a valuable source of information about the function of sorghum stem cell types and GRNs that will enable the engineering of bioenergy sorghum stems.

Software↗

Architecture for Quantum-in-the Loop Real-Time Simulations for Designing Resilient Smart Grids

With the power grid growing more complex every day with the inclusion of new sensors and regulatory approvals that enable end-users and small local developers to participate in the grid, it is becoming challenging for conventional smart grid simulation, emulation, and testing technologies to keep up. In this work, we propose that quantum-encoded real-time simulations can be helpful under the new paradigm and operational circumstances to solve optimization problems for power grids. By leveraging the principles of quantum mechanics, the proposed quantum-in-loop (QIL) framework will enable better and faster optimization solutions based on real-world, real-time data streams, facilitating the real-time planning and operations of electrical grids that rely on millions of distributed sensors and controllers. Furthermore, QIL will allow researchers and engineers to assist utilities in designing, developing, and de-risking algorithms to optimize power grid operation and resilience by considering inputs from millions of grid-connected devices. QIL framework is being developed to have a self-limiting triage mechanism, which will help engineers and practitioners identify fundamental physical limits on quantum processors, revealing what quantum algorithms can and cannot do in utility-specific use cases and must continue to count on classical high-performance computing infrastructure.

digital real-time simulation↗

A Systems Framework to Enhance the Potential of Camelina as Oilseed Crop (Final Report)

To alleviate the dependency of the United States on fossil fuels, particularly from foreign sources, the transition to biofuel crops has long been proposed as a crucial part of the long-term solution. Camelina sativa has emerged as one of the most promising oilseed crops for domestic biofuel and bioproduct production due to its low agronomic input requirements, natural resilience to a wide range of biotic and abiotic stresses, and the successful testing and approval of its oil-based blends for use in liquid transportation fuels.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

User Objectives and Design Approaches for Microgrids: Options for Delivering Reliability and Resilience, Clean Energy, Energy Savings, and Other Priorities

In fall 2019, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) and the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) initiated a joint Microgrids State Working Group (MSWG), funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Electricity (OE). The MSWG aimed to bring together NARUC and NASEO members to explore the capabilities, costs, and benefits of microgrids; discuss barriers to microgrid development; and develop strategies to plan, finance, and deploy microgrids to improve resilience. Based on member input, the MSWG developed two companion briefing papers to answer key questions about microgrids: (1) User Objectives and Design Approaches for Microgrids: Options for Delivering Reliability and Resilience, Clean Energy, Energy Savings, and Other Priorities and (2) Private Sector, State, and Federal Funding and Financing Options to Enable Resilient, Affordable, and Clean Microgrids. Read together, these resources provide readers with an understanding of both why and how customers—whether an investor-owned, cooperative, or municipal utility; federal, state, or local government entity; individual or group of residential, commercial, and/or industrial customers; or other organization—select, design, and pay for microgrid projects.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

A metric framework for evaluating the resilience contribution of hydropower to the grid

This paper will describe a proposed framework for expressing the resilience of hydropower generation and provide initial case studies for three classes of hydropower, run-of-river hydropower, hydropower with reservoirs, and pumped storage hydropower. Hydropower has great flexibility to provide support during and after natural and man-made events that can disrupt critical infrastructure functionality. The concept of the framework provides for consideration of policy and rules, constraints of the water shed and other allocations of water, storage and plant capabilities to produce real and reactive power, and the strength of the delivery network. The paper details a resilience response metric that has inputs of state of storage and plant level constraints on real and reactive power production. Using the definition of resilience, based on maintaining a minimally normal operations, we provide a qualitative assessment of hydropower’s ability to address the various time scales comprising the “R”s of resilience.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗

Importance of Trade Dependencies for Agricultural Inputs: A Case Study of Finland

Approximately 80% of the world's population lives in countries that are dependent on food imports to sustain an adequate food supply. Besides these food imports, further dependencies also arise due to the requirements for agricultural inputs, including energy, fertilisers, feed and agricultural machinery. While the trade of agricultural inputs is relatively well represented in economic analysis, the quantification is often in terms of monetary values, and thus the assessments of the actual input quantities are very limited. In this paper, we develop a framework for analysis of the traded input quantities at the country-level and demonstrate its utility through an in-depth analysis of Finland's dependency on agricultural inputs. Further, we assess the importance of these inputs for domestic food production from a resilience perspective. We find that Finland, a country with relatively high food self-sufficiency but also a great dependency on imported agricultural inputs, experienced an increase in its dependency over the period 1996-2016. In case of trading partners, the story is more mixed: while trading partners for soybeans increased, those decreased in case of electricity while no significant change was observed in other commodities. In Finland, the rapeseed dependency on imports (ratio of net imports and consumption) grew from around 0% to almost 50% between the years 1987-2013. Changes for electricity remained substantially smaller, with dependency only slightly growing during the study period. Crude oil and soybean supplies are totally dependent on imports as neither is produced in Finland. Interestingly, the highest dependencies for agricultural inputs were on different countries than that for foodstuff imports. Thus, when identifying and assessing approaches to increase resilience to trade-related shocks, it is essential to understand both foodstuff and agricultural input dependencies within the global food system.

trade dependencies↗

Makah Tribe Climate Assessment, Adaptation, and Resilience Planning

Our aim was to develop a Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan through gathering community input through personal interviews and individual surveys, building from our Climate Impacts Assessment work completed in 2018. This project has collected traditional, cultural, and local knowledge to support the ongoing multi-departmental environmental planning processes of the Makah Tribe. This information was then used to identify specific human wellbeing indicators to inform and enhance Makah tribal policy, management, and decision-making processes. Combined our tribal environmental planning to include the work of the Tribal Resilience Work Group (TRWG) and Oil Spill Work Group (OSWG), which relied on publicly available Western science-based data. While this information provided a strong basis for tribal environmental planning, it does not capture the unique traditional, cultural needs, and local knowledge and tribal voices of the Makah community.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Building Capacity: Solar Photovoltaics Site Assessment and Feasibility Study

While Bhutan is abundant with clean energy hydropower, there are dry months in winter when solar energy could reduce expensive power inputs and bolster Bhutan's energy resilience and independence. As the country explores solar photovoltaic (PV) development as an option to achieve that goal, grid planners and renewable energy experts are partnering with the South Asia Group for Energy (SAGE) to determine the benefits and challenges of building solar energy systems in Bhutan.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Considerations for Fire Service Response to Residential Battery Energy Storage System Incidents

Renewable energy sources (e.g., rooftop photovoltaics, wind turbines) are capable of addressing our grid-level energy challenges by reducing environmental impacts, increasing resiliency, and increasing the supply of input energy. However, renewable energy sources alone are not a complete solution. The generation of power from major renewable energy sources fluctuates with the weather, creating significant challenges in matching electrical power generation to electrical power consumption. The value of renewable power generation sources is multiplied when paired with battery energy storage systems (ESS), which can store excess power generated from renewable energy sources when it is not consumed and deliver that power later when demand exceeds base power generation. Residential ESS units are frequently installed to support renewable energy initiatives by storing energy from intermittent sources such as photovoltaic panels. Residential ESS units also offer an alternative to gas-powered generators or other backup power means. Lithium-ion batteries are the most common residential ESS technology due to their affordability and energy density. Though lithium-ion systems come with benefits, there is also a risk of thermal runaway within this technology which can result in flammable gas release, fire, and explosion. As the installations of these products increase, the frequency of response to fire incidents involving these products will increase. In response to this new and evolving hazard, UL Solutions (ULS) and UL Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) have partnered with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) to conduct a series of large-scale tests sponsored by the US Department of Energy to characterize the challenges for fire fighters responding to fires involving residential energy storage systems. The project focuses on developing size-up and tactical considerations to support the fire service in navigating the evolving modern fireground.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Milwaukee Urban Development: Assessing Climate Vulnerability through the InVEST Model on Urban Cooling in Milwaukee Using NASA Earth Observations

Milwaukee’s neighborhoods experience increased social, health, and ecological stress from the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect due to changing land cover and climate. Extreme urban heat disproportionately affects Black and Latine communities due to systematic disinvestment in infrastructure and lack of resources to cope with heat. Our partner, Groundwork Milwaukee, supports Environmental Justice organizing around urban heat in historically redlined neighborhoods. This study explores heat mitigation in Metcalfe Park, one such neighborhood that is a focus area for our partner, as well as across the city and county of Milwaukee. Our team utilized the Natural Capital Project’s Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) Model for urban cooling to model heat mitigation scenarios for Milwaukee in support of Groundwork’s climate resilience and heat mitigation work. The data inputs used in our analysis were Land Use Land Cover (LULC), evapotranspiration, and surface temperature derived from NASA Earth observations, as well as a biophysical table containing land cover class attributes. We developed a heat vulnerability index from American Community Survey datasets and satellite imagery to identify areas in most need of heat mitigation intervention. We found that central and northwest city areas, home to a majority of Milwaukee’s Black and Latine population, have low heat mitigation and high vulnerability to heat impacts compared to the rest of the county. We also found that tree canopy increases across scales are effective in promoting heat mitigation. Our results and end products will bolster the efforts of our partners to make decisions on heat mitigation strategies, build community resilience, and reverse legacies of environmental racism in the face of extreme heat and climate change.

urban heat island↗

Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project [Slides]

This presentation introduces the Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project (ETIPP) and outlines proposed technical assistance to support St. Vincent's House in developing a resilient community hub in Galveston, Texas. The project explores opportunities for on-site energy solutions to ensure continuity of critical services during coastal hazards and grid disruptions. The session aims to gather stakeholder input to refine priorities and inform next steps for resilient, reliable, and cost-effective energy strategies.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Radiation-Induced Noise Resilience of Neuromorphic Architectures

Neuromorphic event-based networks use asynchronous time-dependent information to extract features from input data that can allow for edge-based distributed applications such as object recognition. The noise resilience properties of such networks, especially in the context of space applications, are yet to be explored. In this paper, we use the hierarchy of time surfaces (HOTS) algorithm, which is one of the neuromorphic algorithms, to understand the least and most resilient modules in a neuromorphic network. The HOTS algorithm relies on the computing of time surfaces that maps the temporal delays between neighboring pixels into normalized features that involve many computations that are also found in other neuromorphic networks such as exponential decays, distance computations, etcetera. We implemented HOTS on a Digilent PYNQ board with a Xilinx Zynq 7020 system on a chip, and we subjected the boards running the HOTS network inference to neutron radiation at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. Furthermore, we used simulation models from our previous similar experiments on the event-based sensor to create a neutron induced noise model to quantify the effect of this noise on the overall performance of the network. This experiment provides the preliminary measurements of the reliability of the HOTS algorithm and proposes methods to create a more reliable HOTS architecture in future spacecraft missions.

Engineering↗