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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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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Enlightened Education: Solar Engineering Design to Energize School Facilities

Here, this paper explores the potential for universities, colleges, and K-12 schools to implement solar electric infrastructure projects on their campuses that not only provide financial savings but also provide learning environments and instructional opportunities for students. A recent case study at Madison College is presented for a 1.85 MW photovoltaic system that is the largest solar rooftop installation in the State of Wisconsin. The system was designed with several unique features to facilitate public access, provide students with hands-on interaction, and compare and contrast several different types of solar equipment. Special engineering design considerations should be made when installing solar on schools, and recommended practices from the Madison College experience are detailed. Madison College completed a Solar Roadmap in order to prioritize and sequence investment in solar across the multiple buildings and campus locations operated by the college. The featured installation was the first project within that plan. A ten-step guide on how to create a solar roadmap is shared, so that other schools can learn from Madison College’s experience and replicate the process for their own institutions.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Simulating Properties of Metal Powder Beds Used for Additive Manufacturing of Parts in Semiconductor, Solar and Display Equipment. Final CRADA Report

Final Report CRADA No. TC02261 Date Technical Work Ended: 7/31/19. This was a collaborative effort between Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC as manager and operator of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and Applied Materials, Inc. to adapt and utilize LLNL-developed particle-scale simulation models to investigate and improve powder-bed formation for additive manufacturing of parts of interest to Participant in semiconductor, solar and display equipment. The original term of the CRADA was one (1) year. A No-Cost Time Extension extended the CRADA for two months through July 31, 2019.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Development of Perovskite (PVSK) Technology Related to Solar Cell Manufacturing Equipment (CRADA CRD-18-733 Final Report)

This CRADA between Energy Everywhere and NREL is to develop a process to fabricate flexible photovoltaic modules using a solution coated PVSK absorber with interlayers comprising materials deposited by economically feasible methods. Energy Everywhere™ will replicate and scale this process in Berkeley, California where it will ultimately commercialize the process, fabrication equipment, and PV modules.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Standard Operating Procedure for Optimal Deployment of Meteorological Instrumentation Within the Solar Radiation Research Laboratory (BMS and RMS SOP)

The objective of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL's) Solar Radiation Research Laboratory (SRRL) is to collect and use high-quality solar radiation data sets for research leading to the widespread adoption of solar technologies. To appropriately populate and track the diverse array of instruments at the NREL-SRRL, NREL has established a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for optimal instrument deployment within the SRRL for both the Baseline Measurement System (BMS) and the Research Measurement System (RMS). Using best practices methodologies, the NREL-SRRL maintains a varied and extensive array of solar monitoring equipment to test, evaluate, and characterize the solar sensors used by federal and international agencies as well as the solar industry to determine the solar resource. The SOP provides the industry with guidance for solar resource assessment and is used for procedures in the long-term continuous monitoring of legacy instruments alongside state-of-the-art instruments. Based on the SOP, instruments are annually evaluated for continued deployment. Instruments that do not meet the SOP criteria are decommissioned, and new instruments that meet the criteria are deployed. Streamlining and optimizing the use of this facility ensures that the lab continues to be a world-leading solar calibration and measurement facility.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2024

Standard Operating Procedure for Optimal Deployment of Meteorological Instrumentation Within the Solar Radiation Research Laboratory: 2024 Edition

The objective of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL's) Solar Radiation Research Laboratory (SRRL) is to collect and use high-quality solar radiation data sets for research leading to the widespread adoption of solar technologies. To appropriately populate and track the diverse array of instruments at the NREL-SRRL, NREL has established a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for optimal instrument deployment within the SRRL for both the Baseline Measurement System (BMS) and the Research Measurement System (RMS). Using best practices methodologies, the NREL-SRRL maintains a varied and extensive array of solar monitoring equipment to test, evaluate, and characterize the solar sensors used by federal and international agencies as well as the solar industry to determine the solar resource. The SOP provides the industry with guidance for solar resource assessment and is used for procedures in the long-term continuous monitoring of legacy instruments alongside state-of-the-art instruments. Based on the SOP, instruments are annually evaluated for continued deployment. Instruments that do not meet the SOP criteria are decommissioned, and new instruments that meet the criteria are deployed. Streamlining and optimizing the use of this facility ensures that the lab continues to be a world-leading solar calibration and measurement facility. This 2024 edition includes updates to the appendices to reflect the instrument changes from one year to another.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Standard Operating Procedure for Optimal Deployment of Meteorological Instrumentation Within the Solar Radiation Research Laboratory: 2025 Edition

The objective of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL's) Solar Radiation Research Laboratory (SRRL) is to collect and use high-quality solar radiation data sets for research leading to the widespread adoption of solar technologies. To appropriately populate and track the diverse array of instruments at the NREL-SRRL, NREL has established a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for optimal instrument deployment within the SRRL for both the Baseline Measurement System (BMS) and the Research Measurement System (RMS). Using best practices methodologies, the NREL-SRRL maintains a varied and extensive array of solar monitoring equipment to test, evaluate, and characterize the solar sensors used by federal and international agencies as well as the solar industry to determine the solar resource. The SOP provides the industry with guidance for solar resource assessment and is used for procedures in the long-term continuous monitoring of legacy instruments alongside state-of-the-art instruments. Based on the SOP, instruments are annually evaluated for continued deployment. Instruments that do not meet the SOP criteria are decommissioned, and new instruments that meet the criteria are deployed. Streamlining and optimizing the use of this facility ensures that the lab continues to be a world-leading solar calibration and measurement facility. This 2025 edition includes updates to the appendices to describe the current instrumentation of the NREL-SRRL.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Experimental Study of a Novel Semi-Transparent Bi-Facial Agri-Voltaic System: Initial Results

Solar (photovoltaic)-agriculture practices have experienced notable progress across several countries over the past few decades, creating a field widely known as agrivoltaics. This co-location practice has proved effective for certain crops that prefer partial shade like tomatoes, lettuce, and peppers, although it is less effective for crops needing more sun. Availability of natural sunlight with a specific spectral signature is necessary for agricultural practices as many plant species require an optimum-level and quality of sunlight for photosynthesis. The goal of this work is to model and validate ground-level irradiance for a semi-transparent bifacial solar collector equipped with a custom spectral reflector. By introducing intentional gaps between opaque solar cells, we hope to allow 50% of visible light to pass through the module. Additionally, this technology could reduce the soil temperature by 2° C, improve moisture retention, and enhance yield by providing partial solar radiation. In our model, we can calculate the total solar irradiance for the plants as a function of the cell distribution, material absorption, height of the panel and time of year with a spatial resolution of 0.0625 m2. When comparing theoretical estimates to experimental measurements of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), we find a discrepancy of 32-48%, and a discrepancy of 19-38% after correction with TMY data.

McGraw, Duncan (ORCID:0000000256388118)↗
DOE OSTI2023

A Surface Radiation Balance Dataset from Siple Dome in West Antarctica for Atmospheric and Climate Model Evaluation

Abstract A field campaign at Siple Dome in West Antarctica during the austral summer 2019/20 offers an opportunity to evaluate climate model performance, particularly cloud microphysical simulation. Over Antarctic ice sheets and ice shelves, clouds are a major regulator of the surface energy balance, and in the warm season their presence occasionally induces surface melt that can gradually weaken an ice shelf structure. This dataset from Siple Dome, obtained using transportable and solar-powered equipment, includes surface energy balance measurements, meteorology, and cloud remote sensing. To demonstrate how these data can be used to evaluate model performance, comparisons are made with meteorological reanalysis known to give generally good performance over Antarctica (ERA5). Surface albedo measurements show expected variability with observed cloud amount, and can be used to evaluate a model’s snowpack parameterization. One case study discussed involves a squall with northerly winds, during which ERA5 fails to produce cloud cover throughout one of the days. A second case study illustrates how shortwave spectroradiometer measurements that encompass the 1.6- μ m atmospheric window reveal cloud phase transitions associated with cloud life cycle. Here, continuously precipitating mixed-phase clouds become mainly liquid water clouds from local morning through the afternoon, not reproduced by ERA5. We challenge researchers to run their various regional or global models in a manner that has the large-scale meteorology follow the conditions of this field campaign, compare cloud and radiation simulations with this Siple Dome dataset, and potentially investigate why cloud microphysical simulations or other model components might produce discrepancies with these observations. significance statement Antarctica is a critical region for understanding climate change and sea level rise, as the great ice sheets and the ice shelves are subject to increasing risk as global climate warms. Climate models have difficulties over Antarctica, particularly with simulation of cloud properties that regulate snow surface melting or refreezing. Atmospheric and climate-related field work has significant challenges in the Antarctic, due to the small number of research stations that can support state-of-the-art equipment. Here we present new data from a suite of transportable and solar-powered instruments that can be deployed to remote Antarctic sites, including regions where ice shelves are most at risk, and we demonstrate how key components of climate model simulations can be evaluated against these data.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

A Computer Design Tool for Ceramic Receivers

Gen3 solar receivers and other components will experience a combination of high temperatures and high stress caused by thermal stress and internal pressure. Under these conditions metallic components, even those manufactured from nickel-based superalloys, have poor reliability. Engineering ceramics could be a solution, as these materials have excellent high temperature strength. However, accurately assessing the reliability of a ceramic component operating in these conditions requires an entirely different approach compared to metallic materials. This paper describes the implementation of statistical models for evaluating the reliability of high temperature ceramic components in srlife – an open-source software package for estimating the life of high temperature concentrating solar power equipment. This new capability allows users to make fair comparisons between competing metallic and ceramic component designs and to accurately assess the plant efficiency and economics of ceramic solar receivers and other components.

Messner, Mark (ORCID:0000000200404385)↗
DOE OSTI2020

Cost Efficient and Highly Weather-Resistant Solar Panel Backsheet Produced through Continuous Co-Extrusion Processing

The efficient generation and delivery of ‘clean energy” through photovoltaic (PV) technology relies heavily on the cost, performance and reliability of solar panels, along with the individual components used in assembly of those panels. In order to continue towards the Department of Energy’s (DOE) goals of driving costs down, the lifetime of high-output power generation equipment (i.e. solar modules) must be extended to reduce costs associated with power output degradation and replacement of failed or degraded panels. One of the major sources of module failures in the past 30 years has been the failure of the solar panel backsheet. Failure of this component causes severe output losses due to oxidation and yellowing of the module while creating safety concerns as the major electrical insulation of the module is compromised. Tomark-Worthen LLC was formed in 2012 with the goal of designing and manufacturing novel PV backsheets and encapsulants that would be produced in the United States of America and exceed expectations of domestic and international module producers. These backsheets would improve upon known backsheet design failures (i.e. Isovoltaic’s AAA backsheet) and create domestic manufacturing jobs in the PV sector. This goal became a reality with a first-generation product in 2018 and now, with the support of the DOE, Tomark-Worthen has launched a second-generation product known as PhotoMark® Reflections™ 205-3 and 360-3. This 2+ year effort began in late 2017 with a screening of potential polymeric materials and backsheet structural designs. Performance evaluations of each material provided the necessary data needed to select the proper material combinations and move forward into the design of the manufacturing process. These decisions were made by teaming with a local university, well-respected government laboratories, and private research organizations who provided the tools necessary to predict long-term performance of these materials in much shorter periods of time. Once the go/no-go criteria were met at the mid-point of the project, the effort transitioned to predicting 30+ year performance, achieving certifications, and improving manufacturing efficiencies designed to lower costs in order to be competitive in a cost-driven market. Major project accomplishments include recognition of the new backsheet by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and international certification for 1000V and 1500V modules by TUV Sud. Both 1000V and 1500V products have been proven on several module manufacturing lines and initial customer orders have been received by both domestic and international module producers. Accelerated exposure testing has shown that the performance of this backsheet exceeds the prior polyamide-based backsheet known to fail in the field. Cost-models and initial customer orders have shown the ability to produce this backsheet at a cost acceptable to many domestic manufacturers, while International costs for standard backsheet remains extremely low. Tomark-Worthen remains one of the only U.S. companies manufacturing backsheet domestically and this has drawn interest from many domestic module manufacturers looking to improve their material supply logistics by avoiding long lead times and custom’s headaches while avoiding current tariffs on Chinese-made components. Along with the launch of a new PV backsheet, this project has provided a critical deliverable to the PV R&D community. This deliverable is the knowledge that not all polyamide-containing backsheets are doomed to failure as the earlier versions did. There has been a fear amongst the PV community to consider these materials due to the failure of one design. This effort has brought a new level of interest to the scientific community as it has been shown that polyamides can be used successfully in a well-designed backsheet. As we move forward from this project, we are excited to see how backsheet technology and manufacturing in the U.S. will continue to progress and grow.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Non-Stoichiometric High Entropy Spinel Oxides as Regenerable Catalysts for Methane Dry Reforming

In this work, novel high entropy oxides were developed and applied as catalysts in the methane dry reforming reaction. Catalytic results show high activity and regenerable structure of the high entropy oxides but degradation of simple nickel aluminate spinels commonly applied to this reaction. A proof-of-concept experiment demonstrated heating of the high entropy oxide catalyst to reaction relevant temperatures using concentrating solar power equipment.

Riva, Andrew↗
DOE OSTI2024

RESCue Model (RESCue Experiment and Model) [SWR-24-84]

The Renewable Energy and Storage Cybersecurity Research (RESCue) project is a collaborative effort aimed at securing the rapidly growing deployment of transmission-connected hybrid renewable energy systems, consisting of a combination of wind, solar, and/or energy storage equipment, against escalating cyber threats. This project brings together major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of wind, solar, and energy storage, along with major asset owners and DOE National Laboratories, to collectively identify cyber threats, assess risks, and develop robust cybersecurity strategies and solutions. The development of hybrid reference architectures has provided comprehensive blueprints for the secure design and integration of hybrid renewable energy systems, accounting for their unique characteristics and interdependencies. Additionally, NREL has created a cyber-resilient design framework that integrates cybersecurity considerations from the start of the system lifecycle, ensuring security is "baked in" from the initial design phase. The research thrusts for the project included (i) development of hybrid reference architectures and (ii) a cyber-resilient design framework for hybrid energy systems. The reference architectures has provided comprehensive blueprints for the secure design and integration of hybrid renewable energy systems, accounting for their unique characteristics and interdependencies. Additionally, NREL has created a cyber-resilient design framework that integrates cybersecurity considerations from the start of the system lifecycle, ensuring security is "baked in" from the initial design phase. A demonstration experiment was developed for one of the architectures using NREL's Cyber Range resources. This experiment configuration, deployable using open-source tools, is provided here in this repository. Additional models were developed for the wind and solar architectures as well, however the configurations for only the Energy Storage scenario are provided here: https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy24osti/89921.pdf

Hasandka, Adarsh↗
DOE OSTI2022

Savings in Action: Lessons from Observed and Modeled Residential Solar Plus Storage Systems [Slides]

The study performed two related analyses using data from a new-construction residential community equipped with rooftop solar and storage (S+S) in Arizona. The study analyzed the factors that determine customer electricity cost savings from S+S adoption. The research compared the Arizona case study data to modeled system performance to understand how models deviate from real-world outcomes. Based on these findings, NREL explored ways to improve such models and, conversely, use modeled results to suggest improvements to S+S dispatches.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

U.S. Solar System Decommissioning Policies

In the United States, cumulative installed utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity reached more than 60 gigawatts (GW)dc at the end of 2020. Federal and state renewable energy and net-zero emissions policies will continue to drive solar development in the United States with installed utility-scale PV projected to quadruple (240 GWdc) by 2030. Although more than 75% of all U.S. installed utility-scale PV came online in the last 5 years, federal, state, and local governments are planning for system decommissioning. Our research found that as of April 2021, one federal agency, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and 15 U.S. states have solar decommissioning policies in place. North Carolina is also in the process of drafting solar decommissioning regulations, and at least 4 states (Maine, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Texas) proposed solar decommissioning bills in the 2021 legislative session. This presentation looks at U.S. federal and state solar decommissioning policies who they apply to, when they apply, the requirements/responsibilities, and what the impacts are.

circular economy↗
DOE OSTI2024

Wire-based metallization and stringing for solar cells

Wire-based metallization and stringing techniques for solar cells, and the resulting solar cells, modules, and equipment, are described. In an example, a string of solar cells includes a plurality of back-contact solar cells, wherein each of the plurality of back-contact solar cells includes P-type and N-type doped diffusion regions. A plurality of conductive wires is disposed over a back surface of each of the plurality of solar cells, wherein each of the plurality of conductive wires is substantially parallel to the P-type and N-type doped diffusion regions of each of the plurality of solar cells. One or more of the plurality of conductive wires adjoins a pair of adjacent solar cells of the plurality of solar cells and has a relief feature between the pair of adjacent solar cells.

Sewell, Richard Hamilton↗
DOE OSTI2024

Meteorological Conditions and Atmospheric Components Concentration in Urban Sites in Knoxville, USA. 2024

This dataset, which contains five csv files, reports several meteorological conditions such as temperature, wind speed, solar radiation, and net radiation measured in Cumberland Estates Park (CEP) and Socially Equal Energy Efficient Development (SEEED) sites in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. Also, hourly concentration of particulate matter (PM) with different aerodynamic diameter and inorganic gases such as ozone and nitrogen dioxide measured in the two are included in this dataset. The concentrations of PM and inorganic gases were monitored using the MODULAIR, a low-cost sensor equipped with a solar power module. The measurement of the concentration of biogenic and anthropogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of the two sites was determined using a High-Resolution Proton Transfer Reaction Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer (PTR-ToF-MS). The VOCs were collected using miniature canister (400 mL) equipped with female RAVEqc valve to 1/4” male compression fitting and an integrated passive air sampling kit. This work is a part of a larger study which investigates the impact of soil moisture and plant evapotranspiration on ambient temperature and relative humidity in several city parks in Knoxville, Tennessee.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗