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Resilient Energy Platform. Fact Sheet: Power Sector Cybersecurity Building Blocks
The Power Sector Cybersecurity Building Blocks, developed through the USAID-NREL Partnership and the Resilient Energy Platform, are designed to help a variety of stakeholders improve security for the electrical grid. This effort grows out of USAID and NREL's discussions with utilities around the world, as well as past cybersecurity assessments performed by NREL on dozens of utilities and government agencies, with a focus on the cybersecurity challenges faced by small and under-resourced utilities. This document outlines eleven building blocks for power sector cyber security. It functions as a guide to help organizations develop a robust, balanced cybersecurity defense program. Individually, each building block represents a cluster of related activities within cybersecurity on which an organization should focus. Using the building blocks, organizations can effectively prioritize their cybersecurity efforts to best thwart a wide range of potential cyberattacks.
Power Sector Cybersecurity Building Blocks
The Power Sector Cybersecurity Building Blocks, developed through the USAID-NREL Partnership and the Resilient Energy Platform, are designed to help a variety of stakeholders improve security for the electrical grid. This effort grows out of USAID and NREL's discussions with utilities around the world, as well as past cybersecurity assessments performed by NREL on dozens of utilities and government agencies, with a focus on the cybersecurity challenges faced by small and under-resourced utilities. This document outlines eleven building blocks for power sector cyber security. It functions as a guide to help organizations develop a robust, balanced cybersecurity defense program. Individually, each building block represents a cluster of related activities within cybersecurity on which an organization should focus. Using the building blocks, organizations can effectively prioritize their cybersecurity efforts to best thwart a wide range of potential cyberattacks.
Artificial Neural Network-based State Estimation for Low Observable, Unbalanced Microgrids for Microgrid Building Blocks
The microgrid building blocks (MBB) were proposed as microgrid components with combined sub-components with power conversion, communication, and microgrid control capability, or a subset of such sub-components. This work addresses the microgrid controller, present in an MBB, which requires accurate state estimation to perform its tasks, including for monitoring, power flow (dispatch), fault detection, etc. In this paper, an artificial neural network (ANN)-based framework for state estimation is proposed for an MBB, especially for unbalanced and low observable microgrids. To overcome the challenge of low observability in unbalanced systems, a concept of extended adjacent matrix is introduced to reduce the required number of measurements for state estimation. Addressing the challenges, a feed forward neural network (FNN) is utilized to enhance estimation accuracy and reliability with the reduced number of measurements. The proposed state estimation is validated through extensive simulations on a microgrid, which was achieved from the modified IEEE 34-bus distribution test feeder with multiple distributed energy resources (DERs) and demonstrated superior performance in estimation accuracy and low observability.
Design of multi-scale protein complexes by hierarchical building block fusion
A systematic and robust approach to generating complex protein nanomaterials would have broad utility. We develop a hierarchical approach to designing multi-component protein assemblies from two classes of modular building blocks: designed helical repeat proteins (DHRs) and helical bundle oligomers (HBs). We first rigidly fuse DHRs to HBs to generate a large library of oligomeric building blocks. We then generate assemblies with cyclic, dihedral, and point group symmetries from these building blocks using architecture guided rigid helical fusion with new software named WORMS. X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy characterization show that the hierarchical design approach can accurately generate a wide range of assemblies, including a 43 nm diameter icosahedral nanocage. The computational methods and building block sets described here provide a very general route to de novo designed protein nanomaterials.
Rapid design of top-performing metal-organic frameworks with qualitative representations of building blocks
Abstract Data-driven materials design often encounters challenges where systems possess qualitative (categorical) information. Specifically, representing Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) through different building blocks poses a challenge for designers to incorporate qualitative information into design optimization, and leads to a combinatorial challenge, with large number of MOFs that could be explored. In this work, we integrated Latent Variable Gaussian Process (LVGP) and Multi-Objective Batch-Bayesian Optimization (MOBBO) to identify top-performing MOFs adaptively, autonomously, and efficiently. We showcased that our method (i) requires no specific physical descriptors and only uses building blocks that construct the MOFs for global optimization through qualitative representations, (ii) is application and property independent, and (iii) provides an interpretable model of building blocks with physical justification. By searching only ~1% of the design space, LVGP-MOBBO identified all MOFs on the Pareto front and 97% of the 50 top-performing designs for the CO 2 working capacity and CO 2 /N 2 selectivity properties.
Control Oriented Models for Co-Design: Technical Overview of MT HVDC, MVDC, and Solid State Transformer Building Blocks
The electric power system is shifting toward a power electronics–enabled grid, where converter based “building blocks” (e.g., high voltage direct current (HVDC) links, multi terminal HVDC (MT HVDC) networks, medium voltage DC (MVDC) links, and solid state transformers (SSTs)) provide fast, precise control of power flows, voltage, and frequency. This report develops and applies publicly shareable electromagnetic transient (EMT) and phasor models to examine how such building blocks can be composed and coordinated to support offshore wind integration, inter area transfers, feeder support, and resilience. Section 2 documents a modular multilevel converter (MMC)–based MT HVDC modeling framework and two use cases: a compact WSCC/IEEE 9 bus test system and a 240 bus “mini WECC” case with five offshore wind plants (OWFs). Phasor to EMT transfer, initialization, and sanity checks are summarized, and neutral demonstrations of normal and contingency operation are reported. Section 3 frames the problem of wind plant inertial frequency response (IFR): shaping energy release and recovery to improve nadir while avoiding aerodynamic stall; representative simulations illustrate the issues without disclosing proprietary control. Section 4 develops MVDC concepts through an IEEE 16 bus loop and an Olympic Peninsula case study that compares AC vs. MVDC corridors and shows how feeder headroom can be pooled via DC couplers. Section 5 surveys SST architectures and identifies a gap: scalable, communication free coordination of multiple SSTs for islanded feeder networks. Across the report, novel methods and configurations under separate publication and IP review are not disclosed; only topic oriented, replicable setups and non proprietary results are shown. These models and use cases are intended as foundations for future publications and co design studies on architecture, control, and coordination of PE enabled grids.
Is Terzan 5 the remnant of a building block of the Galactic bulge? Evidence from APOGEE
ABSTRACT It has been proposed that the globular cluster-like system Terzan 5 is the surviving remnant of a primordial building block of the Milky Way bulge, mainly due to the age/metallicity spread and the distribution of its stars in the α–Fe plane. We employ Sloan Digital Sky Survey data from the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment to test this hypothesis. Adopting a random sampling technique, we contrast the abundances of 10 elements in Terzan 5 stars with those of their bulge field counterparts with comparable atmospheric parameters, finding that they differ at statistically significant levels. Abundances between the two groups differ by more than 1σ in Ca, Mn, C, O, and Al, and more than 2σ in Si and Mg. Terzan 5 stars have lower [α/Fe] and higher [Mn/Fe] than their bulge counterparts. Given those differences, we conclude that Terzan 5 is not the remnant of a major building block of the bulge. We also estimate the stellar mass of the Terzan 5 progenitor based on predictions by the Evolution and Assembly of GaLaxies and their Environments suite of cosmological numerical simulations, concluding that it may have been as low as ∼3 × 108 M⊙ so that it was likely unable to significantly influence the mean chemistry of the bulge/inner disc, which is significantly more massive (∼1010 M⊙). We briefly discuss existing scenarios for the nature of Terzan 5 and propose an observational test that may help elucidate its origin.
Module-Fluidics: Building Blocks for Spatio-Temporal Microenvironment Control
Generating the desired solute concentration signal in micro-environments is vital to many applications ranging from micromixing to analyzing cellular response to a dynamic microenvironment. We propose a new modular design to generate targeted temporally varying concentration signals in microfluidic systems while minimizing perturbations to the flow field. The modularized design, here referred to as module-fluidics, similar in principle to interlocking toy bricks, is constructed from a combination of two building blocks and allows one to achieve versatility and flexibility in dynamically controlling input concentration. The building blocks are an oscillator and an integrator, and their combination enables the creation of controlled and complex concentration signals, with different user-defined time-scales. We show two basic connection patterns, in-series and in-parallel, to test the generation, integration, sampling and superposition of temporally-varying signals. All such signals can be fully characterized by analytic functions, in analogy with electric circuits, and allow one to perform design and optimization before fabrication. Such modularization offers a versatile and promising platform that allows one to create highly customizable time-dependent concentration inputs which can be targeted to the specific application of interest.
Power Sector Cybersecurity Building Blocks: Getting Started
Short introduction to the Power Sector Cybersecurity Building Blocks document jointly developed by NREL and USAID.
Supramolecular Assembly of Halide Perovskite Building Blocks
The structural diversity and tunable optoelectronic properties of halide perovskites originate from the rich chemistry of the metal halide ionic octahedron [MX 6 ] n- (M = Pb 2+ , Sb 3+ , Te 4+ , Sn 4+ , Pt 4+ , etc.; X = Cl - , Br - , and I - ). The properties of the extended perovskite solids are dictated by the assembly, connectivity, and interaction of these octahedra within the lattice environment. Hence, the ability to manipulate and control the assembly of the octahedral building blocks is paramount for constructing new perovskite materials. Here, we propose a systematic supramolecular strategy for the assembly of [MX 6 ] n- octahedra into a solid extended network. Interaction of alkali metal-bound crown ethers with the [M(IV)X 6 ] 2- octahedron resulted in a structurally and optoelectronically tunable "dumbbell" structural unit in solution. Further, single crystals with diverse packing geometries and symmetries will form as the solid assembly of this new supramolecular building block. This supramolecular assembly route introduces a new general strategy for designing halide perovskite structures with potentially new optoelectronic properties.
Effect of Building Block Connectivity and Ion Solvation on Electrochemical Stability and Ionic Conductivity in Novel Fluoroether Electrolytes
Novel electrolytes are required for the commercialization of batteries with high energy densities such as lithium metal batteries. Recently, fluoroether solvents have become promising electrolyte candidates because they yield appreciable ionic conductivities, high oxidative stability, and enable high Coulombic efficiencies for lithium metal cycling. However, reported fluoroether electrolytes have similar molecular structures, and the influence of ion solvation in modifying electrolyte properties has not been elucidated. In this work, we synthesize a group of fluoroether compounds with reversed building block connectivity where ether moieties are sandwiched by fluorinated end groups. These compounds can support ionic conductivities as high as 1.3 mS/cm (30 °C, 1 M salt concentration). Remarkably, we report that the oxidative stability of these electrolytes increases with decreasing fluorine content, a phenomenon not observed in other fluoroethers. Using Raman and other spectroscopic techniques, we show that lithium ion solvation is controlled by fluoroether molecular structure, and the oxidative stability correlates with the “free solvent” fraction. Finally, we show that these electrolytes can be cycled repeatedly with lithium metal and other battery chemistries. Understanding the impact of building block connectivity and ionic solvation structure on electrochemical phenomena will facilitate the development of novel electrolytes for next-generation batteries.
Building Blocks of Electric Vehicle Deployment: A Guide for Developing Countries
Countries can use electric transportation to help fulfill numerous goals, including greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets, local air quality goals, mobility objectives, energy security, and transportation resiliency. Vehicle electrification is a promising pathway to achieving clean energy transitions in the transport sector at scale. As vehicles electrify, the traditionally siloed electricity and transport sectors increasingly converge to create technical, institutional, and economic opportunities and challenges. To navigate this transition effectively, we propose the following foundational pillars or “building blocks” that undergird effective electric vehicle (EV) deployment. Jurisdictions with experience and mature EV markets offer useful lessons learned that may enable developing countries to leapfrog over common roadblocks. Nonetheless, developing countries face distinct challenges collectively, and individually, from developed countries that require careful consideration. From our work around the world, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have witnessed interest growing in EVs for a variety of reasons. Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), for example, looks toward EVs as a way to use their surplus of hydropower to displace expensive oil. Thailand and Pakistan seek economic development opportunities in EV manufacturing. Cities including Mexico City, Surat, India, and Kingston, Jamaica see the potential of bus electrification to improve local air quality and reduce traffic congestion. Many USAID partner countries in Southeast Asia are trying to understand how to reach ambitious EV deployment targets and implement EV and transportation plans. This pursuit is prompting questions about EV supply equipment (EVSE) standards, tariff design, and business models that affirm the importance of the building blocks outlined in this report.
Hierarchical Materials from High Information Content Macromolecular Building Blocks: Construction, Dynamic Interventions, and Prediction
Hierarchical materials that exhibit order over multiple length scales are ubiquitous in nature. Because hierarchy gives rise to unique properties and functions, many have sought inspiration from nature when designing and fabricating hierarchical matter. More and more, however, nature’s own high-information content building blocks, proteins, peptides, and peptidomimetics, are being coopted to build hierarchy because the information that determines structure, function, and interfacial interactions can be readily encoded in these versatile macromolecules. Here, we take stock of recent progress in the rational design and characterization of hierarchical materials produced from high-information content blocks with a focus on stimuli-responsive and “smart” architectures. We also review advances in the use of computational simulations and data-driven predictions to shed light on how the side chain chemistry and conformational flexibility of macromolecular blocks drive the emergence of order and the acquisition of hierarchy and also on how ionic, solvent, and surface effects influence the outcomes of assembly. Furthermore, continued progress in the above areas will ultimately usher in an era where an understanding of designed interactions, surface effects, and solution conditions can be harnessed to achieve predictive materials synthesis across scale and drive emergent phenomena in the self-assembly and reconfiguration of high-information content building blocks.
Microgrid Building Block Architecture, and Subcomponents Modeling and Demonstration in Controller Hardware-in-the-Loop
The recently proposed Microgrid Building Blocks (MBB) are ready-to-use components to build microgrids quickly, cheaply, and modularly. This work presents and demonstrates in controller hardware-in-the-loop (CHIL) three key subcomponents of an MBB architecture: power converter topology, control scheme, and communication framework. The addressed architecture aims for systems interconnection such as microgrid to grid and microgrid to microgrid. This paper studies each subcomponent in detail and validates the efficacy of the architecture through CHIL results.
Using small building blocks to assemble ultra-complex, multifaceted metal-organic frameworks with zeolitic, mesoporous subnetwork
The assembly of ultra-complex structures from simple building units remains a long-term challenge in chemistry. Using small molecular building blocks (MBBs) in a mixed-ligand approach permitted the assembly of unprecedented metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), M-kum-MOF-1 (M = Y, Tb), exhibiting extra-large mesoporous cavities with small access windows. The ultra-complex cage of M-kum-MOF-1 consists of 240 vertices bridged by 432 edges, leading to a 194 faces-containing tile. This tile exhibits more faces than in any periodic structures (zeolites, MOFs, metal-organic polyhedra [MOPs], etc.) known to date. M-kum-MOF-1 not only possess zeolitic features (anionic framework), but they also contain an underlying wse zeolitic topology, which is observed for the first time.
Ligated Cluster Building Blocks as Chemical Donors and Acceptors for Two-Dimensional Metal Chalcogenides and Phosphorene Nanoribbons
Final report for studies on ligated transition metal chalcogenide clusters building blocks for serving as dopants in two dimensional semiconductors. The primary result is extending the superatom concept to transition metal chalcogenide clusters including a similarity with the perioidic electronic structures that are found in the periodic table. These results have found both new magic numbers, and new magic clusters with large spin magnetic moments.
Decoupling Power Quality Issues in Grid-Microgrid Network Using Microgrid Building Blocks
Microgrids are evolving as promising options to enhance reliability of the connected transmission and distribution systems. Traditional design and deployment of microgrids require significant engineering analysis. However, Microgrid Building Blocks (MBB), consisting of modular blocks that integrate seamlessly to form effective microgrids, are promising technologies to enable faster and broader adoption of microgrids. Back-to-Back converter placed at the point of common coupling of microgrid is an integral part of MBB. This paper presents applications of MBB to decouple power quality issues in grid-microgrid network serving power quality sensitive critical loads such as data centers, new grid-edge technologies such as vehicle-to-grid generation, and emergency condition loads such as electric vehicle charging loads during evacuation prior disaster events. Simulation results show that MBB effectively decouple the power quality issues across networks and allow network with low power quality to transfer high-power quality power to connected networks during emergency conditions.