Energy Systems Integration Newsletter: November 2024

In this issue, NREL is helping utilities implement autonomous controls; new projects are integrating distributed energy in Colorado, Massachusetts, and Virginia with ARIES; the 2024 Transportation Annual Technology Baseline is now available, and more.

Utilities, Get Ready To Automate

Looking ahead, utilities will have more devices than they can manage. Customer-owned resources, distributed solar, batteries, vehicle chargers, and other devices are projected to crowd the grid edge, exceeding utilities' capacity to understand and monitor their distribution systems. But automation could make their job much easier.
 
NREL has developed the autonomous energy systems research domain to the point that automated controls and management solutions are ready to go live, and in some cases, they already are. Three such projects with utilities are featured in a recent story.

Optimizing Distributed Energy Investments in Virginia, Massachusetts, and Colorado With ARIES

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations selected NREL to provide technical assistance integrating distributed energy resources in Colorado, Massachusetts, and Virginia to make the electric grids safer and more responsive, resilient, and affordable.

NREL's technical assistance includes access to facilities such as the Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES) platform, designed to validate strategies for securely controlling large numbers (millions to tens of millions) of interconnected devices. All three demonstrations will leverage an ARIES research powerhouse called the Advanced Distribution Management System Test Bed, where utility partners use a safe laboratory environment to evaluate how advanced grid controls can benefit their systems. Read more about this announcement and the three selected projects.

2024 Transportation Annual Technology Baseline Update Now Available

The Transportation Annual Technology Baseline (ATB)—the go-to source for current and future cost and performance data for vehicle and fuel technologies—offered new data in an update earlier this month. The update provides expanded vehicle classes, new fuel pathways, additional context-setting reference information, and more. The updated data can be found on the Transportation ATB website, along with a suite of tools to help users easily access and leverage the data to meet their transportation analysis needs. On Dec. 3, 2024, at 9 a.m. MT, the Transportation ATB team is hosting a webinar to dive into the latest changes and new features in the update. Register for the webinar on Zoom today for technology-specific web demos and answers to all your ATB questions.

Changing Perceptions of Wind Energy Development

The contiguous United States has approximately 70,000 wind turbines in its land-based fleet, and that number is growing. But one of the chief obstacles slowing wind energy development projects is visual concerns. That is why NREL conducted a first-of-its-kind study assessing the visual impact magnitude of the U.S. wind turbine fleet. It found that the actual visual impact of wind turbines for the vast majority of Americans is quite low. Read more to learn why that is the case and how this study could be a springboard for future research.

Empowering Communities To Capture the Benefits of Solar Energy With Agriculture

For a decade, NREL's researchers have been studying the benefits and trade-offs of agrivoltaics—colocating solar energy production with agriculture. Over that time, U.S. agrivoltaics has grown exponentially. Currently, there are nearly 600 agrivoltaics sites in the United States encompassing 27,000 acres that produce over 10 GW of solar energy. The vast majority of U.S. agrivoltaics sites either host native habitat for prairie restoration, soil health, and pollinator activities or provide areas for livestock to graze under and around solar panels.

While farmers are intrigued about bringing solar installations onto their land, it’s clear there is no one-size-fits-all solution to integrating solar and agriculture. NREL's researchers work closely with communities across the country and globally to help them figure out how to make agrivoltaics work to meet their goals. A recent news story and accompanying NREL podcast share insights from researchers and practitioners about some of the complexities behind bringing solar onto the farm.

Joint Institute for Strategic Energy Analysis Convenes Science Fiction Storytellers Team and NREL Researchers To Envision the Future

In August, NREL’s Joint Institute for Strategic Energy Analysis (JISEA) hosted Visioning Energy: A Science Fiction Author-Energy Researcher Collaboration Workshop to explore ideas and innovations that could shape our world in 2100. During the daylong event, eight science fiction authors learned about NREL's groundbreaking renewable energy research and collaborated with NREL researchers to craft visions of clean energy futures. This unique event aimed to foster conversations that inspired both future research and storytelling grounded in real renewable energy advancements. Read more about this exciting collaboration and how imagination can drive innovation.

NREL Gets Into Heavy Metal ... Hydrogen

Hydrogen has the allure of providing long-term energy storage, but the high pressures of gas and low temperatures of liquid are not always practical. Could solid hydrogen storage be an alternative? NREL has commissioned a metal hydride storage system to find out.

A recent story describes NREL’s new heavy metal asset—which can store more than half a ton of hydrogen—and how researchers plan to evaluate it. Working with a large utility and the maker of the metal hydride system, NREL researchers plan to demonstrate the novel storage technique in anticipation of possible commercial adoption.

New Technical Assistance Offering for Microgrids in Remote Communities

Interest around advanced microgrids is growing as communities see these mini power systems as a solution to energy independence and resilience. For example, in the village of Hughes, Alaska, a microgrid powered by solar energy, a battery system, and diesel generators is demonstrating how advanced microgrid systems can reduce the economic energy burden in remote areas. Projects like Hughes inspired the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity to launch the Community Microgrid Assistance Partnership (C-MAP), with support from NREL, aiming to promote transformative microgrid innovation in remote areas. C-MAP offers accessible funding and technical support for electrically islanded communities and Tribes developing or improving microgrids. Project proposals are due Jan. 31, 2025 (extended deadline). Learn more about C-MAP, and watch a video on who is eligible and how to apply.

More Solar and Storage Helped Keep the Lights on This Summer

Did you notice your lights stayed on and your air conditioner kept running all summer long? Regions across the country used more solar and storage to meet demand all summer long—even in regions with elevated risk of outage due to extreme heat. Now that summer is over and data have been gathered, NREL released a new publication on how the grid performed from June to September, focusing on the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.

Publications Roundup

Cyber-Informed Engineering Research and Development Guide, NREL Technical Report (2024)

This document provides guidance on incorporating cyber-informed engineering principles into the research and development of operational technology systems and tools, facilitating the creation and adoption of innovative technologies that are secure and resilient by design. As technological innovation and research are becoming pivotal for economic and national security, cybersecurity has emerged as a paramount concern across industries and sectors. The challenge of integrating robust cybersecurity measures is imperative to safeguard critical infrastructure, protect sensitive data, and preserve national security interests.

Generative AI for Power Grid Operations, NREL Technical Report (2024)

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has captured the mainstream, demonstrating capabilities that once belonged solely to the realm of human cognition. From defeating world champions in complex games to generating human-quality text and images, generative AI has proven its potential to revolutionize countless industries. The electric grid is no exception. Generative AI’s ability to rapidly process vast amounts of data, assist decision support, and identify patterns could significantly enhance grid operations. This paper serves as a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers looking to harness generative AI for a more reliable, stable, and cost-effective electric grid.

Decarbonization Technology Snapshot: Heat Pump Water Heaters, Federal Energy Management Program (2024)

Heat pump water heaters use electricity to move heat from one place to another instead of generating heat directly. In many cases, they replace gas-fired water heaters and are significantly more energy efficient, reducing on-site Scope 1 emissions and often resulting in reduced total emissions. Learn more about this technology’s associated costs, installation considerations, and decarbonization benefits in this technology snapshot put together by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program.