Energy Systems Integration Newsletter: June 2022

In this edition, reflecting on 10 years of the Renewable Electricity Futures Study, exploring untapped potential for a circular economy of solar photovoltaic and battery technologies, developing the first hydro-solar plant in West Africa, and more.

A Decade of Transformation: What We Have Learned Since Renewable Electricity Futures Showed What Was Possible

This year marks the 10-year anniversary of NREL's visionary Renewable Electricity Futures Study—the most comprehensive analysis of a high-renewable U.S. power system at the time. Results showed for the first time that the nation's abundant and diverse renewable energy resources could feasibly, both technically and economically, supply 80% of U.S. electricity in 2050—with a significant fraction from wind and solar. In a feature story, NREL experts recount how they have built on the findings and what new questions have emerged in the decade since.

Read about the transformative decade.

NREL Analysis Highlights Strategies Beyond Recycling To Bolster Circular Economy for Solar and Battery Technologies

In a new comprehensive literature review, researchers at NREL discovered that alternatives to recycling might have untapped potential to build an effective circular economy for solar photovoltaic and battery technologies. These alternative strategies—such as reducing the use of virgin materials in manufacturing, reusing for new applications, and extending product life spans—could provide new paths toward sustainable product life cycles.

Read the full news release about the literature review.

USAID and NREL Provide Technical Assistance To Develop First Hydro-Solar Plant in West Africa

The first West African hydro-solar plant was deployed in Ghana in January 2022, with technical support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and NREL. Once its full capacity is brought online, this hydro-solar plant will put Ghana on track to reduce its power sector greenhouse gas emissions by 235,000 tons per year, moving the nation closer to reaching its target emissions goals.

USAID and NREL, through the USAID-NREL Partnership and in collaboration with the West Africa Energy Program, provided technical assistance to the Bui Power Authority to install 250 MW of solar photovoltaics at Ghana's Bui Power generation station, operating in coordination with the existing 400 MW of hydropower.

Read the full story on powering Ghana.

2022 Electricity Annual Technology Baseline Now Available

The 2022 Electricity Annual Technology Baseline is now available, including distributed wind and pumped storage hydropower data for the first time. The Annual Technology Baseline integrates current and projected cost and performance data for electricity generation and storage technologies into one user-friendly format. The data are updated yearly and are publicly available.

Read about the new data and key products included in this year's release.

Early-Career Energy Sector Leaders From Colombia Visit NREL

In May, NREL welcomed a group of 10 early-career energy sector leaders from the Colombia Young Leaders Variable Renewable Energy Capacity Building program. These participants were the highest-scoring and most engaged students from a 12-month comprehensive training course. The course was designed to ready Colombia's energy sector workforce to participate in the construction, operation, and grid integration of renewable energy projects. During its visit, the cohort learned from NREL's experts, toured the lab's facilities, and collaborated for the first time in person after working together virtually for almost 3 years.

Read more about the cohort's visit to NREL's campus, and learn more about the work of the USAID-NREL Partnership in Colombia.

Fast Flow Future for Heavy-Duty Hydrogen Trucks

NREL researchers have successfully demonstrated high-flow-rate hydrogen fueling into a heavy-duty vehicle. To achieve this milestone, the project used state-of-the-art capabilities at NREL's Energy Systems Integration Facility and the Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES) platform.

"To design and build these first-of-its-kind systems, it's a significant technical accomplishment," said project leader Shaun Onorato.

Read the full story about the expanded capabilities.

Clean Energy Cybersecurity Accelerator Opens Call for Applications

From now through July 6, the Clean Energy Cybersecurity Accelerator™ is accepting applications from cybersecurity solution providers that offer strong authentication for distributed energy resources.

Designed to bolster innovative cybersecurity technologies, the Clean Energy Cybersecurity Accelerator supports solution providers that can develop early-stage answers to urgent security gaps and is a private-public partnership among NREL; the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response; the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; and major utilities from across the United States, including Berkshire Hathaway Energy and Duke Energy.

Learn more and access the application.

How Not To Short-Circuit the Clean Energy Transition

One challenge on the path to highly renewable electric grids is ensuring the grid is protected if there is a fault, such as a short circuit. In a new guidebook and video, NREL explains how to solve this challenge and maintain power system protection with higher levels of renewables on the grid.

Read the full story on fault protection.

NREL Joins Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute

Cybersecurity researchers at NREL recently joined the Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CyManII). CyManII is a national network that brings together advanced research institutions working in smart and advanced manufacturing, securing automation and supply chains, workforce development, and cybersecurity. As part of NREL's partnership with CyManII, NREL will offer access to its (ARIES) platform and cyber range to support the institute's six integrated foundational tasks, including performance metrics, technical targets, industry technology for cybersecure energy and emissions quantification, and the creation of a digital platform for workforce development.

CyManII is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Manufacturing Office with support from the Office of Energy Security, Cybersecurity, and Emergency Response and partners with more than 50 public and private organizations.

Publications Roundup

Preparing Solar Photovoltaic Systems Against Storms
To help Puerto Rico and other communities prepare for storms, NREL experts and the Federal Emergency Management Agency compiled a set of checklists. This NREL fact sheet highlights the storm-hardening checklists that provide storm preparation actions that can increase the chances that solar photovoltaic systems are available following a severe weather event. Operational post-storm photovoltaic allows more customers to be served with limited post-storm grid generation sources.

Integrating Hydrogen Production and Electricity Markets—Analytical Insights From California
Hydrogen could have an important role in achieving 100% carbon-free energy systems, as a bridge between renewable energy and other sectors and as energy storage for diverse end uses. This NREL technical report analyzes the possibility of integrating electrolytic hydrogen production into electricity markets, which could help reduce breakeven costs for hydrogen projects. The authors use California as a model for the study, and they consider a variety of scenarios for grid integration, equipment, operating conditions, financing, and credits and incentives. They apply geographic information system analysis to study geospatial variance in costs as well as NREL's open-source Revenue Operation and Device Optimization model to determine minimum hydrogen breakeven costs. The authors found that combining hydrogen production with utility-scale wind and solar photovoltaic power plants helps to reduce the cost of hydrogen projects, as does siting in the southeast region of the state.