Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium Capstone Report

The Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium (FCIC), led by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), is a collaborative effort among researchers from nine national laboratories focused on solving challenges related to biomass feedstock variability in biorefineries.

Researchers from the FCIC recognize that lignocellulosic feedstocks are nonhomogeneous and have greater variability compared to other agricultural commodities such as grains. As a result, empirical approaches to equipment design for processing these feedstocks
have proven unsuccessful in pioneer biorefineries.

FCIC researchers use first-principles based science to better understand the physical, mechanical, thermochemical, and biochemical interactions and reactions as solid feedstocks are …

The Basics and the Gaps in Thermal Energy Storage

Heat consumption spans a wide range of temperatures, processes, and services. While most heat is currently generated by burning fossil fuels, there are several alternative low-carbon
heat sources at our disposal. Among them, electrification coupled with renewables is the most universal and scalable process.

There are multiple thermal energy storage (TES) technologies and materials, covering a wide range of temperatures, storage durations, and applications. While some TES technologies
require further support for RD&D, many others are mature and ready to deploy, making TES an efficient and cost-effective tool ready to support the growth in renewables.…

2024 Long-Term Reliability Assessment

In the 2024 LTRA, NERC finds that most of the North American BPS faces mounting resource adequacy challenges over the next 10 years as surging demand growth continues and thermal generators announce plans for retirement. New solar PV, battery, and hybrid resources continue to flood interconnection queues, but completion rates are lagging behind the need for new generation.

Furthermore, the performance of these replacement resources is more variable and weather dependent than the generators they are replacing. As a result, less overall capacity (dispatchable capacity in particular) is being added to the system than what was projected and needed to …

The Future of Geothermal Energy

This special report focuses on geothermal, a promising and versatile renewable energy resource with vast untapped potential for electricity generation, heating and cooling. Geothermal has been a part of energy systems for more than 100 years, but it has played a limited role on a global scale. Now, the geothermal industry is at a critical juncture.

New technologies are enabling access to previously untapped resources, while cost reductions and innovative financing models are paving the way for increasing geothermal’s role in energy systems around the world. Additionally, techniques developed by the oil and gas industry – including a strong understanding …

Oil and Gas: Bureau of Indian Affairs Could Improve Lease Management of Trust and Restricted Land

About 15,000 active oil and gas wells on trust or restricted land contribute to the economies of some Tribes. Interior’s BIA assists tribal governments and citizens in managing, protecting, and developing their land and natural resources. Interior requires lessees to provide bonds to help ensure they meet the responsibilities of their leases—including plugging wells and reclaiming the land.

Lessees may not be able or willing to reclaim the well site at the end of a lease, despite the consequence of losing the bond. When well sites are not fully reclaimed, Tribes may face environmental impacts on their lands or health …

Solidifying the EU’s Leadership in the Global Energy Transition

As the European Commission prepares for a new five-year term, this EU Policy Whitepaper, Solidifying the EU’s Leadership in the Global Energy Transition, serves as a stocktake of current progress, alongside identifying further opportunities to solidify the European Union (EU)’s climate leadership through implementation across mostly existing policy packages. While the EU has made commendable strides in reducing emissions – notably through renewable energy and efficiency – there is still more to be done, with other key geographies such as China and the United States accelerating deployment still faster, and in some cases more comprehensively, through green industrial policy. …

Distributed Energy, Utility Scale: 30 Proven Strategies to Increase VPP Enrollment

After decades of low or declining growth in electricity demand, the U.S. now faces a significant near-term need for new generation capacity and transmission and distribution infrastructure. Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) can meet a large portion of the gap between electricity supply and growing demand, but only if deployed at an increased scale. This study provides 30 proven strategies for scaling VPPs through increased enrollment based on in-depth interviews with utilities and VPP solutions providers that have achieved considerable scale or rapid growth in program deployment. The study includes specific actions for regulators, utilities, and VPP solutions providers to increase …

Underground Research Laboratories (URLs) – 2024 Update

Since the publication, in 2001, of the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) report describing the role of underground research laboratories (URLs) in nuclear waste disposal programmes and their value to build confidence in national programmes, significant progresses have been made in the development and use of URLs. The present brochure provides an update, as of 2024, of the URL literature and the strategic outlook of NEA countries on URLs providing an easily accessible document for an audience of both specialists and non-specialists in radioactive waste disposal.…

Are Cities Ready to Synergise Climate Neutrality and Air Quality Efforts?

This study investigates the alignment of climate change mitigation with air quality initiatives in 362 (mostly European) cities eligible under the Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission, hence targeting net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. It examines ambient air quality, particularly PM2.5 concentration levels, and GHG emissions, considering physical attributes, policy frameworks, and local authority actions.

The research finds a north-to-south gradient in air quality, with northern cities exhibiting better air conditions, and a strong correlation between sectors contributing to GHG emissions and air pollution. Cities’ strategies are dominated by cross-sectoral plans and assessing air quality as a co-benefit of …

Net-Zero Industry by 2050: A Scenario Analysis of Boiler Replacement with Industrial Heat Pumps

To remain competitive in the global energy economy and meet domestic net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goals, U.S. industry will need to quickly adopt low- to zero-emission equipment. Industrial heat pumps (IHPs) are a highly efficient and scalable technology with proven performance for low-temperature processes; this technology is quickly advancing to reach higher temperatures and capacities. IHPs also provide numerous co-benefits such as process modularity, reduced pollutants, future proofing, cost savings, and enhanced product quality. Replacing all fossil fuel boilers with IHPs and other electrified technologies will be necessary to reach net-zero industry by 2050.

However, based on the current capabilities …