Integrated Energy Systems: Getting More From Our Nuclear Workhorses

Our power grid is changing. As renewable energy generation increases, our baseload electricity sources — like nuclear, coal and natural gas — are often being asked to operate in ways they weren’t designed. Take nuclear reactors for example, they generally do not ramp up or down quickly due to the financial benefits of operating at maximum output. They were designed to run like a car cruising down the highway on cruise control, but with the changing demands of more solar and wind entering the grid, the reactors are now having to navigate stop and go traffic. Read our latest blog: Integrated Energy Systems: Getting More From Our Nuclear Workhorses

An integrated energy system can increase the flexibility of nuclear reactors while making such flexibility not only cost neutral, but revenue-generating. When nuclear reactors are producing more electricity than the grid needs, they can divert some of their thermal heat and/or electricity to produce materials for clean electricity, clean transportation, clean industry, and clean water. Doing so can provide additional revenue, allow for operational flexibility, and contribute to the growth of clean markets for deeper decarbonization – it’s a win-win. Read more
 

Facts About Hydropower You Probably Didn’t Know

Harnessing water for beneficial uses has existed for centuries. Ancient Greeks and Romans used water in ways similar to industrial processes today – for grinding wheat, agriculture via aqueducts, and medicinal purposes. Modern hydropower or hydroelectric power has been utilized for more than 100 years and remains a clean, reliable electricity asset. As of 2019, hydropower generated roughly 6.6% of electricity for the United States, while some states’ electricity mixes are dominated by hydropower. The Pacific Northwest relies heavily on hydropower, where the electricity mixes of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho have significant amounts of hydropower. While hydropower is generally thought of for electricity generation, only 2% of the 90,000 dams in the U.S. generate electricity. If we’ve piqued your interest, you’ll want to read more in this ClearPath Energy 101: Introduction to Hydropower.

This report was originally published in June 2020 by ClearPath alumni Faith Martinez Smith and Cameron Tarry, and Connie Lausten, an engineer and founder of cLausten LLC.
 

Grid Storage Launchpad Dedication at PNNL

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Dan Brouillette and Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) will be at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) today for the site dedication of the Grid Storage Launchpad (GSL) and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on energy storage with the Washington State Department of Commerce. The DOE announcement said, “Energy storage research at PNNL and the GSL are an integral part of DOE’s Energy Storage Grand Challenge.” Register for the live streamed event HERE.

Secretary Brouillette along with Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) visited the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) earlier this week to announce a new research platform, Advanced Research for Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES). ARIES is a state of the art research platform that will create an environment to address the challenges of integrated energy systems at scale in the areas of energy storage, power electronics, hybrid energy systems, future energy infrastructure, and cybersecurity. ARIES will also support the Energy Storage Grand Challenge (ESGC).

Bipartisan legislation moving forward in both the U.S. House and Senate called the Better Energy Storage Technology (BEST) Act — which is authored by Reps. Bill Foster (D-IL) and Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) in the House and Susan Collins (R-ME) in the Senate — would formalize the Energy Storage Grand Challenge.
 

Rich’s Take

“The DOE has historically tackled some of the nation’s most complicated energy challenges by aligning the U.S. innovation machine’s resources and competencies towards ambitious goals. Over $100 million annually is spent on the research and development of different energy storage technologies across the DOE, but that work was not always aligned towards unified outcomes. The Energy Storage Grand Challenge is, for the first time, a bold outcome-oriented program. By passing the BEST Act and focusing on the various storage-related R&D programs around the development of grid-scale non-lithium ion storage technologies would increase stewardship of taxpayer dollars, facilitate efficiency and reliability improvements for the American electricity grid, and provide the best shot at an innovation breakthrough.”
 

Perovskite Solar Technology Gets $20 Million from DOE

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy announced $20 million for perovskite solar photovoltaic technologies. Researchers have been developing a new technique to sequester lead from perovskite solar cells – a thin-filmed, printable solar cell – potentially improving their health concerns. Lead is used to improve perovskite efficiency, which is the highest in the world. Perovskites have the potential to improve solar power’s efficiency using readily available materials at a significantly reduced cost. This technology has the potential to be mass printed and used almost anywhere if researchers can address safety and health concerns. Read more from DOE
 

Chevron Invests in Nuclear Fusion Start-up Zap Energy

This week, Chevron announced it is investing an undisclosed amount in Zap Energy, a Seattle-based start-up developing a commercially scalable fusion reactor. “Chevron Technology Ventures’ investment in fusion is an opportunity to enhance the company’s focus on a diverse portfolio of low-carbon energy resources,” Chevron said in a statement. Read more

In April, ClearPath published an Energy 101 that explores how fusion works, what has happened lately, and why fusion could help reduce emissions. Read Fusion 101  
 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
 

NEW VIDEO: ION Clean Energy, Charting a Path to Net-Zero
 

ION Clean Energy – a Colorado company – is working on an exciting iteration on a tried-and-true carbon capture process: “post-combustion solvent” carbon capture. This means capturing the carbon dioxide after the fuel is burned, with a liquid.

In the latest ClearPath video, Rich Powell explains how ION Clean Energy’s first commercial project could capture more than 4 million tons of carbon emissions each year, the equivalent of taking nearly a million cars off the road. He also describes how the Colorado start-up partnered with the Department of Energy to test and refine its “secret sauce.”

ION is demonstrating that there’s an increasing number of ways to capture carbon, while decreasing costs. We think that’s a winning recipe! Watch ClearPath’s latest whiteboard video on how ION Clean Energy is on a path to net-zero.

Watch the video
 

Nuclear Energy Export Financing Unchained

For the past decade, the United States has ceded leadership on international energy development to China and Russia, threatening the climate, our national security, and American economic growth. However, on July 23, the U.S. took a massive step towards reclaiming our role as the primary exporter of vital clean energy technologies by lifting the nuclear financing moratorium at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). DFC support for advanced nuclear technologies opens the door for American entrepreneurs to lead clean energy development for emerging economies. ClearPath Policy Analyst Cole Simons explains how breaking the restriction on nuclear energy is imperative for next generation clean energy, in a column, “Nuclear Energy Export Financing Unchained."
 

GreenBiz: Clean Energy Innovation Is
Unlocking Private Venture Capital

Energy sector innovation and broader efforts to address climate change should resemble the best of the tech start-ups in the United States: fast, disruptive, exciting and good for consumers. Last week, GreenBiz published an op-ed by ClearPath’s Managing Director of Policy, Jeremy Harrell, that articulates how disjointed regulatory policies, incumbency advantages and limited financing options have previously stymied the adoption of cutting-edge, first-of-a-kind energy technologies. Jeremy says that as policymakers mull measures to accelerate an economic recovery and invest in the country’s long-term infrastructure needs, policy should center on tackling the barriers to American ingenuity and entrepreneurship. Read the op-ed
 

Morning Consult: The United States Must Continue to Lead the World in Nuclear Energy Technology

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Dan Brouillette and U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) CEO Adam Boehler penned an op-ed in Morning Consult on the importance of the U.S. reinforcing global leadership in the nuclear energy sector. Read the op-ed
 

THE PATH AHEAD

August 19: The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will hold a field hearing entitled, “Energy and Environmental Innovation: Wyoming’s Leadership in Using and Storing Carbon Dioxide Emissions” at 10:00am MT/12:00pm ET. The hearing will not be livecast, but video of the hearing will be made available at a later date. Read more
 

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