DRI Energy Related Projects - Presented by Dr. Alan W. Gertler

1. DRI’S ENERGY RELATED
PROJECTS
Alan W. Gertler, DRI

2. Outline
 Areas of
expertise/rationale
 Clean Technologies
and Renewable
Energy Center
(CTREC)
 Examples of our
research activities

3. Focal Areas
 Biomass/Biofuels
 Wind, Solar, and Geothermal Resource Assessment and
Identification
 Technology Development and Assessment
 Alternative Fuels
 Energy Conservation
 Education/Workforce Development
 Natural extension of DRI’s fundamental research in
atmospheric, hydrologic, and earth and ecosystem sciences
 Key approach to mitigating current environmental issues
 Addresses the benefits and limitations of renewable energy
systems
 Considers the impact of RE impacts on the environment

4. CTREC: Clean Technology and
Renewable Energy Center
 Provides an organizational umbrella under which all of
DRI’s renewable energy research, education, and
outreach activities are conducted.
 Facilitates interdisciplinary research across DRI’s three
divisions and through collaborations with other
organizations.
 Fosters development of interdisciplinary and inter-
institutional research teams
 Explore emerging areas in renewable energy
 Development and application of clean technologies
 Serves as a neutral forum to scientifically assess
renewable energy and clean technology initiatives.

5. Research Examples

6. Preparation of Renewable Solid Fuels by
Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) (1)
 Objectives:
 Convert biomass into
bio-coal (green-coal)
 Enable handling of non-
homogeneous biomass
feedstocks.
 Increase the energy
density of all feedstocks.
 Improve storage stability
and logistics of delivery.
Joint research with GTI & UNR

7. Selected HTC Results (2)
 Key findings:
 Woody feedstocks can be
converted to hydrochar having
energy content equivalent to
low-grade coal.
 Herbaceous feedstocks are
more difficult to upgrade.
 Hydrochar products can be
pelletized for convenient
storage and transport.
 Material can be used directly
for co-firing with coal.

8. Algal-Based Fuels (1)
 Objectives included:
 Develop new analytical methods to
provide rapid, direct characterization
of triglycerides in algal samples.
 Create a culture collection of
indigenous microalgae.
 Investigate important parameters
(light, temperature, nutrients, etc.)
affecting algal growth rates and
compositions.
 Investigate improved production
methodologies for biodiesel from
Joint research with UNR algal feedstocks.

9. Algal-Based Fuels (2)
 Key findings:
 Algal lipid contents increased under
limited nutrient conditions.
 An indigenous microalgae culture
collection was established.
 Algal species were shown to grow
successfully using wastewater
centrate as the nutrient source.
 Developed catalysts to promote
synthesis of biodiesel fuel.
 Using LCA, the direct use of algae as
a fuel for co-firing was determined to
be feasible.

10. Thermophilic Cellulolytic Microbes (1)
 Objectives:
 Developing a
method for
production of
“second-generation”
biofuels.
 Isolation and
characterization of
cellulolytic thermophiles
from Great Basin
hotsprings. Great Boiling Spring, NV
 Characterization of
Bio-prospectors
thermostable cellulases
genes.
Joint research with UNLV

11. Thermophilic Cellulolytic Microbes (2)
 Key findings:
 Isolated pure cultures for
conversion of feedstock.
 Cultures were able to
differentially degrade of
feedstocks depending
on temperature.
 Observed microbial
population shifts
dependent on feedstock
and temperature.

12. Geothermal Resource Assessment (1)
 Objectives:
 Resource evaluation
 Shallow temperature survey
 Seismic data collection and
analysis
 Structural analysis
 Drilling
 Two wells ~ 1,300 m to basement
 Borehole geophysics
 Well testing, analysis, and
modeling
 Well testing
 Geochemical sampling
 Three-dimensional geologic
framework model
 Three-dimensional reservoir model
Joint research with UNR

13. Geothermal Resource Assessment (2)
 Key findings
 Reservoir has high
permeability
 Connected to faults
associated with the tufa
tower
 Modeled geological
structure
 Developed assessment of
energy production potential

14. Relationships Between Regional
Heat Flow and Isostatic Rebound (1)
 The spatial pattern of
rebound anomalies
appears to correlate with
the locations of several
active geothermal areas.
 Objective: Determine if
there is a causative
relationship between high
heat flow and positive
rebound anomalies.

15. Relationships Between Regional
Heat Flow and Isostatic Rebound (2)
 Key findings:
 There is a close
correspondence between
some of the high potential
areas and positive
rebound anomalies.
 The areas of highest
potential in the Great
Basin are larger than have
previously been mapped.

16. Wind Resource Assessment and
Forecasting (1)
 Nevada’s wind
resource is highly
spatially variable
 Objectives:
 Improve wind power
density maps at
different elevations
 Develop methodology
for long and short term
forecasting to efficiently
manage the resource 80m tower near Tonopah

17. Wind Resource Assessment and
Forecasting (2)
 Key findings:
 20% improvement of wind
maps at 50m
 Improved wind power
density forecasts
 High resolution wind
forecast model for western
NV
 Collaborations:
 Private sector (multiple)
 Education and training
(TMCC & UNR)
High – resolution weather
forecasting – NV and western U.S.

18. Effect of Solar Fields on
Wind and Dust (1)
 Dust abatement is a
significant issue.
 Objectives:
 Compare wind
characteristics on
unmodified landscape
to wind characteristics
between solar array
rows and elements.
 Develop strategies to
reduce dust generation.
Joint research with UNLV
 Collaborating with
SEMPRA.

19. Effect of Solar Fields on
Wind and Dust (2)
 Key outcomes:
 The surface between Wind_speed_Max1_in _array
wind_speed_Max2_in _array
solar panels does not Wind_speed_Max3_in _array
Open_fetch_Wind_Max
see the “same” wind as 20 Wind_Direction 350
Wind Direction (degrees from North)
18
300
unobstructed 16
Wind Speed (m/s)
14 250
landscape. 12
200
10
 Results will directly 8 150
impact cost of 6
4
100
operating solar facility 2 50
by providing a more 0
0:00
0
1:32
3:04
4:36
6:08
7:40
9:12
10:45
12:17
13:49
15:21
16:53
18:25
19:58
21:30
23:02
realistic estimate of
true dust control needs.

20. DRI’s Renewable Energy
Experimental Facility (REEF)(1)
 Objectives:
 Grow DRI’s capabilities and
expertise in areas of RE
research, development,
demonstration, and deployment.
 Provide “test-bed” for integrating
and evaluating performance of
renewable energy components.
 Promote collaboration with
private sector developers of RE
systems.
 Provide large space for “pilot-
scale” experimental work.

21. REEF Selected Results (2)
 Key results:
 REEF House has capability of
operating “off-grid”.
 Power demands of REEF house are
satisfied primarily by solar PV.
 When available, excess renewable
power is stored in the form of H2
 Performance of different solar
thermal systems being
evaluated/compared.
 Complete HVAC needs of REEF
house are being met by solar
thermal systems.
 REEF Workshop is being used to
conduct larger-scale biomass work

22. New and Alternative Fuels (1)
 Objectives
 Evaluate feasibility
of using hydrogen
as a transportation
fuel.
 Assess impact on
vehicle performance
and emissions.

23. New and Alternative Fuels (2)
 Key findings;
 Able to use existing
vehicle technology
with minimal
modification.
 Increased
performance
 Reduced CO2, NOx,
and CO emissions.
 Increased HC
emissions.

24. Energy Audits (1)
 Objectives:
 Develop capabilities to
perform reliable energy
audits.
 Promote energy education
and outreach activities by
involvement of students
and the public.
 Explore the possibility of
establishing a business
enterprise at DRI.

25. Energy Audits (2)
 Key results:
 Standard methods have
been developed to conduct
and document residential
energy audits.
 Methods have been
extended to conduct
energy audits of small rural
businesses.
 Capability for residential
and commercial audits.

26. Technology Spinoffs (1)
 Biologics are expensive to
produce and are inefficient
under bioreactor and bio-
industrial conditions.
 Developed a computational
and laboratory screening
A synthetic biology company born from
DRI / University of Delaware Research
platform to increase
significantly the efficiency of
re-engineering biologics
under user-specified
reaction conditions.
 Designing a more efficient,
low pH stable cellulase.

27. Technology Spinoffs (2)
 Created energy
management
software that
determines how
energy is used
throughout a
building.
 Operates using only
one circuit.
 SBIR2 funding.

28. GreenPower
 Sponsored by NV Energy and
the Robert S. and Dorothy J.
Keyser Foundation.
 K-12 statewide program with 104
schools currently participating
 Supports educators in teaching
students about renewable
energy, conservation, and
sustainability
 Educators also receive a variety
of professional development
options.

29. Workforce Development
 Online Graduate Certificate
in Renewable Energy
 Joint effort led by UNR
 Designed for practicing
engineers, business staff or
managers, government
regulators, and others
impacted by renewable
energy policies and
practices
 12-credit online certificate
 Courses are multi-
disciplinary