NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
NREL Overview
Robert J. NounExecutive DirectorCommunications & External Affairs
January 30, 2009
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Energy Solutions are Enormously Challenging
Economic
Productivity
Environmental
Impact
Vulnerability
Or Opportunity
Energy
Security• Secure supply
• Reliability
• Global financial crisis
• Carbon mitigation
• Land and water use
Must address all three imperatives
Achieving a Sustainable Energy Economy
Requires: A National Energy Grand Challenge*
* Preliminary Recommendations of the National Science Board Task Force on Sustainable Energy
Lead Globally Encourage Consumer
Decisionmaking
Use Federal
Market Power
Forge Essential
Policies
Investment in RD3E Support Education and
Workforce Development
Inform Decisionmaking
Getting to “Speed and Scale” –Key Challenges
Implementing Renewable Gigawatts at Scale
Reducing Energy Demand of Buildings, Vehicles, and Industry
•Cost
•Reliability
•Infrastructure
•Dispatchability
•Coordinated implementation
•Valuing efficiency
•Cost
•Performance and reliability
Displacement of Petroleum-Based Fuels•
Cost
•Life cycle sustainability
•Fuels infrastructure
•Demand and utilization
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
BARRIERSBARRIERS
BARRIERSBARRIERS
BARRIERSBARRIERS
President Obama on Renewable Energy
• Invest $150B in alternative energy over 10 years
• Double production of alternative energy in three years
• Upgrade the efficiency of more than 75% of federal buildings and two million private homes
• Create Jobs with Clean, Efficient, American Energy = $54B
• Transforming Our Economy with Science and Technology = $16B
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Technology Options Are Evolving W
ind
& W
ater
So
lar
Bio
fuel
s
Geo
ther
mal
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Harvesting Past InvestmentsFirst Generation Technology
Sources: Chalk, AWEA, IEA, NREL, EIA, GEA
U.S. Renewable Electricity Installed Nameplate Capacity
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Technology Innovation Challenges RemainThe Next Generation• Wind Turbines
– Improve energy capture by 30%– Decrease costs by 25%
• Biofuels– New feedstocks– Integrated biorefineries
• Solar Systems– Improved performance through, new
materials, lower cost manufacturing processes, concentration
– Nanostructures
• Zero Energy Buildings– Building systems integration– Computerized building energy
optimization tools
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Achieving the Potential RequiresA Balanced Portfolio
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Systems Biology
Computational Science
Photoconversion
Translational Science is Key to Speed and Scale
Connecting new discoveries, via applied research,to the marketplace
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Managing the Lab-to-Market Interface
• Partner with industry, universities, other federal agencies, international community and state/local governments to deploy clean energy solutions
– Hawaii training, DuPont CRADA, Xcel/SolarTAC
• Contribute timely and definitive analyses on technology, policy, and market issues that impact commercialization
• Provide investment community with credible information (industry growth forums)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Technology Development Programs
Efficient Energy Use• Vehicle
Technologies• Building
Technologies• Industrial
Technologies
Energy Delivery and Storage
• Electricity Transmission and Distribution
• Alternative Fuels
• Hydrogen Delivery and Storage
Renewable Resources
• Wind and water
• Solar
• Biomass
• Geothermal
NR
EL
R&
D P
ortf
olio
Foundational Science and Advanced Analytics
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
NREL FY2008 Program PortfolioActual $328.3 Million
Updated October 2008
Solar $72.4M
Wind $33.9M
Bioenergy $35.4M
Hydrogen $28.4MVehicle Technologies $19.3MBuildings $11.1M
FEMP $4.6M
WFO $18.7M
Other DOE $7.6M
Basic Sciences $13.5M
Facilities and Infrastructure $76.2M
Weatherization $3.4M
Transmission and Distribution $1.9M
Geothermal $1.9M
NREL Funding and Staffing
14
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
NREL: Leadership by Example
TEAM Initiative– DOE's effort to maximize energy efficiency and renewable energy generation
across the DOE complex
Science and Technology Facility achieves LEED ‘Platinum’– First Federal building
NREL Site is “Carbon Neutral” – Onsite renewables (Mesa Top and NWTC PV) – Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) purchases
Renewable Fuel Heating Plant– Will offset 75% of current South Table Mountain campus natural gas use
(significant on-site RE project)– Financed and installed through Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC)
Energy Policy Act and Executive Order Requirements– Currently exceeding EPAct requirements– Meet or exceed new Executive Order requirements
Vehicle Fleet– 48 vehicles, 34 (71%) are alternatively fueled– Fleet petroleum reduced ~45% since 2000
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
CALIFORNIA
Market Growth is Enabled by Progressive Public Policy
JAPAN
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
State Policy Framework
Source: DSIRE database, March 2008
Renewable Portfolio Standards
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Wind
Long Term Potential• 20% of the nation’s electricity supply
Today’s Status in U.S.• 22,820 MW installed capacity• Cost 6-9¢/kWh at good wind sites*
DOE Cost Goals• 3.6¢/kWh, onshore at low wind sites
by 2012• 7¢/kWh, offshore in shallow water by
2014
* With no Production Tax CreditUpdated December 8, 2008Source: U.S. Department of Energy, American Wind Energy Association
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Wind
Source: Megavind Report Denmark’s future as leading centre of competence within the field of wind power
NREL Research Thrusts• Improved performance and reliability• Advanced rotor development• Utility grid integration
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Solar – Photovoltaics and CSP
Status in U.S.
PV• 1,000 MW installed capacity• Cost 18-23¢/kWh
CSP• 419 MW installed capacity• Cost 12¢/kWh
Potential:
PV• 11-18¢/kWh by 2010• 5-10 ¢/kWh by 2015
CSP8.5 ¢/kWh by 20106 ¢/kWh by 2015
Source: U.S. Department of Energy, IEAUpdated January 5, 2009
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future8.22-megawatt Alamosa, Colo., PV solar plant
NREL Research ThrustsNREL Research Thrusts
• PVPV– Higher performance cells/modules Higher performance cells/modules – New nanomaterials applicationsNew nanomaterials applications– Advanced manufacturing techniquesAdvanced manufacturing techniques
• CSPCSP– Low cost high performance storage for Low cost high performance storage for
baseload marketsbaseload markets– Advanced absorbers, reflectors, and heat Advanced absorbers, reflectors, and heat
transfer fluidstransfer fluids– Next generation solar concentratorsNext generation solar concentrators
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Buildings
Status U.S. Buildings:• 39% of primary energy• 71% of electricity• 38% of carbon emissions
DOE Goal:• Cost effective, marketable zero energy
buildings by 2025• Value of energy savings exceeds cost of
energy features on a cash flow basis
NREL Research Thrusts• Whole building systems integration of
efficiency and renewable features• Computerized building energy optimization
tools• Advanced HVAC and envelope technologies• Building integrated PV
April 10, 2008
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Geothermal
Today’s Status in U.S.• 2,800 MWe installed, 500 MWe
new contracts, 3000 MWe under development
• Cost 5-8¢/kWh with no PTC• Capacity factor typically > 90%,
base load power
DOE Cost Goals:• <5¢/kWh, for typical
hydrothermal sites • 5¢/kWh, for enhanced
geothermal systems with mature technology
Long Term Potential:• Recent MIT Analysis shows
potential for 100,000 MW installedEnhanced Geothermal Power systemsby 2050, cost-competitive with coal-powered generation
NREL Research Thrusts:• Analysis to define the technology path to
commercialization of Enhanced Geothermal Systems
• Low temperature conversion cycles• Better performing, lower cost components• Innovative materialsApril 10, 2008
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Biopower
Biopower status in U.S.• 2007 capacity – 10.5 GWe
– 5 GW Pulp and Paper– 2 GW Dedicated Biomass– 3 GW MSW and Landfill Gas– 0.5 GW Cofiring
• 2004 Generation – 68.5 TWh• Cost – 8-10¢/kWh
Potential• Cost – 4-6¢/kWh (integrated
gasification combined cycle)• 2030 – 160 TWh (net electricity
exported to grid from integrated 60 billion gal/yr biorefinery industry)
April 10, 2008
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Biofuels
Current Biofuels Status in U.S.• Biodiesel – 165 companies; 1.85 billion gallons/yr capacity1
• Corn ethanol• 134 commercial plants2
• 7.2 billion gal/yr. capacity2
• Additional 6.2 billion gal/yr planned or under construction• Cellulosic ethanol (current technology)
• Projected commercial cost ~$3.50/gge
Key DOE Goals• 2012 goal: cellulosic ethanol $1.31/ETOH gallon or ~$1.96/gge• 2022 goal: 36B gal Renewable Fuel; 21B gal “Advanced Renewable
Fuel”– 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act• 2030 goal: 60 billion gal ethanol (30% of 2004 gasoline)
NREL Research Thrusts• The biorefinery and cellulosic ethanol • Solutions to under-utilized waste residues• Energy crops
Updated February 2008Sources: 1- National Biodiesel Board2 - Renewable Fuels Association, all other information based on DOE and USDA sources
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV)
Status:• PHEV-only conversion
vehicles available• OEMS building prototypes• NREL PHEV Test Bed
Key Challenges• Energy storage – life and
cost• Utility impacts• Vehicle cost• Recharging locations• Tailpipe emissions/cold
starts• Cabin heating/cooling• ~33% put cars in garage
NREL Research Thrusts• Energy storage• Advanced power electronics• Vehicle ancillary loads reduction• Vehicle thermal management• Utility interconnection• Vehicle-to-grid
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Renewable Electricity at Scale
Focus on Key Barriers
Grid integration/Interconnection Technology
Reliable Operation at High Penetration
Grid Simulator
Load Simulators
Synchronous Generators
PV Array
3 A
C B
use
s
Utility Grid
Battery Banks
3 DC Buses
Inverters
Fuel Cells
Electrolyzer
Microturbines
Wind Turbines
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
An Integrated Approach is Required
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy FutureOperated for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
Visit us online at www.nrel.gov