Atri Bera, along with a team of researchers from Sandia National Laboratories and Michigan State University, published a chapter on Pumped Hydroelectric Storage (PHS) systems as part of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Storage Handbook on October 31, 2024.

Pumped hydroelectric storage is the most widely used electrical energy storage technology globally, providing essential services to the modern power grid, particularly in facilitating the large-scale integration of variable energy resources. This chapter highlights the evolution of PHS in the United States and worldwide, discusses the current state of technology, and outlines its applications and benefits. Additionally, it addresses key challenges faced by PHS and potential solutions to these issues, reflecting the renewed interest from investors, utilities, and regulators due to its environmental advantages.

The U.S. DOE Energy Storage Handbook (ESHB) serves as a valuable resource for those interested in the fundamental concepts and applications of grid-level energy storage systems (ESSs). It features high-level technical discussions on current technologies, industry standards, best practices, and projections about energy storage as an emerging and enabling technology. The ESHB is a peer-reviewed document, comprising 25 chapters and approximately 60 contributing authors, validating the significance of the work presented.

The full chapter can be read here.

For further inquiries, please contact Atri Bera.

This research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Electricity (OE), Energy Storage Division.

Sandia National Laboratories is managed and operated by NTESS under DOE NNSA contract DE-NA0003525.

Ujjwol Tamrakar, a member of the Sandia Energy Storage Technology and Systems Department, presented a talk titled “Accelerating Deployment of Energy Storage through HIL Simulation and Testing” during the panel session on “Coordinated Storage Networks as Grid Assets: Control Challenges and Opportunities” at the IEEE IECON conference held on November 4, 2024.

This presentation highlighted several innovative control techniques developed at Sandia National Laboratories and discussed the utilization of Controller Hardware-in-the-Loop (CHIL) testing for the design and validation of these control strategies. The talk emphasized the critical importance of CHIL testing in ensuring that energy storage control algorithms for grid-connected systems are thoroughly validated, helping to prevent deployment issues and operational failures. Ujjwol’s presentation sparked engaging discussions on the need for holistic approaches to the design and testing of control algorithms that capture the practical aspects of real energy storage systems.

The IEEE IECON conference is renowned for its focus on industrial electronics and applications, providing an excellent platform for sharing insights with fellow researchers, industry experts, and practitioners working in the field of energy storage controls. This high-quality event underscores the significance of Ujjwol’s work in advancing energy storage technologies.

This research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Electricity (OE), Energy Storage Division.

Sandia National Laboratories is managed and operated by NTESS under DOE NNSA contract DE-NA0003525.

For further inquiries, please contact Ujjwol Tamrakar.

The United States Air Force awarded the Sandia Energy Storage Demonstration Projects Team for their support of the Ellsworth Air Force Base battery energy storage system project with the 2024 Air Force Community Partnership Awards on October 28, 2024. This project was a collaborative effort involving the National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (NRECA), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), West River Electric Cooperative Association (WREA), and personnel from Ellsworth Air Force Base. The purpose of the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project was to enhance resilience for critical infrastructure at Ellsworth AFB and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Sandia’s Demonstration Projects Team played a crucial role in this initiative, providing expertise and support from the analysis stage through to the commissioning of the battery energy storage system. This recognition highlights Sandia’s commitment to supporting the Department of Defense (DOD), NRECA, and rural electric cooperatives in achieving federal resilience objectives. The work aligns with the Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity (OE) mission to strengthen and modernize the nation’s power grid, ensuring a reliable, resilient, and secure electricity delivery infrastructure.

This research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Electricity (OE), Energy Storage Division.

Sandia National Laboratories is managed and operated by NTESS under DOE NNSA contract DE-NA0003525.

For more information, visit Air Force News.

For further inquiries, please contact Waylon Clark.

Rodrigo Trevizan, along with Matt Reno from Sandia National Laboratories and Zheyuan Cheng from Quanta Technology, submitted a journal paper titled “A Method for Location of Faults in Meshed Secondary Low-Voltage Power Distribution Systems” to the IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery on November 8, 2024.

The detection of faults in low-voltage systems is a pressing issue for power utilities, particularly in meshed low-voltage power distribution systems that are deployed to enhance reliability in high-density urban areas. These systems face unique challenges when it comes to short-circuit location, as faults can be fed from multiple feeders, leading to severe damage and service interruptions. Traditional methods for locating faults often require time-consuming on-site inspections or costly investments in additional sensors and monitoring equipment.

The innovative approach presented in this paper addresses the critical need for real-time monitoring of low-voltage systems using time-synchronized sensor data. The primary goal of the fault locator is to minimize the time required for utility crews to identify the location of faults, thereby accelerating repairs and reducing the duration of power interruptions for customers. This advancement not only benefits utilities but also enhances service reliability for consumers.

The IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery is a highly esteemed journal in the field of electrical engineering, known for its rigorous peer-review process and commitment to publishing cutting-edge research. As a leading publication of the IEEE Power & Energy Society, it covers a wide range of topics related to electric power delivery, making it an ideal platform for disseminating significant findings in this area.

This technical advance is the result of two projects: Sandia’s Laboratory Directed Research and Development funding for “Fault Resilience for Downtown Areas and Critical Customers in Low-Voltage Meshed Networks,” and the Department of Energy Office of Electricity’s Microgrid Program Annual Operating Plan project “Advanced Protection for Microgrids and DER in Secondary Networks and Meshed Distribution Systems.”

For further inquiries, please contact Rodrigo Trevizan.

Samantha Macchi and her colleagues at Sandia National Laboratories have investigated the effect of chemical structure on the performance of bipolar redox molecules in non-aqueous flow batteries. Their findings are detailed in a report titled “Influence of Linker Group on Bipolar Redox-Active Molecule Performance in Non-Aqueous Redox Flow Batteries,” published in the journal ChemElectroChem on October 3, 2024.

This research is important because non-aqueous redox flow batteries offer high working voltages exceeding 5 V, making them a viable alternative to traditional aqueous systems. However, the stability of active materials and cell components in organic solvents remains a challenge. Understanding the relationship between molecular structure and cycling stability is essential for advancing this technology.

In their study, Macchi and her team explored the effects of length, polarity, and rigidity of the “innocent” groups that covalently link the two redox-active species. They identified several strategies to improve molecular stability and cycling performance, which could inform future molecular design efforts in flow batteries.

The publication in ChemElectroChem, a Wiley journal with an impact factor of 3.5, highlights the relevance of this work. Journals with impact factors above 3 are considered to publish significant research.

Access the full article here.

This research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Electricity (OE), Energy Storage Division.

Citation:

S. Macchi, C. L. Staiger, J. Cordova, C. Poirier, T. M. Anderson, ChemElectroChem 2024, e202400450. https://doi.org/10.1002/celc.202400450

Rodrigo D. Trevizan and Stanley Atcitty have co-authored the article “Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) as an Equity Asset: Lessons Learned from DER Deployments in Disadvantaged Communities,” published in the July/August edition of IEEE Power and Energy Magazine. This article summarizes Sandia’s contributions to Tribal Energy Storage projects, highlighting efforts from both the Tribal Energy Storage program and the Energy Storage Demonstrations team.

This research is significant as it addresses the energy challenges faced by Native American and Native Alaskan communities. According to the U.S. Census, over 6.79 million Native Americans make up about 2.09% of the U.S. population, with many tribal lands experiencing energy access issues. Recent surveys indicate that over 54,200 individuals live without electricity. In response, tribal governments are increasingly pursuing energy independence through the deployment of DERs, including renewable energy and energy storage systems.

Sandia’s work has been instrumental in providing technical assistance for these initiatives. Projects such as the microgrid in Levelock Village, Alaska, and solar PV and energy storage systems for the San Carlos Apache Tribe and Picuris Pueblo demonstrate the potential benefits of these technologies. Additionally, the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority’s efforts to electrify remote homes with renewable energy and advanced battery storage underscore the importance of sustainable energy solutions for tribal communities. These initiatives not only enhance energy sovereignty but also contribute to broader goals of sustainability and economic development.

IEEE Power and Energy Magazine is a respected publication in the fields of electrical engineering and energy technology, featuring peer-reviewed articles by industry experts. It serves as a valuable resource for professionals, researchers, and students, providing insights into industry trends and innovations.

Click here to read the full article.

This research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Electricity (OE), Energy Storage Division.

Citation:

• L. Bird, C. Walker, J. Womble, S. Atcitty, R.D. Trevizan, L. Concessao, H. Meenawat, and B. Tarekegne, “Distributed energy resources (DERs) as an equity asset: Lessons learned from DER deployments in disadvantaged communities,” IEEE Power and Energy Magazine, July/August, 2024.

Ujjwol Tamrakar and a team of researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have developed a framework for the simultaneous dispatch of energy storage systems (ESSs) for energy arbitrage and power quality applications in the electric grid. Their findings are detailed in the article titled “A Model Predictive Control Framework for Combining Energy Arbitrage and Power Quality Applications from Energy Storage Systems,” published in the IEEE Open Access Journal of Power and Energy on August 29, 2024.

This research is important as ESSs are essential for achieving future clean energy targets. However, the economic benefits of these systems can be limited due to high capital costs and challenges in monetization. The proposed framework allows for the simultaneous dispatch of ESSs to achieve multiple techno-economic objectives without negatively impacting market revenues.

The framework utilizes a model predictive control (MPC) approach, enabling the dispatch of energy storage for both energy arbitrage and power quality applications, such as voltage regulation and power factor correction. Simulation results indicate that these applications can be stacked with arbitrage without significantly affecting revenues, and in some cases, they may even enhance them. A controller-hardware-in-the-loop (CHIL) study was also conducted to demonstrate the practical feasibility of the framework.

The framework is designed to be generic, allowing system operators to utilize it for increased revenues and serving as a foundation for further research on integrating additional grid applications of ESSs.

Click here to read the full article.

This research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Electricity (OE), Energy Storage Division.

Citation:

• U. Tamrakar, N. Bhujel, T. A. Nguyen, R. H. Byrne, and B. Chalamala, “A Model Predictive Control Framework for Combining Energy Arbitrage and Power Quality Applications from Energy Storage Systems,” IEEE Open Access Journal of Power and Energy, doi: 10.1109/OAJPE.2024.3451501.

Sandia staff led and participated in the Regulation and Standards panel at the 2^nd annual Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) National Consortium Workshop held at the IBEW Electrical Training Institute in Los Angeles, on September 11, 2024.  This panel gave an overview of key codes and standards (C&S) covering energy storage safety and reliability, and highlighted C&S’s impact on the adoption and use of stationary energy storage including LDES.  This panel was facilitated by Will McNamara, the Regulatory lead for Sandia’s ES R&D Program. The panelists were Chris Searles and Charlie Vartanian, both advisors to Sandia ES R&D program. Chris participates in the development of ES safety C&S including the NFPA 855 Standard for installation of BESS, and Charlie participates in the development of ES reliability standards including the IEEE 1547.9 Guide for ES interconnection to distribution systems.

More information on the National LDES Consortium is at, LDES National Consortium – Sandia National Laboratories

Sandia will be holding the 2025 ES Safety and Reliability Forum, which includes ES C&S, on April 15-18, 2025.  More information on that event is at, 2025 Energy Storage Safety & Reliability Forum – DOE Office of Electricity Energy Storage Program (sandia.gov)

Dr. Ujjwol Tamrakar, an Electrical Engineer in the Analytics & Controls area of the Sandia Energy Storage program at Sandia National Laboratories, was appointed Associate Editor for the IEEE Open Access Journal of Power and Energy (OAJPE), a leading journal in the field of power and energy systems.

IEEE OAJPE is technical journal containing articles focusing on the development, planning, design, construction, maintenance, installation, and operation of equipment, structures, and power systems. This includes aspects of safe, sustainable, economic, and reliable conversion, generation, transmission, distribution, storage, and usage of electric energy, including its measurement and control. As an associate editor beginning April 21, 2024, Ujjwol will be responsible for managing the peer review of manuscripts submitted to the journal and upheld high quality of scientific technical publication.

Henry Guan and Waylon Clark, members of the Sandia Energy Storage Demonstrations Projects team, along with Dr. Ray Byrne, Sandia Energy Storage Technology and Systems Department Manager, attended the ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, August 16, 2024, for the Vermont Electric Cooperative/Green Mountain Power North Troy Battery Energy Storage Demonstration Project. Also in attendance was Dr. Imre Gyuk, Chief Scientist for the DOE Office of Electricity, Energy Storage Division. Both Dr. Byrne and Dr. Gyuk spoke at the ceremony about the importance of the project to Sandia and DOE respectively.

The project was a collective effort between Green Mountain Power and the Vermont Electric Cooperative and in partnership with Sandia’s Energy Storage Demonstrations Program and DOE-OE’s Energy Storage Division. The project cost over $5M, with $2M coming from DOE through the Sandia Demonstrations program. This project is significant as it will demonstrate how behind-the-meter energy storage can be beneficial at the transmission grid level.

The battery will allow renewables (i.e. the Kingdom Community Wind project) connected to the grid to continue to operate in conditions that would normally require the renewables to be curtailed or turned off. The battery system will also have the benefit of using the stored energy to reduce system peak demand on the ISO New England and Vermont system grids, with these benefits directly accruing to Vermont retail customers.

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Electricity (OE), Energy Storage Division.

Further reading:

Vermont Electric and Green Mountain Power launch new large-scale battery in North Troy

EVLO puts into operation first battery energy project in the US in Troy, Vermont

EVLO, Vermont utilities team up on unique BESS