In the field of power grid analysis, particularly in distribution systems, solving the power flow problem is fundamental for grid planning and operational decision-making. Traditionally, methods rely on iterative techniques and sparse linear solvers to find solutions. However, these approaches can be computationally intensive, require careful initialization,...

Background The creation of effective energy conversion technologies has become essential in response to the challenges of integrating diurnally and seasonally intermittent and variable renewable energy resources. Specifically, one of the most important steps toward the economical production of sustainable fuels and organic chemicals is the conversion...

Background Recent efforts to address climate change and develop a clean-energy economy in the United States have focused on the electrification of the transportation sector. Sustainable battery manufacturing has become a critical part of these efforts, and current manufacturing practices face challenges relating to environmental impact, advancing electrode...

Energy usage in the industrial sector has been increasing since 2007 and has been the largest energy consuming sector in the US (e.g., at nearly 33 quadrillion Btus in 2018). Industrial facilities are not only the largest end-use consumer of energy, but account for one-third of the total peak power demand in the US. This creates several challenges...

As the world gears up for the ongoing renewable energy revolution, the temporal variability of the renewable sources remains a big headache for designing a reliable electricity grid. A multi-level energy storage infrastructure is thus necessary to maintain high, year-round dispatchability. No technology that currently exists is ideally suited to meet...

Background Thermochemical reactors can provide an effective means for splitting water and carbon dioxide. These reactors are able to produce energized chemicals such as H2 and CO, which can be subsequently used in other chemical reactions (e.g., as reductants or as fuels). In water splitting, the main competing technologies are steam-methane reforming...

Background High-temperature heaters have many applications, including the high-temperature processing of materials. As fossil fuel burners, such as natural gas burners, are replaced with renewable alternatives, the number of applications will increase. Conventional high temperature electrical heaters have been based on silicon carbide or molybdenum...

Batteries operate by polarizing and transferring ions through liquid or molecular solvents. Recent developments have made use of organic cation salts in plastic crystalline states as solvents, in which lithium salts can be dissolved. These lithium salts are known as electrolytes. Unfortunately, they are associated with low conductivity. Other electrolytes...

The demand for electric automobiles is driving research to find new rechargeable battery options. Current lithium ion batteries are very heavy and require large amounts of space. Additionally, these batteries have the potential to overheat during charging and cause fires. Lithium ion batteries are used because they can be recharged, but the charging...

While photosynthetic microorganisms offer a promising route to generate sustainable transportation fuels and products using solar energy, boosting their photosynthetic efficiency above normal levels (<5%) will help ensure its economic viability. A major source of inefficiency is that photosynthetically active radiation (PAR, 400-700 nm) constitutes...