EPRI releases prospectus of emerging research and development.
Press Release Summary:
EPRI's Technology Innovation Prospectus features more than 40 emerging electricity industry technologies being developed through the program, which looks at promising concepts for early-stage research and development and applied innovation on behalf of global electricity enterprise. Potentially breakthrough technologies are then fast-tracked toward commercialization through accelerated R&D in collaboration with EPRI’s members and other stakeholders.
Original Press Release:
EPRI Releases Prospectus of Emerging R&D
Today EPRI is making public a new report from its Technology Innovation (TI) program. The Technology Innovation Prospectus features more than 40 emerging electricity industry technologies being developed through the program, which looks at promising concepts for early-stage research and development (R&D) and applied innovation on behalf of the global electricity enterprise. Potentially breakthrough technologies are then fast-tracked toward commercialization through accelerated R&D in collaboration with EPRI’s members and other stakeholders.
If you’d like more information or would like to speak to anyone about these technologies feel free to contact Clay Perry, EPRI senior media relations manager, at 202-293-6184 or clperry@epri.com, Â or me.
Media Advisory
Heat pumps that can operate in weather as cold as 0ºF and nuclear fuel cladding that can withstand temperatures as high as 1500ºC. Untapped natural gas resources deep beneath ice or the ocean. Hydropower plants that shift the way they operate in response to wind, solar and water changes. And microscopic “cages” that trap carbon molecules.
These and 39 other cutting-edge electricity industry technologies are featured in a new Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) report called the Technology Innovation Prospectus. The report highlights current work in EPRI’s TI program, which explores science and technology, capturing promising concepts for early-stage research and development (R&D) and applied innovation. Research and development of breakthrough technologies offering significant -- and potentially revolutionary -- impacts are accelerated in collaboration with EPRI’s members and other stakeholders.
The Technology Innovation Prospectus provides information on the status, remaining development hurdles, and potential benefits of a variety of electric industry technologies, including:
The Next-Gen Electric Heat Pump -- High Efficiency & Broad Geographic Applicability: At least a 50% increase in all-electric efficiency is expected over this system’s heating and cooling range, as well as significantly greater demand response (DR) capability. Field demonstration of early residential units with grid-interactive features is planned for 2015; based on successful laboratory tests, EPRI’s next-gen HP specifications include reliable operation down to -18ºC (0ºF). As a DR-ready replacement for existing heating and cooling systems, the widespread adoption of such heat pumps could moderate peak loads across all seasons while leading to an 8% reduction in total U.S. residential power use, which could also reduce carbon emissions.
The Gas Boom -- Life-Cycle Health & Safety Analysis: This assessment has defined key issues and uncertainties regarding life-cycle air emissions from the growing reliance on natural gas for power generation. EPRI field studies are using a mobile air quality monitoring laboratory, providing insights into emissions of gas-phase pollutants, methane, and particulate matter across the Marcellus shale region. Modeling activities are exploring whether the closer proximity of distributed energy resource (DER) technologies to inhabited areas leads to increased human exposure with possible health and safety implications.
Molybdenum-Based Fuel Cladding -- Improved Accident Tolerance for Nuclear Plants: In response to the 2011 accident at Fukushima, Daiichi, Japan, EPRI is exploring fuel technology innovations for improving nuclear plant safety by reducing hydrogen generation and preventing core meltdown during severe loss-of-coolant accidents. Novel fuel cladding designs that incorporate high-strength molybdenum (Mo) alloy offer a potential breakthrough for maintaining fuel integrity at temperatures exceeding 1500ºC. Irradiation exposure testing is planned in 2015, followed in-plant demonstrations within a decade.
Fire from Ice -- Gas Hydrate Resource Assessment: According to EPRI’s analyses, methane-rich deposits in permafrost and deep-sea sediments offer potential to at least double the world’s proven natural gas reserves, but the large U.S. hydrate resource will remain untapped for the foreseeable future due to higher production costs relative to shale gas. In Japan, Eastern Europe, India, and other countries, offshore gas hydrates have game-changing potential to increase energy security. Ongoing methane recovery demonstration projects around the world are expected to help validate early-stage extraction technologies for permafrost and subsea deposits.
Cascaded Hydropower Plant Optimization: A proof-of-concept study aims to develop predictive tools for optimizing the operation of hydropower plants within individual river basins based on energy production, wind and solar integration, and water resource considerations. By modeling and managing operational flexibility and storage capacity, these tools can help unlock additional value from hydro assets while meeting fish protection and water availability and quality objectives.
Carbon Capture Process Modeling: EPRI’s models are narrowing, then accelerating the search for breakthroughs in extracting CO2 from power plant emissions that offer reduced energy and cost penalties. Some options involve capturing carbon molecules in an organic zeolite “cage.” Millions of possible zeolite structures have been screened to identify the most promising geometries for adsorbent-based capture, and to help prioritize funding for early-stage research.
Electricity powers the digital economy, improves quality of life in developing regions, and connects the world. Over time, it has sparked countless disruptive innovations, with impacts felt at all scales and in all sectors. Today, its versatility in generation is challenging utility business models and influencing the operation of conventional central-station plants and power delivery infrastructure. Tomorrow, its flexibility, precision, and cleanliness at the point of use promise to enable dramatic reductions in carbon emissions by displacing fossil fuels in buildings and vehicles.
EPRI’s Technology Innovation program provides thought leadership, exploration, and early-stage R&D to maintain a full pipeline of new science and technologies for the future power system.
The clperry@epri.com.
About EPRI
The Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI, www.epri.com) conducts research and development relating to the generation, delivery and use of electricity for the benefit of the public. An independent, nonprofit organization, EPRI brings together its scientists and engineers as well as experts from academia and industry to help address challenges in electricity, including reliability, efficiency, affordability, health, safety and the environment. EPRI’s members represent approximately 90 percent of the electricity generated and delivered in the United States, and international participation extends to more than 30 countries. EPRI’s principal offices and laboratories are located in Palo Alto, Calif.; Charlotte, N.C.; Knoxville, Tenn.; and Lenox, Mass.
