Defense Waste Management Programs provides scientific analyses and programmatic advice to the U.S. Department of Energy in support of defense waste management challenges. Defense waste encompasses radioactive and hazardous materials designated as waste by-products during the manufacture and deployment of weapons, in particular, nuclear weapons. Defense waste is unique in that all current management strategies [...]
At a ribbon cutting held on Sept. 6, officials from Sandia, Kirtland Air Force Base (KAFB), and Emera Technologies were joined by representatives from the city of Albuquerque and the New Mexico congressional delegation to unveil the first phase of a resilient Direct Current (DC) microgrid project. Modernizing energy delivery The DC microgrid serves a [...]
By Dan Ware Sandia, in conjunction with experts from around the country, has published a roadmap for the research and development of microgrid protection in a recent report titled Microgrid Protection: Advancing the State of the Art. The new Sandia report takes a deep dive into the complexities of protection for microgrids, which are [...]
An interactive, two-day event convenes thought leaders, practitioners to focus on the role of communication, coordination, and collaboration for critical infrastructure resilience. Sandia National Laboratories and George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government, along with its Center for Energy Science and Policy and Centers on the Public Service, will host their annual Frontiers [...]
Could energy and security challenges in the Arctic help solve energy or security concerns nationwide? That is one of many questions that will be explored by international scientists, national labs, government agencies, and Arctic stakeholders on May 30-31 at Alaska National Lab Day. Held at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the event aims in part [...]
Sandia’s newest quarterly newsletter features research highlights, event information, staff recognition, and recent publications and patents related to modernizing our nation’s electricity infrastructure. Topics focus on the primary research areas of Sandia’s Grid Modernization Program and include the following: Energy storage technologies for large-scale adaption Integration of renewable energy sources into the grid Transmission planning [...]
Key Activities Sandia’s research in solar photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) helps advance the mission of the U.S. Department of Energy's SunShot Initiative to decrease total cost of solar energy systems by 75% by 2020 and make solar energy cost-competitive with other forms of electricity generation without subsidies. Sandia researchers address [...]
CSP FAQs CSP plants (dish engine, power towers, and parabolic trough systems) all operate the same way. They collect and concentrate the energy from the sun onto a solar receiver where the heat is absorbed and used to drive a heat-engine generator. Power towers and parabolic trough plants effectively replace the burning of coal [...]
Areva Solar is collaborating with Sandia National Laboratories on a new concentrated solar power (CSP) installation with thermal energy storage. The CSP storage project combines Areva’s modular Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector (CLFR) solar design with Sandia Labs’ proven molten-salt storage system. This will be the first CSP integration with Sandia Labs’ Molten-Salt Test Loop [...]
Desirable Features of Power Towers for Utilities Because of their practical energy storage, solar power towers have two features that are particularly desirable for utilities: flexible capacity factors and a high degree of dispatchability. Power towers can be designed with annual capacity factors up to 60 percent, and as high as 80 percent in summer [...]
