UTD Impacts > Integrating More Renewable Energy
Integrating More Renewable Energy
Advancing
Renewable
Natural Gas
On-Site-Generated Biogas or Renewable Natural Gas
UTD is working with leading developers of on-site RNG generators such as Impact Bioenergy to improve the effectiveness, compactness and economy of on-site waste digesters, in order to expand the use of RNG beyond traditional applications and to reduce energy and disposal costs.
Renewable Natural Gas Growth as Transportation Fuel
UTD partnered with the California Energy Commission, the U.S. Department of Energy, and leading OEMs to support the technical development of Near Zero Emission engines such as Cummins Westport 6.7L, 8.9L and 11.9L engines, along with improvements in CNG fueling infrastructure. Availability of this equipment allowed Low Carbon Fuel Standards and other mechanisms to increase market demand for Renewable Natural Gas, which can often be carbon negative.
Integrating Renewable Electrical PV and Thermal Energy
Hybrid and Integrated Gas/Electric Technologies
UTD is advancing equipment, products and systems that can be driven by gas or electricity on a simultaneous or alternating or supplementary basis, which can increase operational resiliency and resiliency, integrate more renewable energy/PV, retain energy source options for end users, advance DSM capabilities, and reduce costs, emissions and energy use. “Hybrid” or “dual energy” technologies can include unitary product configurations, paired components (such as furnace coupled with electric-driven heat pump), add-on advanced controls, or integrated systems.
SUN Equinox System
UTD’s field performance validation of the Solar Usage Now (SUN) Equinox solar-driven technology provided key performance validation. The system can meet 100% of hot-water and space heating needs of residential, commercial, industrial and other end users, and can be supplemented by gaseous fuel when solar energy is unavailable.
Arctic Solar XCPC Technology
UTD provided technical support and experimental validations over a seven-year period to advance this unique solar energy technology which can achieve 200°C (392°F) to serve commercial, industrial and other end users (such as for process heating), and can be supplemented by gaseous fuel when solar energy is unavailable.
Novel High Temperature Particle Thermal Storage
In partnership with US DOE ARPA-E and with substantial prime funding from ARPA-E, UTD has advanced a unique new technology that captures and stores renewable energy to deliver heat and power on-demand to commercial, industrial and other end users, and can be supplemented by gaseous fuel when solar energy is unavailable.
Integrating Hydrogen Produced by Renewable Energy
Testing Hydrogen Compatibility of End-Use Equipment
UTD is assessing the sensitivity of operating existing end-use equipment on natural gas blended with hydrogen, which can be derived from renewable energy. Efforts are being coordinated with other leading researchers from Europe and elsewhere.
See related UTD Technical Publications
Hydrogen Compatibility in End Use Equipment: Contact UTD for more information
Developing Hydrogen-Focused Combustion
UTD is working with national laboratories, university partners, manufacturers, and other researchers to assess opportunities for end users to use gas that contains a significant amount of hydrogen, which can be derived from renewable energy. UTD is a participant in U.S. DOE’s cross-cutting HyBlendTM research project. A wide spectrum of burners need consideration, and performance on hydrogen blends can vary substantially.
Bloom Engineering LumiFlex™ Burner
Developing Hydrogen-Focused Combustion: Contact UTD for more information
Advancing Hydrogen as Transportation Fuel
UTD is working with national laboratories, university partners, manufacturers, and other researchers to advance hydrogen as a zero-emission transportation fuel, which can be derived from renewable energy. Technical development efforts including developing revolutionary compressors and more economical pre-cooling systems, and participating in the development of consensus-driven protocols for safe fueling.
Advancing Hydrogen as Transportation Fuel: Contact UTD for more information
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