Judith Estep

Optimizing the NW Off-Shore Wind Turbine Design

Abstract This paper provides a solution to address one of the requirements identified in the US Northwest 6th Power Plan, specifically, meeting an increase in the forecasted Pacific Northwest demand with renewable generation. A model is presented which evaluates one source of renewable generation, off-shore wind energy. The model analyzes different wind turbine design characteristics, assigns significance to potential synergistic effects of one design feature on another, and provides an optimized design relative to the cost, environment, robustness, and overall efficiency of an off-shore wind turbine.

Technology Assessment: Demand Response Technologies in the Pacific Northwest

The goal of this research is to develop a decision model that can be used to identify the technology transfer potential of a research proposal. An organization can use the model to select the proposals whose research outcomes are more likely to move into application. The model begins to close the chasm between research and application – otherwise known as the “valley of death.” A hierarchical decision model, along with desirability curves, was used to understand the complexities of the researcher and recipient relationship, specific to technology transfer. In this research, the evaluation criteria of several research organizations were assessed to understand the extent to which the success attributes that were identified in literature were considered when reviewing research proposals. The quantified model was validated using a case study involving demand response (DR) technology proposals in the Pacific Northwest.

A framework for technology transfer potential assessment

This paper is motivated by a need to move research into application, specifically in the utility industry. There are many challenges facing the industry: an aging infrastructure, a growing population, and aggressive energy efficiency targets are just a few examples. Many technologies exist or are in development but the rate at which they are being adopted is slow. Despite a clear need to apply research results to the utility industry, a cursory review of how research proposals are evaluated within the utility industry confirms that technology transfer is only peripherally addressed. In addition, there is no mechanism to quantitatively assess the technology transfer potential of a research proposal. The goal of this paper is to develop an assessment model that can be used to identify the technology transfer potential of a research proposal. By doing so, an organization can select the proposals whose research outcomes are more likely to move into application.

Opening the door to breakthroughs that address strategic organizational needs: Applying technology roadmapping tools and techniques at an electric utility

Over the course of a decade, the Bonneville Power Administrations Technology Innovation Office has developed a roadmapping approach that captures business challenges and opportunities critical to the agency, links these with barriers to success, and connects these with technical solutions and research questions. Senior leaders from across the agency establish strategic goals and objectives, and international technical subject matter experts are convened to articulate technology associated paths to achieve these. Each roadmap captures insights from diverse experts in highly collaborative environments and focuses them on critically important topics. These roadmaps are an important element in the Bonneville Power Administrations strategic approach to technology research and development.

Bio-fuel Adoption: Can Best Practices from Brazil Be Applied in the United States?

Bio-fuel energy can be defined as an alternative source of energy due to being sustainable in both producing energy at a lower price and avoiding exceeding carbon dioxide emission into the atmosphere. The most common worldwide types of bio-fuel are bio-diesel and ethanol. There are many methods to understand how and why technologies are accepted in a country. This report reviews bio-fuel adoption relative to political, cultural, technical, environmental, and economic perspectives for the two largest bio-fuel producers, Brazil and the United States. The research approach is to review the successful bio-fuel adoption in Brazil and ultimately to understand if any of these practices can be applied to the United States. The lessons learned from Brazil could be used by the United States to promote more widespread use of bio-fuel, with the long-term objective of being an “oil-independent” nation in the future.