Supporting a new urban industrial site may require more energy, but options are limited within city limits. Putting a large battery installation next to a local landmark or a Revolutionary War site is rarely viable.
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have developed a new algorithm for picking the right spot to build utility-scale power generation or storage in cities. While traditional approaches focus on technical suitability, this algorithm incorporates not only affordable access to grid infrastructure but also social, economic, and policy factors.
A power station inserted into a densely built city must fit with existing neighbors and activity patterns. Zoning and noise regulations, designed to protect residential areas and tourism, may reduce available sites by 20 to 30 percent, said researcher Rodney Itiki. The algorithm also considers impacts to an area's historical and architectural significance.
"The tool is revolutionary because previous study approaches were not considering the real world," Itiki said. "They just started with a diagram of the energy system and picked a location based on that infrastructure, without incorporating the needs of the community."
The algorithm, designed for use by utilities and project planners, incorporates a power grid simulator and a weight system to capture energy policy, local rules, and input from grid and urban planners and other community stakeholders. The tool can be applied across energy types and adapted as policies evolve.
It is also designed to reflect local values. For example, a community focused on attracting new residents might prioritize affordable electricity and new manufacturing jobs. A community with artificial intelligence (AI) data centers and a military base might prioritize energy reliability and security.
The algorithm weighs these factors to determine the appropriate type, location, and size for an energy project. It models grid capacity by simulating energy demand and power flow for a 24-hour cycle, capturing hourly voltage fluctuations such as residential neighborhoods lighting up after work.
Itiki said the approach could eventually be applied to other site planning challenges, including critical materials mining, AI data centers, disaster response, and large international events such as the FIFA World Cup or Olympics.
Researcher Suman Debnath and former ORNL researcher Qianzue Xia also contributed to the project. It was funded by DOE's Integrated Energy Systems Office , which drives research and development of energy solutions that enhance grid resilience, foster U.S. technological leadership, and reduce the cost of energy for Americans.
UT-Battelle manages ORNL for the Department of Energy's Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. The Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science . - S. Heather Duncan
