A Digital Infrastructure for Techno-Economic Analyses and Optimization of Complex Integrated Energy Systems (IES) Using HERON

With this project, FPoliSolutions (FPoli) is adding to its existing enterprise digital infrastructure capabilities for performing techno-economic analyses (TEA) of Integrated Energy Systems (IES); incorporating INL’s HERON tool in FPoli’s SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) suite. Note that HERON includes the INL technology stack of RAVEN, TEAL, FARM and HYBRID. In Phase-I, FPoli gathered IES use cases from nuclear and non-nuclear energy stakeholders. The potential IES use cases included the following: nuclear energy generation with diverse energy products; energy storage; renewables production; hydrogen generation and combinations of thereof. Different markets were exercised (regulated and unregulated). Two main business models emerged. The first is where, with this project, FPoli will develop capabilities to become a ‘center of excellence’ for performing TEA for the industry. Those capabilities could become of interest to big consulting firms in the energy market for potential partnerships. The second business mode is similar but product market as a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). In the latter, emphasis is given to ease-of-use and agility to execute TEA rapidly and at low cost by non- specialist end-users. TEAs tend to be very complex and require a special skillset often only available to the developers of the technology themselves. In Phase-II, FPoli will develop a UI/UX to significantly abstract those complexities and make TEA more accessible to a wider user base. In Phase-I, FPoli developed architecture, quality attributes and high-level functional requirements for the product to be developed in Phase-II. Additional use cases were identified but at the moment treated as a stretch goals. These are real- time dispatch optimization for energy traders and ‘behind-the-meter’ applications to offer TEA to a wide user base. The initial strategy is to focus on ‘macro-economics’ TEA that may help improving the value proposition for nuclear energy which is the core business, expertise, and mission of our company. FPoli already engaged key stakeholders in commercial projects and expect to grow such network during Phase-II. As FPoli deepens those collaborations during Phase-II, priorities are adjusted and calibrated accordingly. Capabilities of current INL HERON were assessed in Phase-I. Quality attributes, architecture and feasibility of the HERON service when integrated in our in-house digital platform have been defined. Strategies for optimal data entries, efficient UI/UX tactics to interface with HERON and other tools in the platform have been evaluated. Initial wireframes for the product have been developed and documented. A productive collaboration and technical transfer from INL was instrumental in Phase-I and it is assumed to continue in Phase-II. The final product development and integration is the main objective of Phase-II. This will require upgrades to the HERON and the orchestration of automated workflows to ease its use within the framework.