Argonne partners with Kentucky to promote clean energy

Lab’s modeling and simulation supports energy policy and planning

ARGONNE, Ill. (Oct. 14, 2009) — The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory will play a key role in the commonwealth of Kentucky’s comprehensive energy plan designed to develop clean, reliable, affordable energy sources that will improve energy security, reduce carbon emissions and provide economic prosperity.

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“Kentucky is committed to reshaping how we use energy and it is imperative that we start paving the way to energy independence while protecting our environment,” said Len Peters, secretary of Kentucky’s Energy and Environment Cabinet. “Argonne’s expertise will help us achieve our goals by better understanding our future energy supply and demand needs while addressing the environmental and economic implications of our energy policy decisions.”

Kentucky will work with Argonne's Center for Energy, Environmental, and Economic Systems Analysis (CEEESA), which develops models to analyze energy, environmental and economic issues to help decision makers address the interdependence of these factors in long-range energy planning.

“We applaud the efforts of the state of Kentucky and look forward to working with them, as well as any other state or organization so inclined, in addressing the economics of energy use and the cost of environmental control, both regionally and internationally,” said Argonne Director Eric Isaacs.

The project includes advanced modeling software developed by Argonne and the necessary training and expertise to support Kentucky’s overall energy strategy. Argonne’s software tools will aid the state in energy sector planning and infrastructure analysis as well as economic modeling and environmental assessments, and will include:

* Energy and Power Evaluation Program (ENPEP) provides state-of-the-art capabilities for evaluating the entire energy system and its environmental implications, from energy policy decisions to assessing energy-efficient and renewable-energy resource potential.
* Electricity Market Complex Adaptive System software (EMCAS) simulates how electricity markets may evolve and how participants may react to changing physical, financial and regulatory environments.
* Generation and Transmission Maximization model (GTMax) simulates complex electricity market and operation issues for both competitive and regulated environments.

CEEESA has trained more than 1,300 experts from more than 90 countries. CEEESA works with power companies, consulting agencies and governments around the world, including the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the World Bank, the International Atomic Energy Agency and various state agencies.

As a major coal-producing state, Kentucky is also working with Argonne, Southern Illinois University and the National Energy Technology Laboratory on a clean coal initiative designed to leverage Kentucky’s abundant coal resources to develop coal-to-liquids and coal-to-gas technologies while reducing the state’s carbon emissions.

Argonne also recently partnered with Kentucky, the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville to establish a national battery manufacturing research and development center for advanced vehicle applications aimed at securing U.S. energy independence, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping boost the economy.

Source: Argonne National Laboratory