Office of Systems, Analyses and Planning

Mission
(OSAP) conducts a variety of energy analyses to identify promising R&D that will provide a balanced solution that enables economic sustainability, offers energy supply security, and provides technology solutions that mitigate global climate change.

OSAP-conducted studies involve the assessment of complex, large systems, such as industrial or ecological processes, and the interactions amongst those systems, including social, economic, political, regulatory, technological, design, and management institutions, each of which are systems in their own right. The complex nature of these subjects requires an interdisciplinary approach that assesses current parameters, near term trends, and futuristic scenarios as related to energy production, distribution, and use. The OSAP organization is staffed with professionals from a variety of fields including engineering, business, economics, environmental science, and legislative analysis. OSAP organization chart [PDF-14KB]

Goals
OSAP-conducted analyses fully support an evolving energy paradigm to ensure options for the U.S. – and the world – as we respond to new challenges and requirements that will have to be addressed through innovation. The goals of these analyses include:

• Evaluate emerging technologies being developed at the laboratory/bench-scale in a system context (i.e., commercial-scale power plant) to assess technical, economic, and environmental feasibility
• Screen out unpromising projects before significant resources are expended
• Provide guidance to technology managers and researchers that will enhance the prospects for successful development and deployment of technologies that will address future energy needs
• Understand customers’ energy needs with respect to the electric power system to develop optimized technology solutions and strategies
• Assess current energy, economic and legislative trends to understand potential impacts on energy production and use

Key Analysis Areas
Technology analysis evaluates the attributes of energy technologies, particularly in terms of performance and cost. These analyses allow the examination of RD&D areas in terms of potential costs, benefits, risks, uncertainties, and timeframes. Systems analysis focuses on production and processing of fossil fuels and energy and fuel systems synthesis and design, including assessment of competing energy technologies. OSAP analysts exercise process engineering simulation software to develop mass an energy balances for energy technology configurations. Other computer-based tools are used to develop and track cost estimates and compare alternative financial options. Technology analysis provides input to decisions on issues such as national plans and programs; resource use, environmental, and energy security policies; research and development in technology; and deployment of energy technology.

Benefits analysis focuses on quantifying both prospective and retrospective benefits of FE R&D programs using economic models. Benefits analysis assesses the potential economic competitiveness of advanced energy technologies being developed at NETL, both in the near term and over the next several decades. The extent to which public benefits are realized is a complex function of several factors, including success at meeting R&D goals, competition with other technologies, future energy prices, and future regulatory actions. Since the future of markets and regulations are uncertain, alternative scenarios must be considered. OSAP analystsexercise economic models toforecast the market penetration of advanced energy systems for a variety of possible futures.The associated societal benefits are quantified in terms of reduced cost of energy, reduced environmental impacts, and improved energy security. Benefits analysis provides justification of the federal investment in energy R&D and advises funding priorities within the research portfolio.

Current Situation and Trend analysis assesses the current situation and near- and long-term trends within the energy industry and in the U.S. and world economy that may impact energy price, availability, and security and influence the choice of fuels and energy production technologies. Life cycle analyses consider cradle to grave environmental and economic impacts. These analyses are used for planning of DOE's energy related R&D program ensuring that it is comprehensive, well-balanced, and framed to yield significant contributions to the country. With respect to the long term, analytical results are developed that are relevant to energy demand and that may influence the choice of fuels and energy production technologies after 2025. Analytical results also provide valuable information and data to leaders whenever energy policy is being developed. Overall, these activities require extensive data gathering; networking with key professionals within government, industry, and academia; conducting robust analyses; assessing proposals for legislative action; and communicating findings and conclusions throughout the stakeholder community. Cooperative relationships are maintained with industry, regulatory agencies, and consumer and public awareness groups.

Integrated Electric Power Systems analysis evaluates options for generation, transmission, distribution, and consumption of electric power considering the value of electric power to the electric power industry, consumers, and society. These values (cost, reliability, efficiency, energy security, power quality, environmental impact, and economic development) are impacted by a wide range of factors including technology, regulations, standards, policy, availability of capital and skilled labor, political authority, business practices, and consumer and societal needs and perspectives. Studies will involve designing and analyzing electric power systems including supply, delivery and consumption components and determining the values attained from various electric power system designs. The work will involve analyzing the interdependencies of electric power systems with other critical infrastructures particularly the water infrastructure. Integrated electric power system studies support R&D gap analysis, guide R&D investment decisions, analyze various configurations of Smart Grid, identify electric power system risks and mitigation strategies, and support various transmission siting, permitting, and analysis work such as transmission congestion studies, access for renewable energy resources, and the role of coal and natural gas in deployment and operation of Smart Grid. The greater understanding provided by these studies will lead to optimized electric power system design and operation and assist government, power industry, regulators, policymakers, and consumers in making informed infrastructure-related decisions.