ÆNodes
A proposal for enabling airport-based energy solutions
Airports as Energy Nodes (ÆNodes) is a collaboration between NASA and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to research how airports can become self-sufficient energy hubs to benefit local communities and enable advanced transportation options.
The activity aims to help these facilities prepare for future advancements, like electric aircraft and air taxis, by modeling the necessary infrastructure and creating cost-effective, sustainable energy solutions that can benefit aviation and the surrounding neighborhoods.
The primary goal is to develop innovative airport energy infrastructure designs that support local municipalities by expanding the types of transportation operations that airports can offer, while functioning as a resilient and reliable source of public power.
Goals
- Support Airports with Transition to Electric Aircraft
Help airports plan for the arrival of electric aircraft by modeling potential vehicle types and the infrastructure needed for their power and energy.
- Model Aviation Energy Demands
Analyze current and future traffic at two representative small airports to understand aviation energy demands under various scenarios.
- Develop Cost-Effective Airport Energy Solutions
Create affordable energy solutions that enable airport operators and utilities to finance the necessary infrastructure upgrades, while providing value to the community before and after advanced aircraft arrives.
- Identify Policy Barriers and Alternatives
Examine regulatory barriers and explore alternative policies to upgrading energy systems and to using airport energy assets for community purposes beyond aviation.
Key Elements and Activities
- Establish Energy Demand Scenarios
Generate energy demand project for airport partner sites using data from NASA Ames’ Sherlock Repository and information from NASA’s Airspace Operation and Safety Program and Intercenter Systems Analysis Team (ISAT) studies.
- Create Advanced Reference Concepts
Develop energy-demand models for future regional airport traffic studies using the Rapid Conceptual Development Environment (RapCDE) at NASA Langley.
- Develop Parametric Energy Models
Collaborate with the Tweed New Haven (HVN) and Winchester Regional (OKV) airports and their utilities using publicly-available tools developed by NREL, including REopt® and Engage™.
- Reduce Energy Architectures Risk
Identify one airport to use as a parametric model for de-risking high-value energy architectures. A virtual twin of the site will be built using NREL’s (ARIES) platform to emulate a real-time, scalable microgrid environment.
- Address Hydrogen Storage Issues
Investigate hydrogen cryogenic storage challenges and material properties as part of NASA Glenn’s Commercially-viable Hydrogen Aircraft for Reduction of Greenhouse Emissions (CH2ARGE) initiative.
Media
- Tweed New Haven joins NASA’s ‘Airport as Energy Nodes’ programme
- Winchester Regional Airport tapped for NASA study on renewable energy
- EAA’s The Green Dot — NASA Engineer Nick Borer
- NREL Partner Testimonial
For partnership opportunities or questions
Dr. Nat Blaesser
nathaniel.j.blaesser@nasa.gov
