The TEMA group consists of researchers investigating a wide range of topics. We share staff, resources, and methods; we are therefore uniquely capable of tackling problems with fresh and diverse approaches.

Our major research areas are described below.

Alan Meier
Group Leader

Primary Research Areas

Distributed Energy Resources and Microgrids

The DER/Microgrids Group serves as a resource to those interested in distributed energy resources and for those conducting their own microgrid research. The Group is developing methods and tools for conducting integrated assessment of DER and µGrids ("microgrids"), in addition to forecasting and researching patterns of DER adoption for individual customers.

Over one hundred technical reports and journal articles on DER, microgrids, renewable energy, and energy economics may be downloaded from the der.lbl.gov publications page. The DER/Microgrids group also organizes and hosts an annual Symposium on Microgrids, with the goal of bringing together international microgrid experts and researchers and providing a forum for discussion.

Project Lead: Chris Marnay
e-mail:
DER/Microgrids Website

Energy Use of Electronics

TEMA staff undertake research on the energy use of consumer electronics, IT equipment, and networks. Important study areas include understanding and measuring standby power, the energy use of digital networks, and contributing to the development of specifications for energy efficienct devices and systems

Project Lead: Alan Meier
e-mail:
Standby Power Website
Lighting Control User Interface Standards website
Future building network architecture website
Efficient Networks website

Enduse Forecasting and Market Assessment

We conduct research to better understand the energy use of appliances and other equipment. The goal is to transform market and technology data into information to provide a sound basis for policy decisions that promote the development and adoption of cost-effective energy-efficiency technologies. This includes extensive analytical support for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's voluntary Energy Star programs.

Project Lead: Richard E. Brown
e-mail:
Enduse Forecasting Website

Industrial Energy Research

We conduct research on the effectiveness, cost, and applicability of industrial energy efficiency, energy management, and demand response policies and programs for national, state, and provincial governments; energy-efficiency organizations; and internationally. Collaboration with industries potentially affected by proposed policies is an integral part of this process.

The goal is to link what is known about energy efficiency improvements with the drivers that can motivate industrial facilities to take action; and to study and/or demonstrate policy instruments and programs for greater industrial energy efficiency and associated GHG emissions reductions, and effective participation in a future Smart Grid.

Project Lead: Amiee McKane
e-mail:
Industrial Energy website

Transportation

The perception that making vehicles lighter and smaller will necessarily make them less safe has hindered previous efforts to increase vehicle fuel economy. We are using a combination of national fatality statistics and state crash data to investigate that notion, in support of EPA, NHTSA, and DOE efforts to adopt new fuel economy and greenhouse gas emission standards for new vehicles without compromising occupant safety.

LBNL is recognized as an international expert in the evaluation of the effectiveness of periodic vehicle emission inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs, having developed innovative evaluation methods using a combination of program test results and on-road emissions measurements.

LBNL currently is developing a website for the CEC to provide California cities and counties guidance on how to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions from their transportation systems. We recently provided an analysis of the energy use by the transport sector (on-road vehicles, rail, air, and marine), in support of the California Energy Balance (CALEB) project for CEC and CARB.

Project Lead: Tom Wenzel
e-mail:
Transportation Energy Policy website
Transportation & Air Quality website
Inspection and Maintanence Research website