Meeting the ever-increasing energy demand

The rapid expansion of energy-intensive technologies like artificial intelligence, electric vehicles and everyday products has made cleaner energy systems a necessity. The demand for these technologies won’t stop anytime soon.

According to BloombergNEF, in the United States, the demand for power from data centers is projected to skyrocket to 106 gigawatts by 2035, more than three times higher than the observed 34.7 gigawatts in 2024.

In response to this demand, the Combustion and Electrochemical Power Systems Laboratory, or CEPS Lab, is dedicating its research efforts to improving energy efficiency, optimizing energy systems and advancing fuel cell technologies.

The lab is led by Ryan Milcarek, an associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University. Because energy systems are highly dependent on how they are used, the lab’s research approach is grounded in real-world conditions.

“In our group, our mindset is very much tied to solving problems for real people,” Milcarek says, “Having students engage in research that helps them solve a problem for a real client, ultimately helps them develop professionally and excel in the workforce.”

Solving real-life energy issues

As the world moves towards decarbonization, solar energy is becoming increasingly popular. The CEPS Lab collaborates with private and public companies to analyze efficient photovoltaic and energy storage systems. These systems use arrays of solar panels to generate enough energy to meet a portion of the client’s electrical needs.

Although solar energy is widely researched, most solar installations are based on data collected from only a few usage scenarios. Milcarek says these systems should account for factors unique to each client, such as their load shape. To properly size an efficient system, he adds, the client’s individual energy usage must be studied.

“You can size a panel and orient it better if you know how the client is using electricity on site,” Milcarek says. “The more energy savings when time-of-use prices are high, the more dollar savings for each client.”

The customization saves money for clients, but it also contributes to a growing data set of real-world usage. Milcarek says, “When you combine this massive data set of hundreds of clients that have been optimally sized, you start to see trends that differ from cases where people are only looking at one building or, in many cases, data from simulations.”

Photovoltaic power systems, which rely on sunlight to generate energy, represent a key component of the future of sustainable energy efforts. However, what happens when there is no sunlight? In many modern renewable energy systems, the conditions for energy generation are not always ideal.

As Milcarek states, “Ultimately, once you use renewables, you run into this issue where you need energy storage to supply to loads in the evening.” “The challenge is that there are times when there’s also not a lot of solar energy during the day.”

Even in hot environments like Arizona, there are cloudy days where solar installations are unable to produce enough energy to meet user demands.

“We often evaluate solar photovoltaic systems independently, but we really need to think about the combined solar and energy storage system,” Milcarek says. “We’ve done a lot of work with a local utility company, where they’ve given us real data from clients, and we can use that to study the dispatch of energy storage with solar photovoltaic systems.”

In addition to its work in solar and energy storage, the CEPS Lab investigates another major area of research: portable power.

The challenge with portable power

Portable power is critical for remote work, disaster relief and powering common appliances.

Many appliances rely on combustion engines, such as those found in lawnmowers and other common equipment. However, the conversion efficiency of these engines is often lower than desirable.

“With heat engines, the smaller you get, the lower your conversion efficiency goes. You’re lucky if you can even have a 5% conversion efficiency for small systems needed in some portable applications,” says Milcarek. “Well, fuel cells don’t have that problem.”

Solid oxide fuel cells are small devices that generate energy by enabling the oxidation of fuel through the conduction of oxygen ions. Because they directly convert chemical energy into electricity, they can achieve much higher conversion efficiency than most combustion-based systems. Combined with their compact size, this makes them ideal for portable power solutions.

Although fuel cells can have many different compositions, the CEPS Lab has taken a particular interest in ceramic fuel cells. Ceramic materials conduct ions efficiently and resist extreme conditions. Combined with their high ionic conductivity, they are well-suited for fuel cell applications.

One main question remains: How can fuel cells be prevented from degrading after use? Milcarek approaches this challenge by beginning with the creation of the fuel cell itself.

The process of making a ceramic fuel cell begins with ceramic powder, which is processed through specialized equipment until it reaches the desired form. The fuel cell is then heated to an extremely high temperature, transforming it into a hard, glass-like substance. Once the fuel cells are created, they are wired and tested on a variety of fuels, including hydrogen, propane, methane and even jet fuel.

“We’re measuring, monitoring and trying to understand the reformer conditions needed to have a longer-term performance,” he says, “It’s a lot of hands-on, experimental work.”

Preparing the next generation of engineers

Not only does the CEPS Lab advance research in energy systems, but it also provides opportunities for student development.

Students working within the CEPS Lab are gaining the experience and skills needed to become engineers who can help guide the energy industry toward a sustainable future.

“I have a lot of interest in engineering education,” notes Milcarek. “I like to think about how I’m teaching and how it’s impacting students. I want my students to have the skills to write, present, and talk to clients and the community, because it helps them gain confidence as researchers.”

Written by Summer Martinez
Communications Assistant
School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy
Arizona State University
Email: [email protected]