Energy Systems Optimization Lab
Generation and storage technology operations, design, & simulation

Publications

Google Scholar page

Theses

  • S. Lundin (2024). “Control Optimization of the Intelligent Building Agents Laboratory,” M.S. Thesis, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Mechanical Engineering. Download.
  • M. Tuman (2024). “Real-Time Simulation of a Parabolic Trough Solar Field,” M.S. Thesis, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Mechanical Engineering. Thesis Download.
  • L. Abdulmajeid (2023). “Modeling and Control of the Intelligent Building Agents Laboratory,” M.S. Thesis, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Mechanical Engineering. Download.
  • B. White (2022). “Thermodynamic Cycle Modeling of Integrated Lead-Cooled Fast Reactor and Concentrating Solar Power,” M.S. Thesis, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Mechanical Engineering. Download.
  • J. Wenner (2022). “A Power-Hardware-in-the-Loop Testbed for Dynamic Analysis and Control of PV-CSP Plants,” M.S. Thesis, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Mechanical Engineering. Download.
  • S. Upadhya, (2021). “A Dispatch Optimization Model for Hybrid Renewable and Battery Systems Incorporating a Battery Degradation Model,” M.S. Thesis, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Mechanical Engineering. Download.
  • S. Springate (2021), “Transient Modeling Tool for the Counterflow Heat Exchangers in Concentrating Solar Power Systems with Thermal Energy Storage,” M.S. Thesis, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Mechanical Engineering. Download.

Refereed journal articles

  • G. Kahvecioglu, D.P. Morton, and Michael J. Wagner. “Dispatch Optimization of a Concentrating Solar Power System under Uncertain Solar Irradiance and Energy Prices.” Applied Energy, Vol. 326, (Jan. 2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.119978.
  • W.T. Hamilton, Michael J. Wagner, A.J. Zolan. “Demonstrating SolarPILOT’s Python Application Programmable Interface Through Heliostat Optimal Aimpoint Strategy Use Case.” Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, (2022) Vol. 144, No. 3, pp. 30906.
  • J.G. Wales, A. Zolan, W. Hamilton, A.M. Newman, Michael J. Wagner. “Combining Simulation and Optimization to Inform Operating Policies for a Concentrating Solar Power Plant.” OR Spectrum, (June. 2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00291-022-00688-7.
  • G.J. Soto, B. Lindley, T.W. Neises, C. Stansbury, Michael J. Wagner. “Dispatch Optimization, System Design and Cost Benefit Analysis of a Nuclear Reactor with Molten Salt Thermal Storage.” Energies, Vol. 15, No. 10 (2022). https://doi.org/10.3390/en15103599
  • J.L. Cox, W.T. Hamilton, A.M. Newman, A.J. Zolan, Michael J. Wagner. “Real-time Dispatch Optimization for Concentrating Solar Power with Thermal Energy Storage.” Optimization and Engineering, (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11081-022-09711-w.
  • Brian T. White, Michael J. Wagner, T.W. Neises, C. Stansbury, and B. Lindley, “Modeling of Combined Lead Fast Reactor and Concentrating Solar Power Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Cycles to Demonstrate Feasibility, Efficiency Gains, and Cost Reductions,” Sustainability, Vol. 13, No. 12428, pp. 1–24, (2021).
  • Sahana Upadhya and Michael J. Wagner, “A Dispatch Optimization Model for Hybrid Renewable and Battery Systems Incorporating a Battery Degradation Model,” Journal of Energy Resources Technology, Vol. 144, No. 7, (2021), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4052983.
  • J.G. Wales, A.J. Zolan, A.M. Newman, and Michael J. Wagner. “Optimizing Vehicle Fleet and Assignment for Concentrating Solar Power Plant Heliostat Washing.” IISE Transactions, (2021). DOI: 10.1080/24725854.2021.1966858
  • J. Martinek, and Michael J. Wagner. “Efficient Prediction of Concentrating Solar Power Plant Productivity Using Data Clustering.” Solar Energy 224. June (2021): pp. 730–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2021.06.002.
  • W.T. Hamilton, A.M. Newman, R.J. Braun, and Michael J. Wagner. “Off-Design Performance of Molten Salt-Driven Rankine Cycles and its Impact on the Optimal Dispatch of Concentrated Solar Power Systems.” Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 220, 113025 (2019). DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2020.113025.
  • W.T. Hamilton, M.A. Husted, A.M. Newman, R.J. Braun, and Michael J. Wagner. “Dispatch optimization of concentrating solar power with utility-scale photovoltaics.” Optimization and Engineering (2019). DOI: 10.1007/s11081-019-09449-y.
  • Y. Wang, D. Potter, C. Asselineau, C. Corsi, Michael J.Wagner, C. Caliot, B. Piaud, M. Blanco, J. Kim, and J. Pye. “Verification of Optical Modelling of Sunshape and Surface Slope Error for Concentrating Solar Power Systems.” Solar Energy 195, 461 (2020).
  • N. Kincaid, G. Mungas, N. Kramer, Michael J. Wagner, and G. Zhu. “A Performance Comparison of Three Concentrating Solar Power Collector Designs in Linear Fresnel, Parabolic Trough, and Power Tower.” Applied Energy, Vol. 231 (2018), pp. 1109–1121. DOI: 10.1016/J.APENERGY.2018.09.153.
  • Michael J. Wagner, W.T. Hamilton, A.M. Newman, J. Dent, C. Diep, and R.J. Braun. “Optimizing dispatch for a concentrated solar power tower.” Solar Energy 174 (2018), pp. 1198–1211. DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2018.06.093.
  • Michael J. Wagner and T. Wendelin. “SolarPILOT: A Power Tower Solar Field Layout and Characterization Tool.” Solar Energy 171 (2018), pp. 185–196. DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2018.06.063.
  • Michael J. Wagner, A.M. Newman, W.T. Hamilton, and R.J. Braun. “Optimized dispatch in a first-principles concentrating solar power production model.” Applied Energy 203 (2017), pp. 959–971. DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.06.072.
  • C.S. Turchi, Z. Ma, T.W. Neises, and Michael J. Wagner. “Thermodynamic Study of Advanced Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Power Cycles for Concentrating Solar Power Systems.” Journal of Solar Energy Engineering 135.4 (2013). DOI: 10.1115/1.4024030.
  • G. Zhu, T. Wendelin, Michael J. Wagner, and C.F. Kutscher. “History, current state, and future of linear Fresnel concentrating solar collectors.” Solar Energy 103 (2013), pp. 639–652. DOI: 10.1016/j. solener.2013.05.021.

Refereed conference proceedings

  • Sapra, S. Upadhya, L. Desorcy, Michael J. Wagner, S. Venkataraman, C. Kweon, S. Kokjohn, J. Schumaker. “Estimating Battery State-of-Charge within 1% using Machine Learning and Physics-based Models.” Proceedings of the 2023 SAE World Congress. Paper No. 23PFL-0181, Detroit, MI, USA, April, 2023.
  • E. Keith, B. Lindley, Michael J. Wagner. “Dispatch Optimization of Thermal Energy Storage for a Multi-Effect Distillation System,” Proceedings of the American Nuclear Society, Detroit, MI, 2023.
  • M. Mullin, Michael J. Wagner. “A method for projecting cloud shadows onto a central receiver field to predict receiver damage.” Proceedings of the SolarPACES 2022 International Symposium, Albuquerque, NM, USA, September, 2022.
  • M.J. Tuman, Michael J. Wagner. “Informed Feature Selection for Data Clustering of CSP Plant Production.” Proceedings of the SolarPACES 2022 International Symposium, Albuquerque, NM, USA, September, 2022.
  • J. Wenner, B.B. Bates, Michael J. Wagner. “Development of a PHIL Real-Time Simulation Testbed for Optimization of Hybrid Power Plant Generation.” Proceedings of the SolarPACES 2022 International Symposium, Albuquerque, NM, USA, September, 2022.
  • B.T. White, B. Lindley, Michael J. Wagner. “Thermodynamic Modeling of a Supercritical Steam-Rankine Cycle for an Integrated CSP-Nuclear System.” Proceedings of the SolarPACES 2022 International Symposium, Albuquerque, NM, USA, September, 2022.
  • G. J. Soto, U. Baker, B. T. White, B. Lindley, and M. J. Wagner, “Modeling a Lead-Cooled Fast Reactor with Thermal Energy Storage using Optimal Dispatch in SAM,” in Proceedings of the 2021 ANS Winter Meetings, 2021, pp. 1–5.
  • S. Upadhya, Michael J. Wagner. “A Dispatch Optimization Model for Hybrid Renewable and Battery Systems Incorporating a Battery Degradation Model.” Proceedings of the ASME ES 2021 15th International Conference on Energy Sustainability, Virtual/Online, June 16-18, 2021.
  • J. Kerkhoff, Michael J. Wagner. “A flexible thermal model for solar cavity receivers using analytical view factors.” Proceedings of the ASME ES 2021 15th International Conference on Energy Sustainability, Virtual/Online, June 16-18, 2021.
    >> Matlab N-sided Polygon View Factor Algorithm
  • W. T. Hamilton, Michael J. Wagner, Alexander Zolan. “Demonstrating SolarPILOT’s Python API Through Heliostat Optimal Aimpoint Strategy Use Case.” Proceedings of the ASME ES 2021 15th International Conference on Energy Sustainability, Virtual/Online, June 16-18, 2021.
  • W.T. Hamilton, Michael J. Wagner, A.M. Newman, and R.J. Braun. “Black-Box Optimization for Design of Concentrating Solar Power and Photovoltaic Hybrid Systems with Optimal Dispatch Decisions.” Proceedings of the 2019 SolarPACES International Symposium, AIP Conference Proceedings 2303 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0028962.
  • Michael J. Wagner, M.F. Watkins, and S.D. Sullivan. “Optimal Heliostat Assignment Strategy for Multiple-Receiver Systems.” Proceedings of the 2019 SolarPACES Symposium. Daegu, South Korea: AIP 2303 (1). DOI: 10.1063/5.0031188.
  • M.F. Watkins, Michael J. Wagner, S.D. Sullivan, J. Hinze,  E. Vollnogle, and J. Boxleitner. “Heliostat Aiming Strategies for Arbitrary Flux Profiles for High Temperature Gas-Based Receivers.” Proceedings of the 2019 SolarPACES Symposium. Daegu, South Korea: AIP 2303 (1), 2019. DOI: 10.1063/5.0032149.
  • Y. Wang, D. Potter, C. Asselineau, C. Corsi, Michael J. Wagner, M. Blanco, J. Kim, and J. Pye. “Comparison of optical modelling tools for sunshape and surface slope error.” Proceedings of the 2018 SolarPACES Symposium, Casablanca, Morocco, AIP Conference Proceedings 2033 (2018). DOI: 10.1063/1.5067222.
  • C.S. Turchi, G. Zhu, Michael J. Wagner, T. Williams, and D. Wendt. “Geothermal / solar hybrid designs: Use of geothermal energy for CSP feedwater heating.” Transactions – Geothermal Resources Council. Vol. 38. 2014, pp. 817–823.
  • T.W. Neises, Michael J. Wagner, and A.K. Gray. “Structural design considerations for tubular power tower receivers operating at 650C.” ASME 2014 8th International Conference on Energy Sustainability, ES 2014 Collocated with the ASME 2014 12th International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology. Vol. 1. 2014. DOI: 10.1115/ES2014-6603.
  • M. Eck, T. Hirsch, J. F. Feldhoff, D. Kretschmann, J. Dersch, A. Gavilan Morales, L. Gonzalez-Martinez, C. Bachelier, W. Platzer, K. J. Riffelmann, and Michael J. Wagner. “Guidelines for CSP yield analysis – Optical losses of line focusing systems; definitions, sensitivity analysis and modeling approaches.” Energy Procedia. Vol. 49. 2014, pp. 1318–1327. DOI: 10.1016/j.egypro.2014.03.141.
  • A. Dobos, T.W. Neises, and Michael J.Wagner. “Advances in CSP Simulation Technology in the System Advisor Model.” Energy Procedia 49 (2014), pp. 2482–2489. DOI: 10.1016/j.egypro.2014.03.263.
  • C. Ho, M. Mehos, C. Turchi, and Michael J. Wagner. “Probabilistic Analysis of Power Tower Systems to Achieve SunShot Goals.” Energy Procedia 49 (2014), pp. 1410–1419. DOI: 10.1016/j.egypro.2014.03. 150.
  • G. Zhu, Michael J. Wagner, Tim Wendelin, and Chuck Kutscher. “Performance evaluation and outlook of utility-scale linear Fresnel technology.” ASME 2013 7th Int. Conf. on Energy Sustainability Collocated with the ASME 2013 Heat Transfer Summer Conf. and the ASME 2013 11th Int. Conf. on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology, ES 2013. 2013. DOI: 10.1115/ES2013-18069.
  • M. Sengupta and Michael J. Wagner. “Estimating Atmospheric Attenuation in Central Receiver Systems.” Proceedings of the ASME 2012 6th International Conference on Energy Sustainability & 10th Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology Conference. San Diego, CA: American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2012, pp. 1–5. DOI: 10.1115/ES2012-91229.
  • C.S. Turchi and Michael J. Wagner. “Power tower reference plant for cost modeling with the system advisor model (SAM).” World Renewable Energy Forum, WREF 2012, Including World Renewable Energy Congress XII and Colorado Renewable Energy Society (CRES) Annual Conference Vol. 4. 2012, pp. 2598–2605.
  • Michael J. Wagner. “Results and comparison from the SAM linear Fresnel technology performance model.” World Renewable Energy Forum, WREF 2012, Including World Renewable Energy Congress XII and Colorado Renewable Energy Society (CRES) Annual Conference Vol. 4. 2012, pp. 2666–2673.
  • T.W. Neises and Michael J. Wagner. “Annual Simulation of Direct Steam Power Tower Concentrated Solar Plant – Preprint.” Proceedings of the ASME 2012 6th International Conference on Energy Sustainability & 10th Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology Conference. San Diego, CA, 2012.
  • Z. Ma, G.C. Glatzmaier, Michael J. Wagner, and T.W. Neises. “General Performance Metrics and Applications to Evaluate Various Thermal Energy Storage Technologies.” ASME 2012 6th International Conference on Energy Sustainability (2012), pp. 345–351. DOI: 10.1115/ES2012-91131.
  • Z. Ma, G.C. Glatzmaier, C.S. Turchi, and Michael J. Wagner. “Thermal energy storage performance metrics and use in thermal energy storage design.” World Renewable Energy Forum, WREF 2012, Including World Renewable Energy Congress XII and Colorado Renewable Energy Society (CRES) Annual Conference Vol. 2. 2012, pp. 1054–1059.
  • M. Sengupta and Michael J. Wagner. “Atmospheric attenuation in central receiver systems from DNI measurements.” Proceedings of the 2012 ASES World Renewable Energy Forum. Denver, CO, 2012.
  • Craig S. Turchi, Z. Ma, Ty W. Neises, and Michael J. Wagner. “Thermodynamic Study of Advanced Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Power Cycles for High Performance Concentrating Solar Power Systems.” Proceedings of the 2012 6th International Conference on Energy Sustainability. Vol. 135. San Diego, CA: ASME, 2012. DOI: 10.1115/1.4024030.
  • Michael J. Wagner and G. Zhu. “A direct-steam linear Fresnel performance model for NREL’s System Advisor Model.” Proceedings of the ASME 2012 6th International Conference on Energy Sustainability & 10th Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology Conference. San Diego, CA, 2012. DOI: 10.1115/ ES2012-91317.
  • T. Hirsch, M. Eck, M.J. Blanco, Michael J. Wagner, and J.F. Feldhoff. “Standardization of CSP performance model projection – Latest results from the guismo project.” ASME 2011 5th International Conference on Energy Sustainability, ES 2011. Washington DC, 2011. DOI: 10.1115/ES2011-54478.
  • Michael J. Wagner and G. Zhu. “A Generic CSP Performance Model for NREL’s System Advisor Model.” Proceedings of the 2011 SolarPACES International Symposium. Granada, Spain, 2011.
  • M.S. Mehos, Michael J. Wagner, and D.W. Kearney. “Acceptance Performance Test Guideline for Utility Scale Parabolic Trough and Other CSP Solar Thermal Systems.” Proceedings of the 2011 SolarPACES International Symposium. Granada, Spain, 2011.
  • M. Sengupta and Michael J. Wagner. “Impact of Aerosols on Atmospheric Attenuation Loss in Central Receiver Systems.” Proceedings of the 2011 SolarPACES International Symposium. Granada, Spain, 2011.
  • Michael J. Wagner, M.S. Mehos, D.W. Kearney, and A.C. McMahan. “Modeling of a parabolic trough solar field for acceptance testing: A case study.” Proceedings of the ASME 2011 International Conference on Energy Sustainability. Washington DC, 2011. DOI: 10.1115/ES2011-54245.
  • Michael J. Wagner and C.F. Kutscher. “Assessing the Impact of Heat Rejection Technology on CSP Plant Revenue Preprint.” SolarPACES 2010. Perpignan, France, 2010.
  • Michael J. Wagner. “Methodology for Constructing Reduced-Order Power Block Performance Models for CSP Applications.” SolarPACES 2010. Perpignan, France, 2010.
  • Michael J. Wagner and C.F. Kutscher. “The Impact of Hybrid Wet/Dry Cooling on Concentrating Solar Power Plant Performance.” Proceedings of the ASME 2010 International Conference on Energy Sustainability. Vol. 2. Phoenix, AZ: ASME, 2010, pp. 1–8. DOI: 10.1115/ES2010-90442.
  • Michael J. Wagner, S.A. Klein, and D.T. Reindl. “Simulation of Utility-Scale Central Receiver System Power Plants.” Proceedings of the 2009 ASME 3rd International Conference on Energy Sustainability. Vol. 2. San Francisco, CA: ASME, 2009. DOI: 10.1115/ES2009-90132.

Technical publications

  • Wagner, Michael J., Alexandra Newman, David Morton, and Sven Leyffer. 2021. Concurrent Optimization of Capital Cost and Expected O&M. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory. NREL/TP- NREL/TP-5700-79093. https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy21osti/79093.pdf.
  • C.S. Turchi, M. Boyd, D. Kesseli, P. Kurup, M.S. Mehos, T.W. Neises, P. Sharan, Michael J. Wagner, and T. Wendelin. CSP Systems Analysis – Final Project Report CSP Systems Analysis. Technical Report NREL/TP-5500-72856. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO, 2019.
  • Michael Wagner, J. Martinek, T.W. Neises, C.S. Turchi, Z. Ma, and J. Netter. Direct s-CO2 Receiver Development. Technical Report. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO, 2017. DOI: 10.2172/1505150.
  • M.S. Mehos, C.S. Turchi, J. Vidal, Michael J. Wagner, Z. Ma, C.K. Ho, W. Kolb, C. Andraka, and A. Kruizenga. Concentrating Solar Power Gen3 Demonstration Roadmap. Tech. rep. NREL/TP- 5500-67464. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 2017.
  • N. Blair, N. Diorio, J. Freeman, P. Gilman, S. Janzou, T.W. Neises, and Michael J. Wagner. System Advisor Model (SAM) General Description. Tech. rep. NREL/TP-6A20-70414. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 2018.
  • Michael J. Wagner. SolarPILOT User’s Manual: A Tool for Solar Power Tower Layout and Optimization. Tech. rep. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 2015.
  • N. Blair, A.P. Dobos, J. Freeman, T.W. Neises, Michael J. Wagner, T. Ferguson, and P. Gilman. System Advisor Model, SAM 2014.1.14 : General Description. Tech. rep. February. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 2014.
  • Michael J. Wagner and P. Gilman. Technical Manual for the SAM Physical Trough Model. Tech. rep. NREL/TP-5500-51825. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 2011.
  • C.S. Turchi, Michael J. Wagner, and C.F. Kutscher. Water Use in Parabolic Trough Power Plants: Summary Results from WorleyParsons’ Analyses. Tech. rep. NREL/TP-5500-49468. Golden, CO, 2010.