Posting TitleGraduate (9-months) – Mechanical Engineering - Concentrating Solar Power Design Optimization Intern

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LocationCO - Golden

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Position TypeIntern (Fixed Term)

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Hours Per Week20

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Working at NRELThe National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

Join a team of world-class scientists, engineers, and visionaries dedicated to shaping the world’s energy future through cutting-edge research and innovation. From our vision to our NREL community, we are unique in the research community. We are focused on impact. From our work in basic sciences to systems engineering, analysis, demonstration, and deployment, we are focused on solving market-relevant problems that result in advanced, secure, reliable, and affordable energy systems. We are trusted clean energy leaders, developing cost-saving solutions that make U.S. industries more competitive, and support job creation and economic growth across rural and urban communities.

At NREL, we offer a unique, mission-driven work environment with cutting-edge facilities and multidisciplinary research teams. NREL's environment offers strong partnerships with industry, academia, and other national laboratories, as well as professional development opportunities and a competitive benefits package for employees.

Learn about NREL’s critical objectives: NREL's Mission and Vision.

Job Description

In pursuit of resource integration and grid reliability to meet power demands, the ECaSS Center leads innovative and integrated research and development to advance technology in electrochemical, molecular, thermal, and mechanical systems. Within ECaSS, the thermal energy systems group leads research on system modeling and techno-economic analysis of concentrating solar power (CSP) systems with and without hybridization of other renewable energy technologies.

In this project, the candidate will be responsible for conducting gird-scale techno-economic analysis of CSP and photovoltaic systems hybridized with other renewable energy technologies and storage using the Hybrid Optimization and Performance Platform (HOPP). HOPP is python-based open-source software that can evaluate the performance and financial viability of hybrid renewable energy systems.  HOPP uses a price-taker dispatch optimization (mixed-integer linear program) to make hybrid system operational decisions, e.g., charging and discharging storage, based on the economic drivers.

The candidate will:

Identify and compile grid scenarios and system cost inputs for HOPP analysisDevelop the HOPP analysis workflow (Python scripts) that uses design optimization driversCollaborate with NREL’s engineers to develop and test new functionality within HOPPModify HOPP’s dispatch optimization model (mixed-integer linear program) to enable new CSP hybrid configurations

With the completion of this project, the candidate will:

Gain experience with CSP hybrid system modeling, dispatch and design optimizationPublish results in a peer-review journal article

To learn more about the work this group does, check out these links:

https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy22osti/82726.pdfhttps://research-hub.nrel.gov/en/publications/hopp-hybrid-optimization-and-performance-platformhttps://hopp.readthedocs.io/en/latest/intro.html

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Basic QualificationsMinimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.

Undergraduate: Must be enrolled as a full-time student in a bachelor’s degree program from an accredited institution.
Post Undergraduate: Earned a bachelor’s degree within the past 12 months. Eligible for an internship period of up to one year.

Graduate: Must be enrolled as a full-time student in a master’s degree program from an accredited institution.
Post Graduate: Earned a master’s degree within the past 12 months. Eligible for an internship period of up to one year.
Graduate + PhD: Completed master’s degree and enrolled as PhD student from an accredited institution.

Please Note:
• Applicants are responsible for uploading official or unofficial school transcripts, as part of the application process.
• If selected for position, a letter of recommendation will be required as part of the hiring process.
• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required QualificationsMust have completed an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering or related field Must be currently enrolled in or recently graduated from master's degree program or be currently enrolled in PhD program in mechanical engineering or related fieldDemonstrated python experience including scripting, post-processing and visualization of dataDemonstrated knowledge of optimization methodsDemonstrated knowledge or experience in thermodynamics and heat transferDemonstrated ability to work independently and in a team environment

Preferred QualificationsMixed-integer linear programming experienceBlack-box optimization experienceSystem Advisor Model (SAM) experienceKnowledge or experience of concentrating solar power (CSP) and thermal energy storage understandingExperience with drafting journal articles and technical writing

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Job Application Submission Window

The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.

Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)Job Profile: / Annual Salary Range: $50,200 - $80,300

NREL takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.

Benefits SummaryBenefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; and sick leave (where required by law). NREL employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement. Internships projected to be less than 20 hours per week are not eligible for medical, dental, or vision benefits.

* Based on eligibility rules

Badging RequirementNREL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation. Intern assignments extending beyond six months will be subject to this requirement.

Drug Free Workplace

NREL is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.

If you are offered employment at NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

Submission Guidelines

Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NREL you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.

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Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Reasonable Accommodations

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