Ariel Miara is a leading energy, water, and environment research analyst in the Resources and Sustainability Group within NREL’s Strategic Energy Analysis Center.
As an energy-water nexus expert, Ariel leads research on a range of topics related to the interactions between energy systems, water resources, the environment, and policy. His modeling and analysis work includes integrating water resources and energy models to evaluate weather and climate impacts on electricity generation infrastructure.
As part of his cutting-edge energy-water nexus work, Ariel researches energy requirements for water infrastructure and innovative synergies between energy and water systems to maximize productivity and efficiency, under current and future conditions. His Thermoelectric Power and Thermal Pollution Model (TP2M) simulates power plant operations and water use, impacts on water resources and riverine ecosystems, and performance under environmental regulation and climate change.
Ariel holds a dual appointment with the City University of New York’s Advanced Science Research Center, where he is a senior research associate. Ariel completed his PhD in Civil Engineering, with a focus on water resources and environmental engineering, at The City College of New York.
Research Interests
Climate and water impacts on electricity generation
Water risk to energy systems
Energy and environment tradeoffs
Energy sector reliance and impact on water resources
Water infrastructure systems
Education
PhD in Civil Engineering (Water Resources and Environmental Engineering), The City College of New York, New York, NY, 2018
MSc in Sustainability in the Urban Environment, The City College of New York, New York, NY, 2013
BSc in Mathematics and Physics, Queen Mary, University of London, London, England, 2010
Prior Work Experience
Research Assistant, CCNY Environmental Crossroads Initiative (2011-2014)
Research Participant Program, NREL (2013-2014)
Research Associate, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, (2014-2018)
Other Professional Affiliations
Senior Research Associate, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center
Featured Work
A. Miara, C.J. Vorosmarty, J.E. Macknick, V.C. Tidwell, B. Fekete, F. Corsi, R. Newmark. 2018. Thermal Pollution Impacts on Rivers and Power Supply in the Mississippi River Watershed, Environmental Research Letter.
A. Miara, J.E. Macknick, C.J. Vorosmarty, V.C. Tidwell, R. Newmark, B. Fekete. 2017. Climate and Water Resource Change Impacts and Adaptation Potential for US Power Supply, Nature Climate Change.
J.E. Macknick, E. Zhou, A. Miara, E. Ibanez, M. O’Connell, M. Hummon, G. Brinkman. 2016. Water and Climate Impacts on Power System Operations: The Importance of Cooling Systems and Demand Response Measures. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO. NREL/TP-6A20-66714.
A. Miara, P.T. Pienkos, M. Bazilian, R. Davis, and J.E. Macknick. 2014. Planning for Algal Systems: An Energy-Water-Food Nexus Perspective. Industrial Biotechnology. June 2014, 10(3): 202-211. doi:10.1089/ind.2014.0004.
A. Miara, C. Tarr, R. Spellman, C.J. Vorosmarty, and J.E. Macknick. 2014. The power of efficiency: Optimizing environmental and social benefits through demand-side-management. doi:10.1016/j.energy.2014.08.047.
A. Miara, C.J. Vörösmarty, R. Stewart, W. Wollheim, and B. Rosenzweig. 2013. Riverine Ecosystem services and the thermoelectric sector: Strategic issues facing the Northeastern United States. Environmental Research Letters. 8 025017 doi:10.1088/1748-9326/8/2/025017.
R. Stewart, W. Wollheim, A. Miara, C.J. Vörösmarty, B. Rosenzweig. 2013. Horizontal Cooling Towers: Thermal Regulation By Rivers Support Electricity Generation in the Northeastern United States. Environmental Research Letters. 8 025010 doi:10.1088/1748-9326/8/2/025010.
A. Miara and C.J. Vörösmarty. 2013. A Dynamic Model to Assess Tradeoffs in Power Production and Riverine Ecosystem Protection. Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, DOI:10.1039/C3EM00196B.
View all NREL publications for Ariel Miara.