Jordan Macknick is the Lead Energy-Water-Land Analyst for NREL. He is a member of the Strategic Energy Analysis Center's Systems Modeling team within the Resources and Sustainability Group. His primary work addresses the environmental impacts of energy technologies, while seeking opportunities for energy and ecological synergies.

In his energy-water-land leadership capacity, Macknick analyzes national and regional implications of different energy pathways in the context of water and land resources, evaluates opportunities to improve the energy management of water infrastructure, and explores innovative approaches to co-locating solar and agricultural activities.

Areas of Expertise

Systems modeling of energy and water infrastructure interactions

Renewable-powered water treatment systems

Meta-analysis of diverse data sets

Low-impact renewable energy development

Research Interests

Interface of energy, water, and land issues in policy planning

Co-location of agriculture and solar technologies

Energy services of water infrastructure

Water management in unconventional oil and gas operations

Education

M.E.Sc., Transboundary Natural Resource Policy, Yale University (2009)

B.A., Mathematics and Environmental Studies, Hamline University (2005)

Prior Work Experience

Research Associate, International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) (2009)

Research Assistant, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University (2007–2009)

Community Wind Specialist Intern, Windustry (2007)

Assistant Managing Director, EcoFacilitation Ltd. (2005–2006)

Featured Publications

Climate and water resource change impacts and adaptation potential for US power supply, Nature Climate Change (2017)

Water and Climate Impacts on Power System Operations: The Importance of Cooling Systems and Demand Response Measures, NREL Technical Report (2016)

Colocation opportunities for large solar infrastructures and agriculture in drylands, Applied Energy (2016)

A review of water and greenhouse gas impacts of unconventional natural gas development in the United States, MRS Energy & Sustainability (2015)

Water Constraints in an Electric Sector Capacity Expansion Model, NREL Technical Report (2015)

Overview of Opportunities for Co-Location of Solar Energy Technologies and Vegetation, NREL Technical Report (2013)

Operational water consumption and withdrawal factors for electricity generating technologies: a review of existing literature, Environmental Research Letters (2012)