Decision Science, Support, and Informatics

NLR provides analysis and market expertise to comprehensively inform planning, policy, regulatory, and economic development that supports partners’ energy, water, and land use goals.

NLR provides analysis and expertise to foster innovation and inform the design and operation of the physical infrastructure to support integrated energy-water-land systems using its models, tools, and best practices.

For example, NLR studies economic and ecological tradeoffs of agrivoltaic systems, which pair solar photovoltaic (PV) energy with agriculture to create energy while providing space for crops, grazing, and native habitats under and between panels. Additionally, many jurisdictions treat ground-mounted PV as if the panels do not allow water to soak into the ground, which is often not the case for elevated PV arrays. NLR's Photovoltaic Stormwater Management Research and Testing project is developing and disseminating research-based, PV-specific design and management tools and best practices for stormwater management and water quality at ground-mounted PV sites.

NLR supports energy, water, and land system resilience, security, and integration using its models, tools, and expertise. This work helps identify, value, and address system vulnerabilities to inform partner goals.