NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy 

Efficiency & Renewable Energy, operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308

Integrated Deployment Model: 

A Comprehensive Approach 

to Transforming the Energy 

Economy

Mary Werner

Technical Report

NREL/TP-7A20-49230

November 2010
NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy 

Efficiency & Renewable Energy, operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

1617 Cole Boulevard

Golden, Colorado 80401

303-275-3000 • www.nrel.gov

Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308

Integrated Deployment Model: 

A Comprehensive Approach 

to Transforming the Energy 

Economy

Mary Werner

Prepared under Task No. IDPS.9010

Technical Report

NREL/TP-7A20-49230

November 2010
NOTICE

This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States government. 

Neither the United States government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, 

express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of 

any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately 

owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, 

trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, 

or favoring by the United States government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors 

expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States government or any agency thereof.

Available electronically at http://www.osti.gov/bridge

Available for a processing fee to U.S. Department of Energy

and its contractors, in paper, from:

U.S. Department of Energy

Office of Scientific and Technical Information

P.O. Box 62

Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0062

phone: 865.576.8401

fax: 865.576.5728

email: mailto:reports@adonis.osti.gov

Available for sale to the public, in paper, from:

U.S. Department of Commerce

National Technical Information Service

5285 Port Royal Road

Springfield, VA 22161

phone: 800.553.6847

fax: 703.605.6900

email: orders@ntis.fedworld.gov

online ordering: http://www.ntis.gov/help/ordermethods.aspx

Cover Photos: (left to right) PIX 16416, PIX 17423, PIX 16560, PIX 17613, PIX 17436, PIX 17721

Printed on paper containing at least 50% wastepaper, including 10% post consumer waste.
iii

Table of Contents

Integrated Deployment Concept ..................................................................................................... 1

Implementation ............................................................................................................................... 4

Integration Across DOE.................................................................................................................. 7

Transforming the National Energy System..................................................................................... 8

List of Figures

Figure 1. Integrated Deployment model ......................................................................................... 1

Figure 2. Integrated Deployment strategy ...................................................................................... 2

Figure 3. Integrated Deployment project life cycle ........................................................................ 2

Figure 4. Integrated Deployment project resources........................................................................ 3

Figure 5. Integrated Deployment project locations to date............................................................. 4

Figure 6. Project organization framework ...................................................................................... 6

List of Tables 

Table 1. Integrated Deployment Projects to Date........................................................................... 5

Table 2. DOE EERE Deployment Programs.................................................................................. 7
1

Integrated Deployment Concept

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has developed a comprehensive energy 

deployment approach that addresses the entire energy system for any given location. The model, 

which NREL calls Integrated Deployment, has been developed and used at several locations, 

including cities, states, federal agencies, and island nations. To date, the model has shown to be 

successful at any level and size as long as the major decision makers and political leaders are 

committed to the effort.

The mission of Integrated Deployment is to accelerate market adoption of alternative energy 

solutions to power homes, businesses, and vehicles through a comprehensive and aggressive 

approach. To address the complex challenges of the multi-technology, multi-stakeholder, multifuel deployment problem, NREL created a process that supports each technology area separately 

but also looks at the integration points between the technologies. NREL also identified the 

cross-cutting components necessary for successful deployment of technology solutions. Those 

components are critical to connect the technology solutions to the market. The last component is 

the partners necessary to implement change. Figure 1 illustrates the integration of technology 

and deployment components with partners to create the Integrated Deployment model.

Figure 1. Integrated Deployment model

As NREL has refined the Integrated Deployment model, a common strategy has become evident 

that allows for a holistic approach resulting in transformation of the energy system and energy 

usage. Figure 2 depicts the strategy applied to Integrated Deployment projects and the key 

elements of each strategy. 
2

Figure 2. Integrated Deployment strategy

Achieving a transformational change to an energy system takes multiple steps across multiple 

years. Figure 3 shows the phases and life cycle of a typical Integrated Deployment project.

Figure 3. Integrated Deployment project life cycle 

While each phase has a primary focus, elements of each phase may take place at any time 

throughout the project. For example, “early wins” are an important part of the foundation phase 

(Phase II) of the project, but are not the primary focus of that phase. Policy and regulatory 

options may be introduced throughout the project as support builds and stakeholder thinking 

evolves. 
3

Within each project, tasks are broken down into four categories that vary in level of effort 

throughout the project life cycle. Figure 4 shows the relative level of effort across each category 

by project phase.

Relative Resources by Work Breakdown by Project Phase

Figure 4. Integrated Deployment project resources 
4

Implementation

To date, several Integrated Deployment projects have taken place at the community and city 

level, the federal agency level, the state level, and the national level. Each project started due to 

a unique opportunity (concentrated rebuilding in New Orleans, 100% green rebuilding goal in 

Greensburg, Kansas); adverse economic circumstances ($.50/kilowatt hour (kWh) electricity 

rates in Hawaii, $1.00/kWh in Alaskan villages); or mission-related concerns (energy security 

and reliability issues for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), pollution impacts for National 

Security Foundation Polar Research). These projects represent a sampling of different locations, 

circumstances, and issues, but all reflect examples of successful implementation of the Integrated 

Deployment model that can be replicated across the country and globe. Figure 5 shows the 

locations of each project to date, while Table 1 lists each Integrated Deployment project with a 

description, status, and results to date. 

Figure 5. Integrated Deployment project locations to date
5

Table 1. Integrated Deployment Projects to Date

Location Scope / Goal Start / Status Results

Community / 

City

• New Orleans

• Greensburg

• Community 

renewable energy 

grants

Rebuild efficiently, 

Energy policy

100% renewable 

energy / LEED 

Platinum buildings

All EERE tech

2007

Phase V

2007

Phase V

2009

Phase I

• All new schools 30%+ better than code

• Highest % of Builder’s Challenge homes (30% better than code) per capita in 

U.S.

• 100% renewable energy (wind)

• Average 37% more-efficient homes

• LEED Platinum hospital, school, city buildings

• Highest # LEED buildings per capita in the world

• ARRA funded; grants awarded 2010

• Projects just starting

Federal 

Agency

• DOD

• National Science 

Foundation

Net-zero energy 

military base

Clean energy polar 

regions

2008 Phase 

II-IV

2008

Phase III

• First base for implementation of net- zero plan (Miramar)

• 2 additional base plans under development

• Wind systems at Summit and McMurdo

• Sustainable base redesign for Summit Station

• High-efficiency housing designs for South Pole

• Electric light duty, snow machines, and 4x4 testing at Summit and South Pole

State • Hawaii

• Alaska

70% clean energy

All EERE tech

2008

Phase III

2009

Phase II

• 40% renewables portfolio standard (RPS) / 30% energy efficiency portfolio 

standard (EEPS) by 2030 passed in 2009

• 400 MW of wind through undersea cables under development

• Electric vehicle ready grant and rebate program established

• 50% RPS, 15% EEPS by 2025 proposed

• Report on EERE opportunities and challenges

National • Energy 

Development in 

Island Nations

(EDIN)

• U.S. Virgin Islands

Transform island 

energy systems

60% clean energy

2009

Ongoing

2009

Phase II

• International partnership established in 2008 with Iceland and New Zealand

• Assessing geothermal on Dominica and in South Pacific, and clean energy 

transformation in U.S. Virgin Islands

• Project kickoff in 2009; 60% clean energy goal established by Governor

• Foundational development establishing partners and business case across 

energy portfolio
6 

NREL has found that an organizational framework is extremely useful for local partners to create 

a venue for key stakeholders, industry leaders, and local and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 

experts to agree upon goals and assumptions, develop information, and make joint decisions. 

These group meetings, often referred to as working groups, strongly support the buy-in process 

and coordination of the wide range of stakeholders engaged in the project. Figure 6 shows the 

common components of the organizational framework, essentially mirroring the Integrated 

Deployment components. 

Figure 6. Project organization framework
7

Integration Across DOE

DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) programs have many deployment 

efforts that focus on either technology-specific deployment or market-specific deployment. Table 

2 shows these deployment programs and the focus of each. 

Table 2. DOE EERE Deployment Programs 

Technology-Specific 

Deployment

Program Focus Market-Specific

 Deployment

Program Focus

Wind Powering 

America Wind industry development Federal Energy 

Management Program Meet federal energy mandates

Solar America Cities Solar distributed deployment Tribal Energy Program Support clean energy within Tribal 

areas

Clean Cities Local adoption of energyefficient transport practices State Energy Program Support state energy programs

Solar Decathlon Efficient homes with solar International International energy policy / 

assistance

Building America Production Builder Industry EE 

development

Weatherization Energy efficiency in affordable 

homes

Each of these deployment programs has a specific mission and purpose. Coordination across the 

programs and integration between all efforts is needed. With Integrated Deployment projects, 

NREL integrates and leverages all the deployment programs across EERE and incorporates them 

into overall project efforts.

While the Integrated Deployment effort initially started as an integration effort across EERE, it 

quickly grew to include the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) and, more 

recently, the Office of Fossil Energy (FE). A few examples of cross-cutting work across DOE 

include:

• For the Hawaii project, significant challenges exist in the transmission and distribution of 

a high penetration of variable power renewables on isolated grid systems. This challenge 

piqued the interest of OE, where the project grew to become a partnership between OE 

and EERE to try to accomplish a 70% clean energy economy by 2030.

• In Alaska, the Arctic Energy Office, an FE-funded DOE office, was asked to expand its 

mission to include EERE support. This prompted the hiring of NREL staff who focus on 

EERE support and work in the Arctic Energy Office as part of the DOE team in Alaska.

• Another example of the broadening of Integrated Deployment across DOE is in the DOD 

initiative to create a net-zero energy military installation, where nuclear energy is 

identified as a viable option by DOD. As a result, nuclear energy needed to be 

incorporated into NREL’s and DOE’s energy analysis calculations to meet DOD’s needs. 

Collaboration with other federal agencies has been another key to NREL’s Integrated 

Deployment success. Projects have included partnerships with DOD, Department of Interior, 

Department of Agriculture, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Environmental 

Protection Agency, and Department of State.
8

Transforming the National Energy System

Transforming the entire energy value chain in the United States will require a dedicated effort 

focused on change through technology, policy, and deployment. DOE has the knowledge and 

experts across the technologies to solve the problems of our current energy system, but needs a 

dedicated and integrated effort that focuses on the entire system. This requires experts focused 

on the application of the technologies, policies, and regulations to enable technologies and serve 

as drivers; analysis to create informed decisions; economic factors to create market pull; and 

stakeholder development to create the political will to sustain the efforts. 

One of the major hurdles to energy transformation is our instinct to “go with what we know”. 

Utilities make decisions based on their existing knowledge of “tried and true” technologies. 

Consumers buy based on what they think meets their needs and fits their budget. Financiers 

make investments based on risk assessments and analysis. To evolve past our current energy 

system, traditional utilities must learn a new way of doing business; consumers need to expand 

their knowledge of new technologies to make informed, sustainable choices; and risks need to be 

reduced for financiers and investors to enthusiastically support clean energy. An energy 

transformation requires an evolution in how we think about energy.

NREL’s experience has shown that no single technology or policy will provide the “silver bullet” 

that will allow us to meet the nation’s clean energy transformation goals. The Integrated 

Deployment approach draws from the best of technologies and programs to formulate 

comprehensive and coordinated solutions that are responsive to real world constraints and 

opportunities.

Using the comprehensive implementation strategy laid out in this document, NREL and DOE 

can provide integrated and comprehensive energy solutions to utilities, states, and regions across 

the United States to facilitate informed and optimized decisions around energy production, 

distribution, and use.
F1147-E(10/2008)

REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved

OMB No. 0704-0188

The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, 

gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this 

collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to Department of Defense, Executive Services and Communications Directorate (0704-0188). Respondents 

should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a 

currently valid OMB control number.

PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR FORM TO THE ABOVE ORGANIZATION.

1. REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YYYY)

November 2010

2. REPORT TYPE

Technical Report

3. DATES COVERED (From - To)

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE

Integrated Deployment Model: A Comprehensive Approach to 

Transforming the Energy Economy 

5a. CONTRACT NUMBER

DE-AC36-08GO28308

5b. GRANT NUMBER

5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER

6. AUTHOR(S)

M. Werner

5d. PROJECT NUMBER

NREL/TP-7A20-49230

5e. TASK NUMBER

IDPS.9010

5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER

7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES)

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

1617 Cole Blvd.

Golden, CO 80401-3393

8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION

REPORT NUMBER

NREL/TP-7A20-49230

9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSOR/MONITOR'S ACRONYM(S)

NREL

11. SPONSORING/MONITORING

AGENCY REPORT NUMBER

12. DISTRIBUTION AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

National Technical Information Service

U.S. Department of Commerce

5285 Port Royal Road

Springfield, VA 22161

13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

14. ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 Words)

This paper describes the Integrated Deployment model to accelerate market adoption of alternative energy solutions 

to power homes, businesses, and vehicles through a comprehensive and aggressive approach.

15. SUBJECT TERMS

Integrated deployment; technologies; modeling; analysis; energy

16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION 

OF ABSTRACT

UL

18. NUMBER 

OF PAGES

19a. NAME OF RESPONSIBLE PERSON

a. REPORT

Unclassified

b. ABSTRACT

Unclassified

c. THIS PAGE

Unclassified 19b. TELEPHONE NUMBER (Include area code)

Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8/98)

Prescribed by ANSI Std. Z39.18