PNNL

At Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Sarah Barrows leads several research efforts on energy and water systems valuation, including projects on distributed wind adoption and on non-powered dam conversion. She also leads internal research efforts to investigate the greenhouse gas impacts of agriculture and food systems, including the economic aspects of adopting sustainable agricultural practices. She also has experience in life-cycle cost analysis, econometrics, policy analysis, and regional economic impact analysis.

Barrows holds a master’s degree in applied economics with an agricultural economics emphasis. Her graduate thesis focused primarily on policy analysis, using various econometric tools to investigate the household effects of welfare policies. Her undergraduate degree, prior publications, and previous work experience are in food science, a field which applies chemistry and engineering processes to food production. She is passionate about exploring the connections between interrelated systems, such as those between energy and water, so that improved solutions can be found to address energy needs. 

• Policy analysis
• Regional Economic Impact Analysis
• Econometric Modeling
• Household-level decision making
• Issues related to the energy-water-food nexus

• Life-cycle cost analysis
• Econometric modeling
• Regional economic impact analysis

• MS in applied economics, University of Idaho, 2019
• BS in food science, with minor in chemistry and mathematics, Brigham Young University, 2014

• United States Associate for Energy Economics

• Outstanding Performance Award for contributions to the life-cycle cost analysis of efficiency standards, Energy and Environment Directorate, PNNL, 2020

2024

• Datta S., V.H. Chalishazar, J.K. Westman, T.M. Saltiel, J.M. Deines, S.A. Siddiqui, and K.A. Tamaddun, et al. 2024. "Enhancing Grid Resilience during Wildfires in Socioeconomic Vulnerable Regions using Powered and Non-Powered Hydro Dams." In IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting (PESGM 2024), July 21-25, 2024, Seattle, WA, 1-5. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-192289. doi:10.1109/PESGM51994.2024.10688862

2023

• Bhatti B., A.P. Reiman, D.S. Boff, S.E. Barrows, and A.C. Orrell. 2023. "Valuation of Distributed Wind Turbines Providing Multiple Market Services." In IEEE Power & Energy Society Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference (ISGT 2023), January 16-19, 2023, Washington, DC, 1-5. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-174822. doi:10.1109/ISGT51731.2023.10066377
• Boff D.S., and S.E. Barrows. 2023. Waiting in Queue: A Historical Evaluation of Interconnection Policy. PNNL-34350. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Waiting in Queue: A Historical Evaluation of Interconnection Policy
• Jorgensen J.F., S.E. Barrows, K.G. Cafferty, T. Mosier, and B. Saulsbury. 2023. Review of Irrigation Modernization and Conduit Hydropower Funding and Support Programs. PNNL-SA-197509. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Review of Irrigation Modernization and Conduit Hydropower Funding and Support Programs
• Parker K.M., A.M. Fensch, K. Kazimierczuk, S.E. Barrows, and B.W. Tarekegne. 2023. Energy Equity Opportunities in Distributed Wind Hybrid Systems for Rural Loads. PNNL-34754. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Energy Equity Opportunities in Distributed Wind Hybrid Systems for Rural Loads
• Tamaddun K.A., S.E. Barrows, M.U. Usman, J. Meng, N. Woodruff, R.A. Harnish, and D.W. Powell, et al. 2023. "Hydropower Potential at Non-Powered Dams: A Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Tool based on Grid, Community, Industry, and Environmental Impacts." In World Environmental & Water Resources Congress 2023: Adaptive Planning and Design in an Age of Risk and Uncertainty. May 21-24, 2023, Henderson, NV, edited by S. Ahmad and R. Murray, 23-31. Reston, Virginia:American Society of Civil Engineers. PNNL-SA-180007. doi:10.1061/9780784484852.003

2022

• Culler M.J., S.E. Barrows, K. Mongird, S. Bukowski, and J. Gentle. 2022. "Case Study: Resilience Benefits of Distributed Wind Against Fuel and Weather Hazards in Alaska." In IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting (PESGM 2022), July 17-21, 2022, Denver, CO, 1-5. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-168217. doi:10.1109/PESGM48719.2022.9917084
• Kazimierczuk K., K. Mongird, and S.E. Barrows. 2022. "Stronger together: the value impacts of hybridizing distributed wind." The Electricity Journal 35, no. 8:Art. No. 107191. PNNL-SA-175418. doi:10.1016/j.tej.2022.107191
• Twitchell J.B., D. Bhatnagar, S.E. Barrows, and K. Mongird. 2022. Enabling Principles for Dual Participation by Energy Storage as a Transmission and Market Asset. PNNL-32196. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

2021

• Barrows S.E., J.S. Homer, and A.C. Orrell. 2021. "Valuing Wind as a Distributed Energy Resource: A Literature Review." Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews 152. PNNL-SA-166330. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2021.111678
• Barrows S.E., K. Mongird, B. Naughton, and R. Darbali-Zamora. 2021. "Valuation of Distributed Wind in an Isolated System." Energies 14, no. 21:Article No. 6956. PNNL-SA-166260. doi:10.3390/en14216956
• Mongird K., and S.E. Barrows. 2021. The Value of Distributed Wind: A Valuation Framework. PNNL-31127. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.