Overview
Personal Profile
Elena Baca is a research engineer whose work focuses on techno-economic modeling of marine energy systems and investigating pathways to reduce the levelized cost of energy of marine energy technologies. She leads the development of the marine energy module of the System Advisor Model, which is a standardized modeling platform used to estimate annual energy production and levelized cost of energy for wave and tidal energy systems. Prior to working at NLR, Baca had experience with mechanical design and energy efficiency of commercial and industrial systems.
Research Interests
Techno-economic analysis
Marine renewable energy
Energy and performance modeling
Professional Experience
Researcher III, NLR (2019–Present)
Certification Engineer, Structural Integrity Associates (2018–2019)
Mechanical Engineer, ColeBreit Engineering (2018)
Energy Efficiency Engineer, Portland General Electric (2017-2018)
Education/Academic Qualification
Master, Advanced Energy Systems Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
Bachelor, Energy Systems Engineering (Business and Entrepreneurship Minor), Oregon State University
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Collaborations and Top Research Areas From the Past 5 Years
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An Updated Mooring Cost Modeling Tool Set With Application to a Reference Model Wave Energy Converter
Davies, R., Baca, E. & Hall, M., 2025. 10 p.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
1 Scopus Citations -
Data Acquisition and Control for Marine Energy Devices: Cost Considerations
Raye, R., Nichols, C., Bharath, A., Candon, C. & Baca, E., 2024, 52 p.Research output: NLR › Technical Report
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MADWEC Techno-Economic Analysis: Cooperative Research and Development Final Report, CRADA Number CRD-22-23233
Ortega, T. & Baca, E., 2024, 14 p.Research output: NLR › Technical Report
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Feasibility Study for Renewable Energy Technologies in Alaska Offshore Waters: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)
Meadows, R., Cooperman, A., Koleva, M., Draxl, C., Kilcher, L., Baca, E., Strout Grantham, K., DeGeorge, E., Musial, W., Wiltse, N. & Guerra Fernandez, O. J., 2023, 130 p.Research output: NLR › Technical Report
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Next-Generation Marine Energy Software Needs Assessment
Ruehl, K., Leon, J., Michelen, C., Topper, M., Tom, N., Baca, E. & Ogden, D., 2023, 113 p.Research output: NLR › Technical Report