Additional Flexibility Research Articles

Flexibility through power-to-heat in local integrated energy systems with renewable electricity generation and seasonal thermal energy storage

In heating dominated regions, the flexibility obtained through coupling heating and power sectors is particularly beneficial for the integration of high shares of variable renewable energy sources. This study concerns the design of an energy system for a new neighborhood in Norway, including a seasonal thermal energy storage storing excess heat from waste incineration, a seawater heat pump, and local power generation. Two supply temperature scenarios are considered for the local heating network: medium-temperature (70 °C), where all heating demands are covered through the network; and low-temperature (45 °C), where booster heat pumps are applied for hot water production. Both scenarios are more cost-effective than if heat demands were to be met through import from the district heating network, however, the difference between the two scenarios is small. The low-temperature scenario has the highest degree of self-sufficiency, and the advantage of additional flexibility gained through the local heat pumps with hot water storage. Cost-optimal charging strategy for the seasonal storage was highly dependent on the pricing of excess heat with respect to the electricity prices. Unlimited sharing of electricity among all users in the neighborhood should be promoted to gain full benefits of local flexibility.

Diversification of pectoral control through motor pool extension

Flexible control of pectoral appendages enables motor behaviors of vastly different strength, speed, and amplitude, as in a human playing the piano or throwing a ball. Such control necessitates a fine-tuned, coordinated activation of motoneurons, which is facilitated by spatially ordered motoneuron pools in mammals. While differently sized neurons are known to contribute to different strengths of pectoral movements, it remains unclear how these pectoral motor pools are organized in less complex pectoral systems as those of teleost fish. We show how pectoral motor control can be extended to increase the speed- and amplitude-range of motor behaviors by investigating anatomical and physiological features of pectoral motoneurons and the motor pools they form in freshwater hatchet fish, well-known for their pectoral aerial escape response. Through the differentiation of one motor pool, the pectoral motor network of hatchet fish acquired additional flexibility to enable specific control of vastly different amplitudes, velocities, and strengths. Similar neuronal organization patterns have been described for controlling fast, intermediate, and slow axial muscles in zebrafish and in tetrapod motor systems controlling pectoral limbs. We show that hatchet fish share organizational principles of their pectoral motor pools with those found in other motor networks in both teleosts and tetrapods. Our data thus suggest that principles of spatial and physiological differentiation of motor pools associated with different pectoral muscles and behaviors might be deeply homologous between actinopterygian and sarcopterygian vertebrates.

Economic analysis of parking, vehicle charging and vehicle-to-grid services in the era of electric vehicles

With the advances in electrical technologies (especially the vehicle-to-grid or V2G technologies), electric vehicles (EVs) now can be used as power storage. The latent power storage capacity in EVs can provide additional flexibility to the power system, and thus helps enhance the overall efficiency, stability and reliability of the power grid. With the V2G facility in place, EV users can choose to share their vehicles to the power grid as temporary storage while the vehicle is being parked or charged (termed as ‘V2G parking or charging service’). This study investigates the pricing and capacity decisions of parking, charging and V2G operators, subject to the EV users’ choice equilibrium. An EV user who demands parking or charging can choose the (conventional) dedicated parking or charging slot (managed by the parking or charging operator) or the slot of V2G facility such that his/her vehicle can be used by the power grid as temporary storage while being parked or charged (managed by the V2G operator). We formulate and analyze the EV user choice equilibrium subject to parking, charging and V2G service provision, and then investigate parking, charging and V2G operators’ optimal service fare and capacity decisions in different market regimes, where the operators may compete or cooperate with each other (e.g., charging and V2G facilities might be operated jointly). The main findings are as follows. (i) Introducing the V2G-based parking/charging service might earn a positive profit for the V2G operator and also benefit customers who request for parking or charging, but the parking and charging operators will suffer a loss. (ii) The competition between operators tends to reduce the service fares, while cooperation tends to increase the fares and yield more profits for the operators. (iii) The optimal capacity of parking, charging, or V2G facilities should be set to balance the marginal capacity acquisition cost and the marginal facility searching time cost. (iv) When V2G operator cooperates with parking/charging operator, if the additional gains of parking/charging operator through cooperation are smaller than that of V2G operator, the optimal service fare of parking/charging should be smaller, and thus will benefit the parkers/chargers (after V2G service is introduced). (v) The collaboration between parking (or charging) and V2G operators might also benefit the charging (or parking) operator. Overall, this study enhances the understanding in relation to parking and charging operators’ reactions to emerging V2G-based parking and charging services, and provides insights regarding how the V2G service should be planned and optimized.

A Single-Dose Study to Evaluate the Relative Bioavailability, Safety, and Tolerability of Monthly Extended-Release Buprenorphine at Alternative Injection Locations in Adult Participants with Opioid Use Disorder.

Buprenorphine extended-release monthly formulation (BUP-XR, SUBLOCADE®) is approved for treatment of moderate-to-severe opioid use disorder (OUD) following subcutaneous injection in the abdomen. This open-label pharmacokinetic study assessed three alternative injection locations (upper arm, thigh, buttocks) to offer additional flexibility considering the chronic nature of the disease and patient preferences. Following stabilization on 12/3 mg/day of sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone for ≥ 7 days, participants with moderate-to-severe OUD were randomized to receive a single 300-mg BUP-XR injection in the upper arm, thigh, buttocks, or abdomen (reference). Serial blood samples were taken to measure buprenorphine plasma concentrations over 28 days and assess buprenorphine relative bioavailability. Safety evaluations included treatment-emergent adverse events and assessments of injection site pain, tenderness, erythema, induration, and swelling. A total of 88 participants received a single subcutaneous injection of 300-mg BUP-XR in the upper arm (N = 21), thigh (N = 23), buttocks (N = 22), or abdomen (N = 22); 81/88 (92%) completed the study. Buprenorphine plasma exposure (area under the plasma concentration-time curve over 28 days) was comparable across injection site groups with mean buprenorphine plasma concentrations sustained at approximately 2 ng/mL (therapeutic target concentration) or above. Buprenorphine maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) was approximately 39% and 52% higher after injection in the upper arm and thigh, respectively, versus the abdomen, while comparable between buttocks and abdomen. Higher Cmax values were not associated with an increased incidence of adverse events. Safety and injection site tolerability were comparable across injection groups. These pharmacokinetic and safety findings support BUP-XR injection into the upper arm, thigh, and buttocks. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT05704543.

A Novel Approach to Solving Fractional Diffusion Equations Using Fractional Beta Derivative

This paper introduces a novel application of fractional beta derivatives in solving fractional diffusion equations with an emphasis on systems exhibiting anomalous diffusion and memory effects. The work explores the fractional beta derivative as an extension of classical fractional derivatives by incorporating a parameter β (beta) that controls the system’s memory behavior. We investigate both the analytical and numerical solutions of these equations, demonstrating the superior flexibility of fractional beta derivatives in modeling complex diffusion processes. Additionally, we provide a comparison between classical fractional derivatives and the new fractional beta approach to highlight the advantages in terms of accuracy and computational efficiency. We begin by reviewing the theoretical background of fractional derivatives and proceed to introduce the beta derivative as a modification that provides additional flexibility in modeling complex systems. Applications in fields such as control theory, signal processing, and bioengineering are highlighted. Furthermore, numerical methods for solving fractional beta differential equations are discussed, along with potential areas for future research.

SiGe high-frequency pulse-width modulation for low-noise applications

This paper details the first-known experimental observation of pulse-width modulation at 100 MHz using silicon-germanium HBT technology. By performing pulse-width modulation (PWM) at a higher frequency, undesired harmonic-components—which are interpreted as noise—are likewise raised to higher frequencies. In doing so, the noise generated by the PWM controller can be raised to frequencies at which it is no longer relevant. Noise-free operation is guaranteed below the operating frequency of the PWM controller, so long as the semiconductor technology supports high-frequency waveform generation. Such capability is readily provided by modern silicon-germanium HBT technology. The paper also provides an integrated-circuit design with additional flexibility for the end user, with simulated performance results.

UMRSF-TDDFT: Unrestricted Mixed-Reference Spin-Flip-TDDFT.

An unrestricted version of Mixed-Reference Spin-Flip Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (UMRSF-TDDFT) was developed based on unrestricted Kohn-Sham orbitals (UKS) with a new molecular orbital (MO) reordering scheme. Additionally, a simple yet accurate method for estimating ⟨S2⟩ expectation values was devised. UMRSF-TDDFT was benchmarked against cases where DFT, TDDFT, and SF-TDDFT traditionally fail to provide accurate descriptions. In an application to the ground and excited states of a Be atom, UMRSF-TDDFT successfully recovers the degenerate states, with its energies slightly reduced compared to its RO counterpart, due to the additional variational flexibility of UKS. A clear difference between UMRSF and U-SF-TDDFT is evident in the bond breaking of the hydrogen fluoride system, as the latter misses an important configuration. In the case of the Jahn-Teller distortion of trimethylenemethane (TMM), the relative singlet energy compared to the triplet is lower by 0.1 and 0.2 eV for UMRSF and U-SF-TDDFT, respectively, than that of MRSF-TDDFT. The reduction in UMRSF energy is attributed to spatial orbital relaxations, whereas the reduction in U-SF-TDDFT energy results from spin contamination. Overall, the additional orbital relaxations afforded by unrestricted Kohn-Sham (UKS) orbitals in UMRSF-TDDFT lead to lower total system energies compared to their restricted open-shell counterparts. This enhancement adds a practical and accurate quantum chemical theory to the existing RO variant for addressing challenging systems where traditional quantum theories suffer.

Feasibility evaluation of a wind/P2G/SOFC/GT multi-energy microgrid system with synthetic fuel based on C-H-O elemental ternary analysis

Power to gas (P2G) uses electrical energy from access renewable power and captured carbon dioxide (CO2) to generate methane (CH4). The technology provides opportunity for replacing fossil fuels with green-powered hydrocarbon, benefiting the reducing of carbon emission. However, the methanation process in P2G requires high H2/CO2 ratio with available amount of hydrogen (H2) restricted by fluctuation of renewable power, bringing limits to the reusing of captured CO2. This paper presents a feasibility analysis of a novel wind/P2G/SOFC/GT multi-energy system (MES) for microgrid. Green-powered CH4 generated from P2G is mixed with captured CO2, bringing additional flexibility to balancing the overall H2/CO2 ratio for utilization. To comprehensively analyze the feasibility of synthesis CH4/CO2 fuel, evaluation of MES is carried out from both design and off-design conditions. For the design condition, a methodology of C-H-O elemental ternary analysis is applied to reflect the process of fuel utilization and reveal its connection with the trade-off feature of multiple components. For the off-design condition, fluctuations of user's load and renewable source during winter and summer scenarios are considered in a case study. Results show that under C-H-O distribution of 5.8 %, 61.2 % and 33.0 %, the SOFC/GT could operate safety with electrical efficiency of 62 %, capable of participating as a secondary power source for MES. Meanwhile, the overall H2/CO2 utilization ratio of the system is reduced from 4:1 to 2.4:1, where extremes conditions during winter and summer scenarios are evaluated with renewable penetration level of 94 % and wind curtailment rate below 5 % reached.

The evolution of flexibility and function in the Fc domains of IgM, IgY, and IgE.

Antibody Fc regions harbour the binding sites for receptors that mediate effector functions following antigen engagement by the Fab regions. An extended "hinge" region in IgG allows flexibility between Fab and Fc, but in both the most primitive antibody, IgM, and in the evolutionarily more recent IgE, the hinge is replaced by an additional domain pair in the homodimeric six-domain Fc region. This permits additional flexibility within the Fc region, which has been exploited by nature to modulate antibody effector functions. Thus, in pentameric or hexameric IgM, the Fc regions appear to adopt a planar conformation in solution until antigen binding causes a conformational change and exposes the complement binding sites. In contrast, IgE-Fc principally adopts an acutely bent conformation in solution, but the binding of different receptors is controlled by the degree of bending, and there is allosteric communication between receptor binding sites. We sought to trace the evolution of Fc conformational diversity from IgM to IgE via the intermediate avian IgY by studying the solution conformations of their Fc regions by small-angle X-ray scattering. We compared four extant proteins: human IgM-Fc homodimer, chicken IgY-Fc, platypus IgE-Fc, and human IgE-Fc. These are examples of proteins that first appeared in the jawed fish [425 million years ago (mya)], tetrapod (310 mya), monotreme (166 mya), and hominid (2.5 mya) clades, respectively. We analysed the scattering curves in terms of contributions from a pool of variously bent models chosen by a non-negative linear least-squares algorithm and found that the four proteins form a series in which the proportion of acutely bent material increases: IgM-Fc < IgY-Fc < plIgE-Fc < huIgE-Fc. This follows their order of appearance in evolution. For the huIgM-Fc homodimer, although none are acutely bent, and a significant fraction of the protein is sufficiently bent to expose the C1q-binding site, it predominantly adopts a fully extended conformation. In contrast, huIgE-Fc is found principally to be acutely bent, as expected from earlier studies. IgY-Fc, in this first structural analysis of the complete Fc region, exhibits an ensemble of conformations from acutely bent to fully extended, reflecting IgY's position as an evolutionary intermediate between IgM and IgE.

Pseudo Rho-Algebras in Fields with their Applications Using Polynomials with Two Variables

The main purpose of this work is to present the concept of pseudo Rho-algebra as a generalization of the Rho-algebra. We investigate this type behaves nicely in terms of common mappings like homomorphisms and direct products. In fact, we can show identify kernel objects and the fundamental theorem of homomorphisms using Rho-ideals in this theory. Also, some important classes of pseudo Rho-algebra and their applications are investigated and studied. Moreover, the necessary characteristics for or tantamount to membership in major subtypes of pseudo Rho/d-algebras under these cases are identified. The Rho/d-algebras and pseudo Rho/d-algebras are generated using some new classes of polynomials with two variables that are introduced in this work, like commutative identical, associative identical, regular identical, proper conditionally identical, and improper conditionally identical. Finally, the category of pseudo Rho/d-algebras can be classified using a conditionally couple, giving us additional flexibility in dealing with two different fields.

A Novel Class of Unfolding Models for Binary Preference Data

Abstract We develop a new class of spatial voting models for binary preference data that can accommodate both monotonic and non-monotonic response functions, and are more flexible than alternative “unfolding” models previously introduced in the literature. We then use these models to estimate revealed preferences for legislators in the U.S. House of Representatives and justices on the U.S. Supreme Court. The results from these applications indicate that the new models provide superior complexity-adjusted performance to various alternatives and that the additional flexibility leads to preferences’ estimates that more closely match the perceived ideological positions of legislators and justices.

Using neural network models to estimate stellar ages from lithium equivalent widths: an eagles expansion

ABSTRACT We present an artificial neural network (ANN) model of photospheric lithium depletion in cool stars ($3000\lt T_{\rm eff}/{\rm K} \lt 6500$), producing estimates and probability distributions of age from $^7$Li 6708 Å equivalent width (LiEW) and effective temperature data inputs. The model is trained on the same sample of 6200 stars from 52 open clusters, observed in the Gaia-ESO spectroscopic survey, and used to calibrate the previously published analytical eagles model, with ages 2–6000 Myr and $-0.3 \lt $ [Fe/H] $\lt 0.2$. The additional flexibility of the ANN provides some improvements, including better modelling of the ‘lithium dip’ at ages $\lt 50$ Myr and $T_{\rm eff}\sim 3500$ K, and of the intrinsic dispersion in LiEW at all ages. Poor age discrimination is still an issue at ages &amp;gt;1 Gyr, confirming that additional modelling flexibility is not sufficient to fully represent the LiEW–age–T$_{\text{eff}}$ relationship, and suggesting the involvement of further astrophysical parameters. Expansion to include such parameters–rotation, accretion, and surface gravity–is discussed, and the use of an ANN means these can be more easily included in future iterations, alongside more flexible functional forms for the LiEW dispersion. Our methods and ANN model are provided in an updated version 2.0 of the eagles software.

Recipient tissue microenvironment determines developmental path of intestinal innate lymphoid progenitors

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are critical in maintaining tissue homeostasis, and during infection and inflammation. Here we identify, by using combinatorial reporter mice, a rare ILC progenitor (ILCP) population, resident to the small intestinal lamina propria (siLP) in adult mice. Transfer of siLP-ILCP into recipients generates group 1 ILCs (including ILC1 and NK cells), ILC2s and ILC3s within the intestinal microenvironment, but almost exclusively group 1 ILCs in the liver, lung and spleen. Single cell gene expression analysis and high dimensional spectral cytometry analysis of the siLP-ILCPs and ILC progeny indicate that the phenotype of the group 1 ILC progeny is also influenced by the tissue microenvironment. Thus, a local pool of siLP-ILCP can contribute to pan-ILC generation in the intestinal microenvironment but has more restricted potential in other tissues, with a greater propensity than bone marrow-derived ILCPs to favour ILC1 and ILC3 production. Therefore, ILCP potential is influenced by both tissue of origin and the microenvironment during development. This may provide additional flexibility during the tuning of immune reactions.

Temporal multilayer structures in discrete physical systems towards arbitrary-dimensional non-Abelian Aharonov-Bohm interferences

Temporal modulation recently draws great attentions in wave manipulations, with which one can introduce the concept of temporal multilayer structure, a temporal counterpart of spatially multilayer configurations. This kind of multilayer structure holds temporal interfaces in the time domain, which provides additional flexibility in temporal operations. Here we take this opportunity and propose to simulate a non-Abelian gauge field with a temporal multilayer structure in the discrete physical system. Two basic temporal operations, i.e., the folding/unfolding operation and the phase shift operation are used to design such a temporal multilayer structure, which hence can support noncommutative operations to realize the non-Abelian Aharonov-Bohm interference in the time domain. A two-/three-dimensional non-Abelian gauge field can be built, which may be further extended to higher dimensions. Our work therefore provides a unique platform enabling generalization of non-Abelian physics to arbitrary dimensions and offers a method for wave manipulations with temporal band engineering.

Structural and Electronic Properties of Novel Azothiophene Dyes: A Multilevel Study Incorporating Explicit Solvation Effects.

Among azobenzene derivatives, azothiophenes represent a relatively recent family of compounds that exhibit similar characteristics as dyes and photoreactive systems. Their technological applications are extensive thanks to the additional design flexibility conferred by the heteroaromatic ring. In this study, we present a comprehensive investigation of the structural and electronic properties of novel dyes derived from 3-thiophenamine, utilizing a multilevel approach. We thoroughly examined the potential energy surfaces of the E and Z isomers for three molecules, each bearing different substituents on the phenyl ring at the para position relative to the diazo group. This exploration was conducted through quantum chemistry calculations at various levels of theory, employing a continuum solvent model. Subsequently, we incorporated an explicit solvent (a dimethyl sulfoxide-water mixture) to simulate the most stable isomers using classical molecular dynamics, delivering a clear picture of the local solvation structure and intermolecular interactions. Finally, a hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) approach was employed to accurately describe the evolution of the solutes' properties within their environment, accounting for finite temperature effects.

Flexible wideband microwave meta-absorber with designable digital infrared and visible camouflage

With the widespread use of multi-spectrum detection technology, the stealth of a single frequency band cannot meet the practical application requirements. Recently, the investigation of wearable and insulated multi-spectrum compatible stealth technology has become urgent. The flexible and thermally isolated wideband microwave meta-absorber with infrared and visible camouflage has been proposed, fabricated, and measured. An infrared shielding layer (IRSL) and a radar absorbing layer (RAL) are the two main components of the absorber. IRSL is realized by specifically arranging the pre-designed patch structure with three different filling ratios, which can confuse the detection of thermal infrared in 3–14 μm. RAL is achieved by etching the structure of the lossy material to form electrical loss in plane and magnetic loss between layers, so as to realize the broadband absorption of microwave higher than 90 % from 6.2-22.2 GHz. In addition, the absorber employs flexible and thermally isolated materials, providing excellent high-temperature stability normally at temperatures up to 130 °C. These unique properties confirm the feasibility of the proposed strategy. To effectively adapt to different thermal camouflage environments, it is essential to create IR digital camouflage patterns. Moreover, the additional flexibility and thermal insulation characteristics make it powerful in compatible camouflage-stealth facilities when used in complex environments and a wide range of high temperatures.

The dark energy survey supernova program: investigating beyond-ΛCDM

ABSTRACT We report constraints on a variety of non-standard cosmological models using the full 5-yr photometrically classified type Ia supernova sample from the Dark Energy Survey (DES-SN5YR). Both Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and Suspiciousness calculations find no strong evidence for or against any of the non-standard models we explore. When combined with external probes, the AIC and Suspiciousness agree that 11 of the 15 models are moderately preferred over Flat-$\Lambda$CDM suggesting additional flexibility in our cosmological models may be required beyond the cosmological constant. We also provide a detailed discussion of all cosmological assumptions that appear in the DES supernova cosmology analyses, evaluate their impact, and provide guidance on using the DES Hubble diagram to test non-standard models. An approximate cosmological model, used to perform bias corrections to the data holds the biggest potential for harbouring cosmological assumptions. We show that even if the approximate cosmological model is constructed with a matter density shifted by $\Delta \Omega _{\rm m}\sim 0.2$ from the true matter density of a simulated data set the bias that arises is subdominant to statistical uncertainties. Nevertheless, we present and validate a methodology to reduce this bias.

Flexibility exploitation in Net-Zero Energy Factories. A technical and economic study case for dairy systems located in Central and South Europe

The decarbonization of energy systems (electric, thermal, gas, and transportation) requires flexibility to integrate power generated by volatile and renewable energy sources (vRES). Industrial systems can contribute to exploiting the flexibility needed to integrate the electricity generated by vRES into energy systems. Designing industrial systems as Net-Zero Energy Factories (NZEF) offers the possibility of exploiting the flexibility that could be used internally to integrate the power generated by renewable energy sources. This study addresses, on one hand, the presentation of a methodology to identify and quantify the flexibility potential of continuous processes typical in dairy systems. On the other hand, it aims to demonstrate a methodology for designing additional flexibility options to operate dairy systems as NZEF. A model has been developed in which the energetic and material flows of conventional diary systems are simulated. The model allows for the design of conventional dairy systems as NZEF and the evaluation of their potential to exploit flexibility. Two different European climate zones have been investigated: Bari (Italy) and Magdeburg (Germany). This study is relevant for designers and facility managers who are following their decarbonization plans, aiming to operate their industrial facility as Net-Zero Energy. The results of this study show that for dairy systems designed as Net-Zero Energy Factories and located in southern Europe (Bari, Italy), the operational costs are much lower than those operating in central Europe (Magdeburg, Germany). Specifically, integrating an 800 kW PV system reduced operational costs by 16.3 % in Bari, compared to 3.8 % in Magdeburg. Additionally, achieving 97 % vRES integration in Bari requires a 1000 kWh thermal storage capacity, whereas in Magdeburg, a 500 kWh capacity is sufficient. These findings suggest that NZEF designs can be optimized based on regional climatic conditions to maximize cost efficiency and vRES integration. The analysis indicates that sensible heat storage systems should be preferred over electrochemical batteries when designing additional flexibility options, considering both technical and economic criteria.

Assessing Local Public Health Governance in North Carolina Across Organizational and Governance Configurations.

Every county in North Carolina must include a board of health (BOH) with specific prescribed duties and powers. It is unclear how BOHs in North Carolina are currently exercising their governance ability. In 2012, the North Carolina General Assembly provided coun-ties with additional flexibility to select among different configurations for their local health department (LHD). The impact of this flexibility on the governance and service delivery of LHDs is yet to be explored. We conducted semi-structured interviews with LHD directors and BOH members to assess the strengths and weaknesses of BOHs within different local public health configurations across North Carolina. We employed conventional content analysis to derive themes from the interview transcripts. BOHs were largely described as an underutilized institution, with few BOHs noted to be active beyond satisfying their required legal duties. Strong BOHs were noted to fulfill three identities on behalf of the LHD: an advocate, a bridge, and an advisor. The majority of interviewees desired to work in a standalone county health department (as opposed to a consolidated human services agency) with an appointed (versus elected) board of health. This configuration was preferred because, according to participants, it is more likely to enable a structural focus on public health initiatives. Our sample frame did not control for the length of time an interviewee had been in the office nor the professional background of each BOH member. Wide variations exist in the exercise of BOHs across the state, partially due to how different LHD configurations structurally focus resources and attention on public health.

Comparison of Laws that Impact Volunteer Response in Three Disaster-Prone Southeastern States.

As natural disasters become more frequent and severe, the ability of impacted states to rapidly scale up their capacity to respond and facilitate recovery through volunteers is ever more crucial. However, the legal landscape that may facilitate or hamper augmentation through volunteers has yet to be fully explored. This study utilized policy surveillance methodology to code relevant laws identified in searches using the Emergency Law Inventory database and Westlaw. We assessed laws in three natural disaster-prone states: North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. We assessed the presence of liability protection, license reciprocity, and scope of practice laws for health care volunteers. Of the three assessed legal domains, liability protection for health care volunteers across all states contained the most robust language. Liability protections apply unless the health care volunteers act with reckless disregard, willful misconduct, or gross negligence. However, nuance exists based on which organizations (state vs charitable) volunteers are affiliated with to qualify for coverage. License reciprocity for out-of-state specific health care professions entering the impacted states was available across all three states. However, only Georgia enacted federal model legislation that provides additional flexibility regarding credentialing and liability protections. Lastly, very few laws addressed the scope of practice in impacted states. Comparisons of laws that impact the ability of health care volunteers to respond and recover from disasters are scarce. More research needs to be performed to better understand the laws that impact volunteers in emergencies, particularly as the public health system is overtasked when providing services to impacted communities.