Research for secure, sustainable energy
Americans consume more energy per person than any other country in the world. At PNNL, we believe there can be no energy solutions without associated environmental solutions. From grid modernization and building controls to providing scientifically-defensible solutions for legacy waste, our researchers are helping deliver secure, sustainable energy.
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Specialized Ultrasound Technique Inspects Hanford Tank Integrity
Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS) and PNNL researchers just completed testing of an adapted Ultrasonic Volumetric nondestructive examination process on a 12-by-20-foot mock Hanford waste tank bottom. With this novel sensor technology, it may now be possible to inspect the physically inaccessible tank bottom plates. This has never been possible before because about 90 percent of the tank bottom is blocked by insulating concrete.
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PNNL Cybersecurity Expert Elected to (ISC)2 Board of Directors
Lori O'Neil, a PNNL Energy Cybersecurity Project Manager, has been elected to the (ISC)2 Board of Directors. (ISC)2 is a 138,000-member international nonprofit association focused on inspiring a safe and secure cyber world.
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Illuminating the Link between Light and Health
The Illuminating Engineering Society recently awarded PNNL's Robert Davis the IES Presidential Award for his ongoing efforts to foster dialogue about light and human health amongst researchers and professionals from various fields.
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Stopping Fires before They Start: How a Salty Solution is Giving Lithium Metal Batteries a Safety Check
A PNNL research team has addressed safety as well as performance challenges posed by lithium metal batteries through the development of a new electrolyte.
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Finding Energy Opportunities in the Blue Economy
What if you could directly harness ocean energy to bring power where it didn't exist before? In a first-of-its-kind assessment, researchers from PNNL, working with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, have identified and assessed 12 markets that could benefit from marine energy.
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Student Research Spotlighted in Prestigious Journal
Jamey Bower leveraged two summers of chemistry research at PNNL—through the SULI program—into a lead author role. The peer-reviewed journal article in the prestigious Applied Materials and Interfaces shows that potassium-loaded zeolite material was best at adsorbing carbon dioxide under industrial conditions.
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Sustainable Jet Fuel: The Flight Path from Fundamental Science to Applied Technology
PNNL's thermocatalytic process opened the door to sustainable jet fuel from low-cost waste gases. Commercial partner LanzaTech will build a U.S. facility to make millions of gallons of ethanol-based fuel annually.
Core Research Areas
We are organized into core research areas that align with customers' mission needs.
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Clean Fossil Energy
Enabling safe and sustainable fossil fuel exploration, production, transportation, conversion, and end use.
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Electricity Infrastructure
Transforming the U.S. power grid to meet consumer, economic, environmental, and security priorities for the 21st century.
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Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Delivering distinctive science and technology solutions for efficient and sustainable energy.
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Environmental Health and Remediation
Reducing the cost and risk to resolve the most challenging legacy waste issues.
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Nuclear
Mobilizing interdisciplinary teams to advance safe and reliable nuclear power.
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