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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ARPA-E Grid Optimization Competition Will Award $4 Million to Winning Software Developers
PNNL played a leading role in developing the first-ever Grid Optimization Competition for DOE. Competing teams worldwide are developing transformational ways to advance America's power grid of the future.
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Oh Buoy! PNNL Researchers Dive into Data Delivered from New Jersey Coast
Before offshore turbines can be deployed to harness wind energy, researchers must answer important questions—such as how much wind energy a turbine can capture at certain offshore sites. To help answer this question, DOE's Wind Energy Technologies Office commissioned PNNL to deploy two research buoys off the New Jersey and Virginia coasts.
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Turbines in Terrain: Wind Forecasting Study Completed in Columbia Gorge
To improve wind forecast accuracy, DOE's Wind Energy Technologies Office funded the second Wind Forecast Improvement Project (WFIP2). This combined modeling and field study was designed to improve forecasts in areas of complex terrain, where wind circulation and flow make predictability especially challenging. In March 2017, the WFIP2 team completed the field phase in the Columbia Basin.
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Liu Honored for Individual Lifetime Achievement in Science and Technology
Jun Liu, materials scientist, energy storage expert, and Battelle Fellow, was recognized with the PNNL Laboratory Director's Award for Individual Lifetime Achievement in Science and Technology
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PNNL Engineer Wins Brodzinki Award for Early Career Achievement
Karan Kalsi, a PNNL power systems research engineer, has received the Lab's 2018 Ronald L. Brodzinki Award for Early Career Exceptional Achievement. He received the honor for accomplishments in developing and applying control strategies for enhanced security, reliability and efficiency of large-scale complex infrastructure energy systems.
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Getting More Out of Control All the Time
Control Day at PNNL, held on August 29, highlighted PNNL-developed control capabilities for large infrastructures, like the power grid, and other applications.
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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.
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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