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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Tracking Injected Fluids: A Seismic Contrast Agent Breakthrough
Researchers at PNNL are developing a new class of acoustically active nanomaterials designed to improve the high-resolution tracking of exploratory fluids injected into the subsurface. Once deployed in the field as stable injectable liquid, the new acoustic metamaterials could disrupt current technologies and improve the way subsurface geophysical monitoring and mapping is done.
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Plutonium Experiment Opens New Research Possibilities
Researchers used novel methods to safely create and analyze plutonium samples. The approaches could prove influential in future studies of the radioactive material, improving fundamental knowledge and perhaps benefitting research in legacy waste, national security and nuclear fuels.
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Remote Mine Experiment Heads into Its Second Data-Rich Year
Two years after research began in a mine in Lead, SD, PNNL researchers are as excited about what they've learned as they are that it's largely been done remotely. The work is part of DOE's collaborative Enhanced Geothermal Systems project, or EGS Collab.
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Boosting Biocrude: Gaining Twice the Fuel from Corn Waste
Combining yeast and hydrothermal liquefaction to process corn stover could double the amount of renewable diesel produced from a bale of corn stover compared to previous biorefinery designs.
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Providing International Guidance to Achieve Remediation "End States"
An International Atomic Energy Agency effort, chaired by PNNL's Mike Truex, will help inform the process for achieving successful end states at contaminated sites worldwide.
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Imaging Goes Underground at the Hanford Site
"It's sort of like using infrared goggles to see heat signatures in the dark, except this is underground." PNNL researchers worked with CHPRC to successfully implement a state-of-the-art approach for monitoring the process of remediating residual uranium found in the soil at Hanford’s 300 Area near the Columbia River.
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Motkuri Joins Inorganic Chemistry Editorial Advisory Board
Radha Motkuri, a PNNL senior research scientist, has been invited to serve on the editorial advisory board of the American Chemical Society's journal Inorganic Chemistry.
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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