Author: Cory Hatch

Future of mining is microreactors: Idaho National Laboratory sees big benefits

Powering a remote zinc mine located roughly 600 miles northwest of Anchorage, Alaska, is a Herculean task. Governments and industry have taken a particular interest in remote arctic mining locations, not only because of the region’s vast mineral resources, but also because of shipping routes that are opening through the ice due to climate change. Still, getting energy to those

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Researchers irradiate chloride-based molten salt in first-of-a-kind experiment

For decades, light-water nuclear power plants have provided safe, reliable carbon-free energy in the United States and around the world. But in the early days of nuclear energy research, light-water reactors were just one of several promising reactor types. Nuclear energy pioneers also designed and tested high-temperature reactor technologies that use gas, liquid metal and molten salt as coolants. One

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Finally, an industrial-scale facility for testing new, clean hydrogen technologies

Hydrogen, the simplest and most abundant element in the universe, is vital for any number of industries, from fertilizer production to metal manufacturing and from petroleum refining to chemical synthesis.  Hydrogen is also an excellent way to store energy for electricity generation or to power vehicles.   But the most common way to produce hydrogen — steam methane reforming — relies

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National lab helps Wyoming explore nuclear energy frontier

An agreement between Idaho National Laboratory and Wyoming positions the state to continue as a leader in energy production and innovation. The collaboration comes after TerraPower announced plans in 2021 to build its Natrium Power Plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming. Wyoming’s elected officials, educators and business leaders have since reached out to experts at INL for advice to maximize the economic

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Idaho researchers develop tool to help restore electricity after natural disasters

In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast with wind speeds reaching 140 mph, eventually causing more than 1,800 deaths and $1.8 billion in damage.   The hurricane also left roughly 3 million people in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Georgia without electricity for up to three weeks.   In February 2021, ice storms devastated communities throughout Texas,

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Idaho National Laboratory