Net-zero means keeping things in balance. INL will reach net-zero when the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by the laboratory equals the amount of greenhouse gases removed from the atmosphere. We will eliminate emissions where we can by replacing older technologies with newer or cleaner technologies. Achieving net-zero doesn’t mean we won’t produce emissions, but any greenhouse gases we produce will be offset by carbon-capture technologies.

INL’s goal is to achieve that balance and reach net-zero emissions by 2031 by eliminating or offsetting all the greenhouse gas emissions from its 357 buildings, 605 vehicles and approximately 5,400 employees spread over its roughly 900-square-mile campus.

Our staff’s ingenuity and expertise in energy research drive innovations that lead to cleaner energy production and reduced carbon emissions. We will demonstrate solutions, including integrating advanced nuclear reactors with other clean energy systems on a microgrid to provide clean, secure electricity, thermal energy, hydrogen, ammonia and other value-added products to achieve carbon reduction goals.

Learn More

Greenhouse gases, when released into Earth’s atmosphere, let sunlight pass through but trap heat from escaping into space, like the glass in a greenhouse. Human-generated carbon emissions contribute to the so-called “greenhouse effect,” a warming of the atmosphere that has already impacted the planet’s weather, wildlife and sea levels.

The main carbon emissions generated by humans are:

• Carbon dioxide
• Methane
• Nitrous oxide
• Fluorinated gases

A carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the air because of our own energy needs. Having a small carbon footprint is preferred but being carbon neutral is the goal. INL’s carbon-neutral goals will be achieved when the energy our operations consume come from clean sources, our supply chain adopts carbon-neutral standards, and the amount of CO2 produced from our activities is equal to the amount absorbed. In other words, no additional CO2 is being produced and the net sum is zero. One example is capturing methane from INL’s landfill to use as a valuable economic and clean energy resource.

INL commits to use no renewable energy certificate offsets in reaching its zero-carbon goals.

INL regularly reports its greenhouse gas emissions to the Environmental Protection Agency in three different categories (referred to as scopes):

INL is a world leader in energy research and development. Our lab identifies big challenges and turns them into opportunities. Our scientists and researchers continually try to improve our nation’s energy systems.

This initiative will create inclusive consortiums to share best practices and offer ideas and solutions to other entities looking to reach net-zero emissions.

INL will use technology innovations and partnerships, increased efficiencies, and novel approaches to demonstrate the path forward for establishing a clean energy economy. We will demonstrate clean, scalable solutions like decarbonizing our on-site bus fleet. We are looking inward and using our world-class research and core mission work to achieve net-zero by 2031.