Non-powered dams offer opportunity for clean energy
Ninety-seven percent of U.S. dams don’t make electricity. A new tool could help tap that resource. The era of building big dams may be over in the United States, but hydroelectricity still has a significant and untapped role to play in the nation’s energy future. Only 3% of the nation’s approximately 80,000 dams are equipped […]
Idaho National Laboratory to play a key role in Midwest hydrogen hub
As the United States works to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, different energy sectors will require different solutions. Renewables and nuclear energy will help decarbonize electricity production, and the light-duty transportation sector will reduce emissions primarily by switching to electric vehicles. Natural gas will continue to displace coal-fired power plants as carbon capture and […]
ChargeX Consortium recommends common EV charging station error codes
New shared language will facilitate faster service, improve EV user experience The National Charging Experience Consortium (ChargeX) has released a report that recommends 26 common electric vehicle (EV) charging error codes to enable faster error reporting, diagnostics and resolution within the EV charging industry. Ultimately, the codes would improve the U.S. charging experience. The ChargeX […]
Arizona State, Idaho National Laboratory team to boost clean energy research
Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Arizona State University (ASU) have agreed to expand their joint efforts in clean energy research for the next five years. An agreement signed in October establishes a framework for both institutions to develop low-carbon processes for the energy and manufacturing sectors. One joint project works to improve and decarbonize methods […]
INL’s sustainable success: Cutting energy use and generating multi-million dollar savings before net-zero
On Earth Day of 2021, Idaho National Laboratory (INL) announced an ambitious plan to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2031. At INL, reaching net-zero is a monumental task. The laboratory is essentially a small city that includes roughly 900 square miles of facilities, 600 vehicles, 320 buildings and 6,000 employees. Reducing, capturing or offsetting all […]
The proof is in the software
United States’ policymakers, auto manufacturers, energy companies and ultimately citizens are investing trillions of dollars into electrifying vehicles. The purpose is to increase new electric vehicle sales to more than 50% of total sales by 2030, helping reduce the nation’s carbon emissions. Now that the money is being spent on research and development, consumer incentives, […]
FAST collects detailed data on vast federal vehicle fleet
The Federal Automotive Statistical Tool (FAST) is a data-reporting system that collects information on the U.S. government’s nearly 650,000 vehicles.
Low-temp hydrocarbon cracking could make plastics from natural gas
A team of Idaho National Laboratory researchers has now pioneered an electrochemical process that could eliminate the need for high-energy steam cracking.
Idaho lab lends expertise to California rare earth mining operation
INL and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Critical Materials Institute are developing solutions to build a domestic supply chain of rare earth elements.
Fire danger increases as the grasses and sagebrush dry
The Fire Department at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is preparing for the 2017 wildland fire season.