Feature Story Archives - Idaho National Laboratory

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

October 2, 2023 7:55 am

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

TETI 2.0: Understanding nuclear fuel behavior at the atomic level

September 25, 2023 7:55 am

Transporting heat is an essential part of our daily life – from boiling a pot of water to creating complex carbon-free energy technologies that power our cellphones, laptops and home appliances. Nuclear energy, an example of heat transfer, has a proven track record spanning over 70 years. It currently provides approximately 20% of the total electric energy generation in the

Idaho National Laboratory engages with Arctic communities at global assembly

September 18, 2023 7:43 am

Idaho National Laboratory’s Frontiers Initiative will take center stage when climate scientists and policymakers from around the world convene at the 2023 Arctic Circle Assembly in October in Iceland. University partners and defense experts with INL-led Emerging Energy Markets Analysis (EMA) initiative will participate in panel discussions. They’ll highlight their work on the INL Frontiers Initiative, which is enabling global

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

September 12, 2023 8:54 am

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

INL Earns Spot #8 as a Best Place to Work for Women, Diverse Managers

September 5, 2023 7:13 am

For the fourth straight year, Idaho National Laboratory earned a place on DiversityMBA’s annual list of best places to work for women and diverse managers, this time coming in at No. 8, its highest ranking yet. DiversityMBA is an organization that specializes in analyzing and benchmarking inclusion in talent management practices. Its annual “50 Out Front” list, which appears in

Big brake for small business: Sintering tech could make rotors 90% cheaper and faster

August 28, 2023 6:48 am

The race car driver careens around the track, narrowly missing the walls along the side. They make the turn expertly and quickly and slide across the finish line, wheels squealing as they hit the brakes. Excited spectators in the audience probably don’t realize that those brakes are able to operate seamlessly around tight turns and high speeds because of silicon

A FORCE to be reckoned with: Computer modeling for optimal energy partnerships

August 21, 2023 7:13 am

Imagine modern computing as the conductor of an orchestra. Just as a conductor brings harmony to a complex musical arrangement, modern computing is crucial to harmonizing the intricate mix of energy producers and users, optimizing the use of precious resources for the greater good. One strategy for establishing that harmony would pair the nuclear energy industry with other utilities and

Watching trends: How INL helps the NRC model risk and reliability

August 14, 2023 7:57 am

Since the 1990s, Idaho National Laboratory has helped the Nuclear Regulatory Commission understand the safety and reliability of all U.S. nuclear power plants. Supporters of nuclear energy tout the safety and reliability of nuclear power, and data supports their claims. According to detailed studies, nuclear power accounts for 0.03 deaths per terawatt-hour of electricity generated, when including both accidents and

Hold on! Did you know that microreactors were field deployed over 60 years ago?

August 7, 2023 8:17 am

Microreactors hold promise for the future of nuclear power, but they are also part of our past. There is a growing interest in alternatives to carbon-based power sources, particularly in remote locations where fuel is expensive, and supplies are difficult to secure throughout the year. An Idaho National Laboratory U.S. Department of Energy Microreactor Program report noted there are around

Mobile supercomputer of the future: INL researchers explore connecting data centers to microgrids, microreactors

July 27, 2023 1:28 pm

Roughly 30,000 data centers dot the landscape in the United States and Europe. These computer facilities serve functions as varied as modeling and simulation, cloud-based applications, artificial intelligence and weather forecasting. They are the brains of search engines and social media platforms, and they help engineers design the automobiles and airplanes of the future. In short, data centers form the

Category: Feature Story