Idaho researchers make fuel cell/electrolysis cell more efficient and stable
At a nondescript laboratory in Idaho Falls, Idaho, Wei Tang, Wenjuan Bian and Dong Ding make highly sophisticated advanced energy materials literally from scratch. The researchers and their colleagues at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) are manufacturing an electrochemical energy conversion device called a protonic ceramic fuel cell/protonic ceramic electrolysis cell (PCFC/PCEC). These devices could […]
New interactive exhibit teaches local community about hydropower
(IDAHO FALLS, Idaho) — Idaho Falls Power and the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), with support from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office, have unveiled a new interactive exhibit in the city’s Heritage Park. The exhibit will promote understanding of hydropower and its importance to regional power generation. “At INL, we wanted to […]
HydroBoost: Increasing hydropower revenue with realistic forecasting
In many electricity markets, hydropower operators earn a significant portion of their revenue from the day-ahead market. In this market, utilities buy electricity based on expected demand for the next day, while power producers offer to sell electricity at prices based on forecasted production and demand. This process ensures that enough electricity is available to […]
Water resiliency at Camp Buehring: INL’s innovative water reclamation system
Camp Buehring, a United States military base nestled in northern Kuwait just 20 miles from the Iraqi border, faces a challenge: there are no wells, rivers or other easily accessible sources of water. In this arid region, water is a precious commodity. Soldiers rely on trucks to deliver the water they need for showers, drinking […]
ChargeX Consortium guidelines help industry quickly measure, improve EV charging for drivers
When reviewing electric vehicles (EVs), automobile journalists usually cite a long list of superlatives — they’re quick, quiet, reliable and economical, and their ranges keep increasing while charge times keep getting faster. But oftentimes, there’s a caveat: The charging networks in some U.S. cities and highway corridors aren’t always reliable, journalists report. Even when drivers […]
CalderaCast helps businesses, utilities, states plan for EV charging
Accurately forecasting how much power individual stations will demand from the electric grid is a major challenge facing the rapid expansion of electric vehicle (EV) charging in the United States. While other electricity consumers, such as apartment buildings or factories, are known quantities that grid operators can plan for, the grid-load characteristics of EV charging […]
Firefighters learn from INL experts about electric vehicle batteries, safety
There’s a reason that electric vehicles (EV) in salvage yards are kept by themselves and spaced far apart. Their lithium-ion batteries can hold a lot of energy, and if one catches fire, it’s sometimes hard for firefighters to extinguish the blaze. Even if the fire appears to be out, it can reignite later, said Randy […]
New material production technology enhances advanced materials manufacturing for harsh environments
Artists shape clay into a new form at the potter’s wheel. When fired in the kiln, the clay solidifies and strengthens into artwork that can last thousands of years. The physical process during kiln firing is known as sintering. This process transforms particles, like a powder, into a solid object by heating it below the […]
Increasing the efficiency of hydropower plants with utility-scale batteries
Utility-scale batteries can revolutionize how we harness renewable power. Coupled with wind and solar, these batteries could increase the reliability of green energy by storing excess energy during times of high generation and low demand. Then, utilities can tap the stored energy when demand increases. Hydropower accounts for 29% of renewable energy generated in the […]
Clean Energy Camp: High school students get a close-up look at INL’s green research
As 17 students from three states headed back to school this fall, they took with them a broad array of knowledge they picked up this summer at Idaho National Laboratory’s Clean Energy Camp. The camp, which ran from June 24 to June 27, offered high school students interested in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) […]