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) […]
ChargeX Consortium helps industry measure, understand EV drivers’ charging experience
A team of electric vehicle (EV) researchers and stakeholders has released recommendations designed to help the industry improve the charging experience for EV owners. In the new Customer-Focused Key Performance Indicators for Electric Vehicle Charging report, the National Charging Experience Consortium, or ChargeX Consortium, defined two sets of recommended key performance indicators that will help measure […]
The path to fusion energy: Collaborative intern-scientist research at INL
Imagine a future where the energy powering your home is the same energy that lights up the stars. This isn’t science fiction. It’s the promise of fusion, and it’s closer than you think. Fusion is the process of combining atomic nuclei to form heavier atoms, releasing substantial amounts of energy. Unlike stars, which fuse regular […]
Hydro School: Engaging the next generation in hydropower discussions
For Idaho National Laboratory (INL) researchers, success in technology development requires research and effective outreach. Outreach efforts include creating spaces where open dialogue about novel technologies and their positive and negative implications is encouraged. Education is vital to advancing more efficient, economic and environmentally friendly technologies while also empowering the communities these technologies serve with […]
Idaho National Laboratory seeks small hydropower utility for case study
Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is seeking a hydropower utility to collaborate on a case study, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO), to understand how small hydroelectric plants operating at 10 megawatts or less can be upgraded to provide emergency power to critical loads (e.g., hospitals and emergency service providers) […]
Breaking down recycling challenges, one slice at a time
Each day, roughly 43 million Americans eat at least one slice of pizza, according to experts. The hot, cheesy, Italian-inspired dish contributes a whopping $47 billion to the U.S. economy each year, and about a third of those pies come delivered to their destinations in corrugated cardboard boxes. Even without the containers used for restaurant […]
Under the sea: INL supporting effort to repurpose ocean plastics as blended biofuel feedstocks
Perhaps one of the most ubiquitous and powerful images of the ongoing pollution crisis is that of plastic floating in the ocean or littered across once-paradisiacal sandy beaches. The plastic has grown the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and microplastics found in fish lead to significant health problems and earlier deaths for impacted marine life. These […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]