Smart Sensing Technology Moving Toward Commercialization
January 18, 2017
Sensing technology developed for gas turbines by the United Technologies Research Center as part of a cooperative agreement with NETL is advancing toward commercial use. The technology, called ATOMeS, seamlessly integrates wireless sensors into turbine engine components using additive manufacturing—a process for building objects by adding layer upon layer of material, similar to 3D printing.
U.S. Energy and Employment Report
January 18, 2017
The U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER) is the agency’s annual analysis of how changes in America’s energy profile are affecting national employment in multiple energy sectors.
Second Installment of the Quadrennial Energy Review Released
January 10, 2017
On January 6, 2017, the Quadrennial Energy Review Task Force released the second installment of the Quadrennial Energy Review (QER), titled “Transforming the Nation’s Electricity System.” The second installment (QER 1.2) finds the electricity system is a critical and essential national asset, and it is a strategic imperative to protect and enhance the value of the electricity system through modernization and transformation.
NETL Group Combines Fossil Energy Research with Studies of Geothermal Energy Potential in Appalachia
January 04, 2017
For more than a century, fossil energy innovations have dominated research at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Now a group of NETL researchers are building on that expertise to increase the world’s body of knowledge on how to integrate fossil fuel energy systems with renewable energy technologies—knowledge that could end up powering commercial office complexes and military installations with heat from deep within the earth.
DOE-Supported Research Team Demonstrates Combustor Approaches to Slash Emissions from Advanced Turbines
December 15, 2016
In a project sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have shown that major reductions in emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx) are possible when new combustor design concepts are applied to advanced gas turbines. Using a novel computational tool, the research team was able to rapidly screen more than 20,000 design variations, providing insight into optimizing high-temperature combustor performance while generating the lowest possible NOx emissions.
Energy Department Announces More Than $44 Million for CO2 Storage Projects
November 30, 2016
The Energy Department has selected 16 carbon storage projects to receive more than $44 million for cost-shared research and development. The funding is part of the department’s Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise (CarbonSAFE) initiative, which seeks to help mitigate carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels. The projects will be managed by NETL.
NETL Researchers Publish Article Describing New Greenhouse Gas Baseline for Petroleum-Based Transportation Fuels
November 22, 2016
NETL researchers, along with experts at Stanford University and the University of Calgary, are the authors of an article to be published this month in Environmental Science & Technology that describes a new life cycle greenhouse gas baseline for petroleum-based transportation fuels consumed in the United States in 2014. The results described in the article could have implications for the way fuel decisions are made by the U.S. Government.
DOE Issues Request for Information for Oil and Gas Research & Development
November 16, 2016
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) and the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) have issued a Request for Information (RFI) for input on critical gaps in oil and natural gas technology that must be addressed through scientific research.
NETL Advances Copper-Hybrid Oxygen Carrier for Chemical Looping
November 09, 2016
Back in February, we shared that DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) researchers were exploring the potential of using copper in a process known as chemical looping to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from coal-fired power plants. Their research is bearing fruit as more than 40 hours of chemical looping operations have been conducted using copper—a new lab record.
NETL Innovations Recognized with R&D 100 Awards
November 07, 2016
Three technologies advanced by the Office of Fossil Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), in collaboration with the laboratory’s strategic partners, have been recognized by R&D Magazine as among the 100 most technologically significant products introduced into the commercial marketplace within the past year.
One for the History Books
October 18, 2016
There’s no doubt the tragedy of the Deep Water Horizon explosion and oil spill in 2010—plus the innovative science and engineering techniques that eventually stopped the leak, created ways to prevent similar events, and improved the safety of deep offshore drilling operations—will be captured in the pages of history. The Pittsburgh Business Times (PBT) believes NETL researcher Dr. Barbara Kutchko, and the important work she performed, are an integral part of that history and worthy of significant recognition.
DOE Announces $80 Million Investment to Build Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Pilot Plant Test Facility
October 17, 2016
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is awarding up to $80 million for a six-year project to design, build, and operate a 10-MWe (megawatts electrical) supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) pilot plant test facility in San Antonio, TX. The project will be managed by a team led by the Gas Technology Institute (GTI), Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®), and General Electric Global Research (GE-GR).
Department of Energy to Invest $2 Million for Small-Scale Production of Rare Earth Elements
October 13, 2016
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) have announced approximately $2 million in federally funded financial assistance for the first phase of cost-shared projects aimed to achieve small-scale production of salable rare earth elements (REEs) from domestic sources of pre-combustion coal and coal by-products.
DOE-Funded Carbon Capture Technology Moves Forward to Large-Scale Testing
October 12, 2016
The Department of Energy (DOE) today announced that a DOE-funded project on second-generation carbon dioxide (CO2) solvent technology will begin testing at the Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM) in western Norway. The DOE and the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy have a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) covering fossil energy-related research to leverage each countries’ investments in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS).
NETL Energy Delivery and Security Team Expert Assists in Baton Rouge Flood Response Effort
October 06, 2016
The weather people called it a “mesoscale convective system.” It unleashed between 2 and 3 inches of rain an hour on the Baton Rouge, LA, area August 11, causing incredible flooding, the evacuation of nearly 30,000 people, and massive misery for the entire region. It was also the reason that NETL’s Rob Gross’s telephone rang one night 3 weeks later.
DOE Invests $6 Million to Accelerate Next-Generation Advanced Energy Systems
October 05, 2016
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected two projects to advance key technologies that will enable development of next-generation advanced energy systems. The projects will receive $6 million of Phase 2 research funding from DOE with a performance period of approximately 3 years. The projects were selected from among five DOE-funded Phase 1 projects, recently completed by private partners.
Foamed Cement Helping to Ensure Safer Oil and Gas Operations
September 29, 2016
Foamed cement, which looks and feels like a gritty gray shaving cream, is used during oil and gas drilling operations to encase production tubes and prevent leaks and spills. The cured material creates a seal that protects underground sources of drinking water, but this is no ordinary cement.
DOE Announces More Than $10 Million for Advanced Combustion Systems Research
September 19, 2016
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected eight projects to develop enabling technologies for advanced combustion systems, including oxy-combustion and chemical looping–based power systems. The total estimated federal investment in the eight projects exceeds $10 million. Funding amounts may vary as negotiations progress.
DOE Announces $3.8 Million Investment in New Methane Gas Hydrate Research
September 15, 2016
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the selection of six multi-year research projects to receive $3.8 million in funding that will enhance the understanding of methane hydrate system behaviors when subjected to natural, environmental, or induced production-related changes, helping to determine both the production viability of a vast source of natural gas and to assess the role of gas hydrate in the larger global climate cycle.
Computational Toolset for Carbon-Capture Technology Development Ready for Commercial Use
September 14, 2016
Mr. Douglas Hollett, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Energy Department’s Office of Fossil Energy, has declared the Carbon Capture Simulation Initiative (CCSI) Computational Toolset ready for commercial use to support carbon-capture technology development. The announcement was made at a Carbon Capture Simulation for Industry Impact (CCSI2) Industry Advisory Board Meeting held in conjunction with the 2016 Carbon Capture Technology Project Review Meeting, hosted by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
DOE Announces $13 Million to Quantify and Mitigate Methane Emissions from Natural Gas Infrastructure
September 08, 2016
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced a total of $13 million to be awarded to twelve multi-year research projects intended to develop cost efficient and effective ways to mitigate methane emissions from natural gas pipeline and storage infrastructure. The research will also look to better quantify the sources, volumes and rates of methane emissions. This new initiative by the Office of Fossil Energy builds upon the President's Climate Action Plan Strategy to Reduce Methane Emissions.
Energy Department Announces $29 Million Investment in Enhanced Geothermal Systems Efforts
August 31, 2016
As part of the Obama Administration’s continued commitment to the President’s Climate Action Plan, the Energy Department today announced $29 million in funding under the Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) program for projects awarded to teams at Sandia National Laboratories and the University of Utah. The funding will be for each team to fully instrument, characterize and permit candidate sites for an underground laboratory to conduct cutting-edge research on enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). The Sandia team will be working on a site in Fallon, Nevada, and the University of Utah team will be working at a site in Milford, Utah.
DOE Seeks Projects to Advance Carbon Dioxide Utilization from Coal-Fired Power Plants
August 26, 2016
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced approximately $6.7 million in federal funding for cost-shared projects that will develop technologies that utilize carbon dioxide (CO2) from coal-fired power plants to produce useful products. DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy is seeking these projects as part of the Department’s Carbon Storage program, which has the goal of developing and advancing technologies to improve the effectiveness of carbon storage, reduce the cost of implementation, and be ready for widespread commercial deployment in the 2025–2035 timeframe.
Energy Department Invests $28 Million to Advance Cleaner Fossil Fuel–Based Power Generation
August 24, 2016
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the selection of 14 research and development projects to advance energy systems that will enable cost-competitive, fossil fuel–based power generation with near-zero emissions. The new projects, which span 11 states, will accelerate the scale-up of coal-based advanced combustion power systems, advance coal gasification processes, and improve the cost, reliability, and endurance of solid oxide fuel cells. The total award value of the projects exceeds $36 million, which includes a federal investment of more than $28 million and recipient cost-sharing of $8.4 million.
Energy Department Invests $3 Million to Train Future Energy Scientists
August 22, 2016
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced it will invest a total of $3 million in nine projects selected under its University Training and Research (UTR) program, which awards research-based educational grants to U.S. universities and colleges in areas that promote Office of Fossil Energy goals.
DOE Carbon Storage Advances Featured in International Journal
August 18, 2016
A special issue of the International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control (IJGGC) was released August 17, 2016, highlighting carbon-storage research conducted under the Energy Department’s National Risk Assessment Partnership (NRAP). A compendium of research generated by the NRAP team over 6 years of collaboration, the special issue comprises 60 peer-reviewed publications which, taken together, represent a significant contribution to the state-of-knowledge on long-term risks of geologic CO2 storage (GCS).
The Rugged World of Harsh Environment Sensors
August 12, 2016
NETL scientists are developing sophisticated sensors to see and hear inside the world’s most difficult places, such as turbine engines, boilers, gasifiers and fuel cells. Information relay in these harsh environments is critical, but getting accurate information can be tough. Advanced sensors will enable next-generation energy systems to operate at optimal efficiency, saving massive amounts of energy and cutting CO2 emissions in the process.
Game-Changing NETL Technologies Named Finalists for Prestigious R&D 100 Awards
August 03, 2016
Four technologies developed by researchers at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) have been named finalists for this year’s R&D 100 Awards. The selected technologies reflect the laboratory’s focus on science and technology innovations that bolster the nation’s energy security while protecting the environment.
DOE Investing $11.5 Million to Advance Geologic Carbon Storage and Geothermal Exploration
July 27, 2016
The The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the selection of eight new research and development projects to receive a total of $11.5 million in federal funding under DOE’s Subsurface Technology and Engineering Research, Development, and Demonstration Crosscut initiative. The new projects are focused on furthering geothermal energy and carbon storage technologies, and will be funded by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) and the Office of Fossil Energy’s (FE) Carbon Storage program.
DOE Foamed-Cement Research Is Changing Industry
July 18, 2016
The Energy Department’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is playing a key role in updating a 25-year-old testing standard that helps ensure quality, reduce cost, decrease waste, and support safer oil and gas operations around the world.
Texas CO2 Capture Demonstration Project Hits Three Million Metric Ton Milestone
June 30, 2016
On June 30, Allentown, PA-based Air Products successfully captured and transported, via pipeline, its 3 millionth metric ton of carbon dioxide (CO2) to be used for enhanced oil recovery. This achievement highlights the ongoing success of a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and managed by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
FE-Supported Research Looks to Coal as a Source for Rare Earth Elements
June 16, 2016
The Energy Department’s Office of Fossil Energy (FE) has a robust clean energy research and development (R&D) program dedicated to making coal both cleaner and more sustainable. You may have heard about some of the cutting-edge technologies we’re working on, particularly carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), which captures, stores and re-uses carbon dioxide (CO2) from coal-fired power plants and industrial sources.
FE Welcomes 2016 Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship Interns
June 14, 2016
The Office of Fossil Energy’s (FE) Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship (MLEF) kicked off its 21st year yesterday with a class of 43 undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate students joining one of the Energy Department’s premier educational programs.
Scientists Can Recycle CO2 Using Gold
May 27, 2016
Using sunlight and gold to change carbon dioxide (CO2) into fuel may sound like a task for a Hogwarts graduate, but it’s the kind of magic that researchers at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) are performing to make a positive impact on the world’s environment.
NETL Launches a University Coalition for Fossil Energy Research at Pennsylvania State University
May 11, 2016
The Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has selected Pennsylvania State University as the lead institution to establish the University Coalition for Fossil Energy Research. The Coalition will bring together a multi-disciplinary team of researchers from participating universities to address the fundamental research challenges that impede advancement of fossil energy-based technologies.
Breakthrough Could Improve Turbine Performance, Reduce Carbon Emissions from Power Plants
April 26, 2016
Research supported by the Department of Energy's (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has led to a discovery that could significantly increase the efficiency of turbines in fossil fuel electricity generation. This breakthrough could reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from power plants and help drive the clean energy economy in the U.S.
NETL Researcher Wins Carnegie Science Award for Outstanding Innovation in Energy
March 16, 2016
National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) researcher Dr. Shiwoo Lee has been honored with an Innovation in Energy award by the Carnegie Science Center. Dr. Lee is being recognized for his work on critical efficiency improvements that will make solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs)—an efficient, combustion-less, virtually pollution-free power source capable of using fossil fuels—economically attractive for widespread and industry use.
NETL Researcher Selected to Receive Nation’s Highest Award for Young Scientists
March 03, 2016
Dr. Paul R. Ohodnicki, a materials scientist at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), has been named by President Obama as a recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientist and Engineers (PECASE). The PECASE award is the highest honor the U.S. government can bestow on scientists or engineers in the early stages of their research careers. Dr. Ohodnicki was selected for his outstanding innovation and technical leadership, which have advanced foundational materials science and led to the development of new applications and inventions in materials technology.
"My Brother’s Keeper" Week at Energy Dept National Labs Brings STEM Opportunities to Students
February 26, 2016
On Friday, February 26, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will kick off My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Week at nine of DOE’s cutting edge national science laboratories. President Obama launched the My Brother’s Keeper Initiative in February 2014, to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color and ensure that all young people can reach their full potential. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz joined the MBK Taskforce in March 2015. A key goal of MBK is to connect young people to mentoring and support networks and to instill a passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers.
New Carbon Storage Risk Monitoring Tools Released for Testing
February 11, 2016
Seven new technology tools that can help predict long-term risks of large-scale carbon storage operations are being beta-tested by carbon capture and storage researchers and the industrial community.
The National Risk Assessment Partnership (NRAP), led by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), developed the simulation tools, which are designed to help evaluate environmental risks of carbon storage containment systems. Successful deployment will enable users to predict the safety and permanence of carbon storage systems based on two major types of environmental risks: leakage and induced seismicity.
DOE-Led Research Team Makes Significant Rare Earth Discovery
January 19, 2016
A team of researchers led by experts from the Department of Energy (DOE) has found that rare earth elements (REEs) can be removed from two U.S. coal byproduct materials through an ion-exchange process. This discovery could potentially expand the U.S. domestic resource base of these critical elements.
DOE Selects Projects To Enhance Its Research into Recovery of Rare Earth Elements from Coal and Coal Byproducts
December 02, 2015
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has selected 10 projects to receive funding for research in support of the lab’s program on Recovery of Rare Earth Elements from Coal and Coal Byproducts. The selected research projects will further program goals by focusing on the development of cost-effective and environmentally benign approaches for the recovery of rare earth elements (REEs) from domestic coal and coal byproducts.
DOE-Funded Research Yields U.S. Patent for Use of CO2 in Concrete Curing
November 10, 2015
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent to Solidia Technologies Inc. (Piscataway, NJ) for a process that uses carbon dioxide (CO2) rather than water to cure pre-cast concrete. The process significantly decreases the time required for concrete to cure and greatly improves its performance characteristics. Development of the process was funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
NETL Technology for Safer, Cleaner Corrosion-Protecting Metal Coatings Licensed by Pittsburgh Start-Up
October 23, 2015
Corrosion-related issues cost the U.S. economy $276 billion a year. The Energy Department’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) teamed up with Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) to create a revolutionary, cost-effective technology to reduce that impact—work that resulted in the creation of a new CMU-based spin-off company that signed a licensing agreement with the laboratory in June.
Game-Changing Process Mitigates CO2 Emissions Using Renewable Energy
October 21, 2015
Gold nanoparticles are at the heart of a new process conceived and developed by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) that can efficiently convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into usable chemicals and fuels—a breakthrough that could lead to an effective industrial scale way to reduce CO2 emissions for a positive impact on the world’s environment. The innovation was recently detailed by NETL in the American Chemical Society (ACS) publication ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.
NETL Director Gives Keynote at Shale Exchange 2015
October 20, 2015
Shale Exchange 2015 began this morning at The University Club, University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Grace Bochenek, Director of the Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory gave a keynote address highlighting the Laboratory’s shale gas program.
Underground CO2 Storage, Natural Gas Recovery Targeted by Virginia Tech/NETL Research
October 20, 2015
Researchers from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) have teamed with the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) on a multi-part project to investigate the feasibility of injecting captured carbon dioxide (CO2) into organic-rich rocks, deep underground, to permanently store the greenhouse gas while simultaneously recovering natural gas.
Newly Released Study Highlights Significant Utica Shale Potential
October 09, 2015
A pioneering study led by West Virginia University, and financially supported by the Energy Department’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and 14 industry members of the Utica Shale Appalachian Basin Exploration Consortium, indicates that the newly explored Utica Shale, which underlies the better-known Marcellus Shale, could hold far more natural gas and oil than previously estimated. If the commercial potential of this play could be realized, it would be, geographically, the largest natural gas field in the United States.
NETL’s 2015 Carbon Storage Atlas Shows Increase in U.S. CO2 Storage Potential
September 28, 2015
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) today released the fifth edition of the Carbon Storage Atlas (Atlas V), which shows prospective carbon dioxide (CO2) storage resources of at least 2,600 billion metric tons – an increase over the findings of the 2012 Atlas.
Five Projects Focusing on Scale-Up of Carbon Storage Infrastructure Selected for NETL Funding
September 16, 2015
The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has selected five research and development projects to receive Phase I funding through the “Fit-for-Purpose Field Project: Developing and Validating Pressure Management and Plume Control Strategies through a Brine Extraction Storage Test (BEST)” under NETL’s Carbon Storage Program. The term “fit for purpose” refers to research focused on developing specific subsurface engineering approaches that address research needs critical for advancing carbon capture and storage to commercial scale. Projects selected will have an opportunity to continue to Phase II field projects through a down-select process.
Energy Sector Workforce Development Studies Prepared for Energy Department Released
August 31, 2015
The RAND Corporation has released two energy-sector workforce development studies conducted on behalf of the Energy Department’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). The two studies, one targeting the state of West Virginia and one the southwestern Pennsylvania (SWPA) region, provided recommendations that support the Energy Department’s strategic objective to increase energy productivity and ensure safe and responsible development of domestic energy resources.
Energy Department Lab Researcher Wins HENAAC Award for Outstanding Achievement
August 26, 2015
The National Energy Technology Laboratory’s (NETL’s) Nicolas Huerta has been honored as a Great Minds in STEM™ Luminary Honoree by the Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Corporation (HENAAC).
Dr. Huerta, who has made significant scientific contributions to the field of carbon dioxide (CO2) storage risk assessment, is being recognized for his work as a leader and role model to the Hispanic technical community.
DOE Selects Six University Coal Research Projects for Funding
August 17, 2015
The U.S Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has selected six projects to receive funding through NETL’s University Coal Research Program, administered by the Crosscutting Research Technology Program. The University Coal Research Program funds research and development at U.S. colleges and universities for coal conversion and utilization.
DOE Selects 16 Transformational Carbon Capture Technologies Projects for Funding
August 13, 2015
The Department of Energy's (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has selected 16 projects to receive funding through NETL’s Carbon Capture Program. The program funds development and testing of transformational carbon dioxide (CO2) capture systems for new and existing coal-based power plants. Research funded by this program is expected to help overcome limitations of singular, standard gas treatment systems, such as those based on solvents, sorbents, or membranes alone.
DOE Selects Twelve Projects for Crosscutting Technology Research Funding
August 11, 2015
The U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has selected 12 projects to receive funding through its Crosscutting Research Program's Transitional Technology Development to Enable Highly Efficient Power Systems with Carbon Management initiative.
Funding Opportunity Announcement for Recovery of Rare Earth Elements Released
July 28, 2015
The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has released a new Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) entitled "Opportunities to Develop High Performance, Economically Viable, and Environmentally Benign Technologies to Recover Rare Earth Elements (REEs) from Domestic Coal and Coal Byproducts."
DOE Selects Projects to Assess Offshore Carbon Storage
July 15, 2015
The Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has selected five projects to receive funding through NETL’s Carbon Storage program. The program is working to develop and advance the effectiveness of onshore and offshore carbon storage technologies, reduce the challenges associated with implementation, and prepare them for widespread commercial deployment in the 2025–2035 time frame.
DOE Selects Gasification Technology Research Projects for Funding
July 14, 2015
The Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has selected seven projects to receive funding through NETL’s Gasification System Program. This program supports a wide range of research and development activities aimed at improving fuel and product versatility, efficiency, and economics of gasification processes.
DOE Selects Research Projects to Advance Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Technology
July 13, 2015
The Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has selected for funding 16 solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology research projects. Fuel cells are a modular, efficient, and virtually pollution-free power generation technology. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2015, NETL issued two funding opportunities announcements (FOAs) to support programs that enable the development and deployment of this energy technology.
DOE-Sponsored Project to Study Shale Gas Production
June 26, 2015
The Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and its partners, West Virginia University (WVU), Northeast Natural Energy (NNE), and The Ohio State University, are moving forward on a project to monitor the process and progress of unconventional gas production at a Marcellus Shale well near Morgantown, WV.
Advanced Combustion Systems Projects Selected for Funding
June 08, 2015
The Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has selected ten projects to receive funding through NETL’s Advanced Combustion Systems Program. The program focuses on lowering costs and improving performance of combustion systems that generate electricity with near-zero emissions, including CO2. Central to the program are systems based on oxy-combustion—which uses oxygen to combust fuel and form a concentrated stream of CO2 for efficient and effective carbon capture—and chemical looping, which produces energy using oxygen from metal oxide oxygen carriers for fuel combustion. Projects being funded fall under three subtopic areas: use of higher efficiency supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) power cycles, further research on mature combustion technologies, and development of novel concepts.
Nine Projects Selected for Funding through University Turbine Systems Research Program
June 04, 2015
The Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has selected nine research and development projects to receive funding through the NETL-managed University Turbine Systems Research Program. The Program funds a portfolio of gas turbine-focused university projects to facilitate the development and demonstration of next-generation technology. The work will address technical challenges in turbine technology in support of the Energy Department’s strategic goals and program mission needs.
DOE-Funded Project Testing Laser CO2 Monitoring at Carbon Storage Site
June 03, 2015
A project that uses lasers to monitor carbon dioxide (CO2) is being analyzed as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) drive to improve greenhouse gas-monitoring abilities at CO2 storage sites. The project is managed by the DOE Office of Fossil Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
NETL Issues Licenses for its Arc Position Sensing Technology
May 27, 2015
The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has issued two licenses involving its Arc Position Sensing (APS) technology to KW Associates LLC , an Oregon-based company founded by the technology’s inventors. APS technology is a patented, award-winning measurement technology developed for the specialty metals industry to identify arc distribution conditions during arc melting. The unique technology allows operators to optimize the processing to improve material yield, decrease energy use, and improve safety systems.
NETL-Supported Study Advances Exploration of Utica Shale Play
May 21, 2015
A few thousand feet below the Marcellus Formation in the Appalachian Basin lies the Utica Shale. Consisting of alternating layers of limestone and organic-rich shale rock, the Utica Shale is capable of yielding large amounts of valuable hydrocarbons. In a 2-year study organized by West Virginia University (WVU), and financially supported by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and 15 industry partners, the Utica Shale Appalachian Basin Exploration Consortium thoroughly investigated this important hydrocarbon-bearing resource. The resulting Geologic Play Book for Utica Shale Appalachian Basin Explorationwill released to the public at a July workshop.
Texas CO2 Capture Demonstration Project Hits Two Million Metric Ton Milestone
May 15, 2015
On May 15, 2015, Air Products and Chemicals Inc. (Allentown, Pa.) successfully captured and stored its 2 millionth metric ton of carbon dioxide (CO2) in a project sponsored by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Located at a hydrogen-production facility in Port Arthur, Texas, the project is demonstrating an innovative gas-separation technology called vacuum swing adsorption. The technology is being used to capture more than 90 percent of the CO2 from the product streams of two commercial-scale steam methane reformers, preventing its release into the atmosphere.
In Milestone, Energy Department Projects Safely and Permanently Store 10 Million Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide
April 22, 2015
In Milestone, Energy Department Projects Safely and Permanently Store 10 Million Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide
WASHINGTON – In a landmark accomplishment, the U.S. Department of Energy is announcing that a group of carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects supported by the Department have safely captured 10 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) – the equivalent of removing more than 2 million passenger vehicles from the nation’s roads for one year.
NETL Collaborates with Partners to Produce Global Outlook on Natural Gas Hydrates
March 17, 2015
Researchers at the Office of Fossil Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) were part of an international team, including the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), that contributed to a newly released report explaining the prospect of gas hydrates as a potential worldwide energy source that can contribute in the transition to the low-carbon energy systems of the future.
NETL Researchers Garner 17 New Patents in 2014
February 26, 2015
Each year, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) push the limits of innovation and are rewarded for their unique technological advancements by being issued U.S. patents. NETL researchers received 17 patents in 2014 for technologies including techniques that remove CO2 from flue streams, increase power efficiencies, and lower energy-production costs.
NETL-Sponsored Study Confirms Vast Energy Resource in Residual Oil Zones
February 24, 2015
A geologic core extracted from a West Texas well and analyzed by researchers sponsored by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has confirmed that carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) can "push out" oil from largely untapped areas called residual oil zones (ROZs). This finding further demonstrates that these zones hold the potential to harvest billions of barrels of additional oil that could increase domestic supply, reduce imports, and increase U.S. energy security.
Where in the World is Carbon Being Captured and Stored? This Database will Show You.
February 23, 2015
Capturing carbon emissions and storing them safely and permanently so they don’t reach the atmosphere is a key technology in mitigating climate change. This win-win technology, called carbon capture and storage (CCS), allows a wide range of fuels to be used to generate power (win), while still protecting the environment (win). When the carbon is used beneficially, say, for example, to increase oil production, the scenario is win-win-win.
DOE-Sponsored Project Tests Novel Method to Increase Oil Recovery
February 03, 2015
Successful laboratory tests at the Energy Department’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) have verified that the use of a brine-soluble ionic surfactant could improve the efficiency of carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR).
Interns at NETL: Expanding Horizons through Diverse Collaborations
January 30, 2015
With one-of-a-kind laboratories and facilities for groundbreaking energy research, NETL is a sought-after venue for students from all over the world who seek collaborative research opportunities and access to NETL's world-class fossil energy expertise and training. The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) helps make those opportunities possible for many.
Novel Carbon Capture Solvent Begins Pilot-Scale Testing for Emissions Control
January 13, 2015
Pilot-scale testing of an advanced technology for economically capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from flue gas has begun at the National Carbon Capture Center (NCCC ) in Wilsonville, Ala. Under a cooperative agreement with the Energy Department’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Linde LLC is operating a nominal 1-megawatt-electric (MWe) pilot plant expected to capture 30 tons of CO2 per day. Cost-effective carbon capture and storage from fossil-based power generation is a critical component of national efforts to mitigate climate change.
Energy Department Project Captures and Stores One Million Metric Tons of Carbon
January 08, 2015
As part of President Obama’s all-of-the-above energy strategy, the Department of Energy announced today that its Illinois Basin-Decatur Project successfully captured and stored one million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) and injected it into a deep saline formation. The project is part of the development phase of the Department’s Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships initiative, which is helping develop and deploy carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies across the country, and continuing the United States on a path towards a low carbon future.
NETL’s BLOSOM Works to Predict and Prevent Underwater Oil Spills
December 10, 2014
A new modeling tool created by scientists at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is helping to prevent future hydrocarbon leaks and providing a greater understanding of how hydrocarbon leaks from all sources are transported throughout offshore systems.
ASM International Honors NETL Work on Platinum-Chromium Alloy for Coronary Stents
November 28, 2014
For their work on the development, transfer, and successful commercialization of a novel platinum-chromium alloy used in next-generation coronary stents, scientists at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), and their colleagues, have been selected to receive a 2015 ASM Engineering Materials Achievement Award from the materials science and engineering society ASM International.
Energy Department Announces New Investments in Gasification Research
November 06, 2014
WASHINGTON--Today, as part of the Administration’s all-of-the-above energy approach, the Department of Energy has selected four projects to receive funding for next-generation gasification systems that also reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Awardees will receive approximately $16 million to advance the gasification process, which converts carbon-based materials like coal into syngas for use as power, chemicals, hydrogen, and transportation fuels.
New Field Laboratories and Related Research To Help Promote Environmentally Prudent Development of Unconventional Resources
November 05, 2014
Today, the Department of Energy announced the selection of three multiyear, field laboratories and six other multiyear research projects for continued research to promote environmentally prudent development of unconventional oil and natural gas (UOG) resources. As part of a July, 2014 Executive Order and a multiagency effort involving the Energy Department, the Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Geological Survey, these selections will help provide timely science and technology that will minimize environmental impacts of UOG development while maximizing the economic and national security benefits.
NETL-Managed Electric Vehicle/Smart Grid Transportation Projects Continue to Advance
October 30, 2014
With the growing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) on America’s highways, evidenced by an anticipated 60 new commercial models on the market horizon, NETL-managed smart grid projects are making progress in the effort to drive down the costs of charging EVs with innovations for improving the nation’s charging infrastructure.
New Project To Improve Characterization of U.S. Gas Hydrate Resources
October 22, 2014
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the selection of a multi-year, field-based research project designed to gain further insight into the nature, formation, occurrence and physical properties of methane hydrate‐bearing sediments for the purpose of methane hydrate resource appraisal.
First-of-its-Kind Carbon Capture and Conversion Demonstration Technology Opening in Texas
October 21, 2014
Today, the Department of Energy and Skyonic Corporation marked the opening of a major project demonstration for converting carbon dioxide (CO2) into commercial products. This new plant will use a first-of-its-kind process to capture 75,000 tons of CO2 from a San Antonio, Texas, cement plant and convert the greenhouse gas into other products, including sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate, hydrochloric acid and bleach.
NETL Aids Schools and Students with STEM Outreach Opportunities
October 03, 2014
Early engagement with science is what propels students into careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). STEM education increases scientific literacy, creates critical thinkers, and provides the tools for the next generation of innovators to take their place in the world.
NETL Partners with Local Teachers for STEM Education Successes
October 01, 2014
NETL is committed to advancing new methods and technologies for efficient, low-cost, environmentally benign energy production. As part of this commitment, the laboratory works hand in hand with teachers of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to provide them with energy-related, content-rich STEM materials. Students who are excited in the STEM classroom today may pursue careers that help them find solutions to tomorrow’s energy challenges.
NETL Releases Hydraulic Fracturing Study
September 15, 2014
The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has released a technical report on the results of a limited field study that monitored a hydraulic fracturing operation in Greene County, PA for upward fracture growth out of the target zone and upward gas and fluid migration. Results indicate that under the conditions of this study, for this specific location, fracture growth ceased more than 5,000 feet below drinking water aquifers and there was no detectable upward migration of gas or fluids from the hydraulically-fractured Marcellus Shale.
Six University Coal Research Projects Selected to Boost Advanced Energy Production
September 09, 2014
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) selected six new projects under the University Coal Research Program (UCR) that seek long-term solutions for the clean and efficient use of our nation’s abundant coal resources. The selected projects support the Office of Fossil Energy’s (FE) Crosscutting Research Program’s initiatives in high-performance materials and sensors and controls technology. The projects will be managed by FE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory.
NETL Collaborations Advance Carbon Management Strategies
August 27, 2014
Capturing carbon emissions before they can be released to the atmosphere and storing them safely and permanently is a key part of national efforts to curb climate change. This process, called carbon capture and storage (CCS), is also a critical component of the President’s Climate Action Plan.
Projects Selected for Safe and Permanent Geologic Storage of Carbon Dioxide
August 06, 2014
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the selection of 13 projects to develop technologies and methodologies for geologic storage of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) research is focused on developing technologies to capture industrially generated CO2, and safely and permanently store it in underground geologic formations, in order to reduce the amount of CO2 being released into the atmosphere.
Grace Bochenek Named New Director of DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory
August 04, 2014
The Department of Energy announced today that Grace Bochenek has been named the director of the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
Bochenek will manage the day-to-day operations of NETL, the national laboratory for the Office of Fossil Energy's research and development program. With more than 1,000 federal and contractor employees at five sites across the nation, NETL’s primary mission is to develop new technologies and approaches to ensure the safe, clean, and affordable use of fossil energy resources, including carbon capture and storage; advanced generation technology for new and existing coal-based power plants, and advanced research on novel concepts.
From Lab to Market—Particle Imaging Technology Improves Energy Efficiency, Helps the Environment, Saves Lives
July 31, 2014
When scientists at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) created a new technology to study how tiny particles of coal take high-speed journeys through gases and liquids inside energy-producing systems, their goal was to help improve the efficiency and environmental friendliness of coal-based energy production. They didn’t intend to create an enabling innovation for other life-improving applications, but they did.
From Lab to Market—HEVI-Shot Helps Reduce Lead Levels in Fragile Ecosystems
July 25, 2014
Hunters and sportsmen are loading their shotguns with shells that contain environmentally friendly shot because of the metallurgical expertise of the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), the business ingenuity of a private sector entrepreneur, and a productive commercialization partnership.
Construction Begins on DOE-Sponsored Carbon-Capture Project at Kentucky Power Plant
July 21, 2014
Construction of an innovative carbon-capture pilot unit is now underway in a $19.5 million project funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The unit is being built at Kentucky Utilities’ E.W. Brown Generating Station near Harrodsburg, Ky. When completed later this year, the unit will test, at slipstream-scale, a novel system conceived by the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (UKCAER) to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from the flue gas of an operating coal-fired power plant.
World’s Largest Post-Combustion Carbon Capture Project Begins Construction
July 16, 2014
Today, the Department of Energy – in partnership with NRG Energy Inc. and JX Nippon – announced that construction has begun on the first commercial-scale post-combustion carbon capture retrofit project in the U.S., the largest such project in the world. The Petra Nova Project will use this cutting edge technology to help decrease the power plant’s greenhouse gas emissions.
From Lab to Market—Reducing Mercury Emissions in U.S. Coal-Fired Power Plants
July 15, 2014
To protect the nation’s air quality, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued national standards in 2011 to reduce power plant emissions of mercury and other toxins. The standards were crafted largely by relying on widely available and proven controls already in use at more than half of our nation’s coal-fired power plants.
From Lab to Market—Improving Gasification Economics for Power and Chemicals Production
July 09, 2014
Gasification—the process of converting carbon-based materials such as coal into syngas, which can then be used to produce electricity, chemicals, and other products—is a promising pathway to reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil and provide a clean, carbon capture–ready source of energy. But gasification is a high-temperature, high-pressure process, so it can take a heavy toll on components and parts, costing operators considerable time and money.
NETL Supercomputer Puts Super Confidence in Research Results
July 03, 2014
The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) supercomputer injects speed, accuracy, and—perhaps most importantly—confidence into the complex process of simulating emerging energy technologies and new, innovative materials.
NETL Supercomputer Helps Develop Metal Alloys for Next-Generation Fossil Fuel Technologies
July 01, 2014
Many emerging technologies designed to use fossil fuels more cleanly and efficiently require components made of new materials that can withstand unprecedented temperatures, pressures, and corrosion levels. Developing these new materials was an arduous, time-consuming task of trial-and-error before researchers at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) began using one of the world’s top modeling tools—the NETL supercomputer—to design and model new metal alloys.
Energy Department Project Captures and Stores more than One Million Metric Tons of CO2
June 26, 2014
Following the one year mark since the release of the President’s Climate Action Plan, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) - in partnership with Air Products and Chemicals Inc. – today announced a major milestone, successfully capturing more than one million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) at the hydrogen-production facility in Port Arthur, Texas. Using an innovative technology called vacuum swing adsorption, the project captures more than 90 percent of the CO2 from the product stream of two commercial-scale steam methane reformers that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere. In addition to the secure storage, captured carbon from the project will be used to help produce additional, hard-to-access resources from existing nearby oil fields. In total, Department of Energy projects have captured and securely stored nearly 7.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide to date, equivalent to taking more than 1.5 million cars off the road for a year. In just the last year since the release of the President’s Climate Action Plan, these Department-supported projects have stored approximately 2.8 metric tons.
NETL Supercomputer Helps Researchers Study Coal Gasification
June 25, 2014
Researchers at the Office of Fossil Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) are using their world-class supercomputer to learn more about the chaotic chemical reactions that occur in the coal gasification process—knowledge that can lead to cleaner, more efficient, and more economical use of coal.
NETL, Pennsylvania DEP Data-Sharing Agreement to Address State’s Abandoned Wells
June 05, 2014
The Office of Fossil Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) have entered into a new data-sharing agreement that promises to improve methods of locating abandoned oil and gas wells. The Pa. DEP is engaged in an ongoing effort to discover and seal abandoned wells in Pennsylvania, while NETL has developed survey techniques that make it easier to find such wells. The data-sharing agreement will allow for research results to quickly benefit the Commonwealth and will provide NETL with a greater ability to assess the effectiveness of its survey technologies.
Power Storage Project Breaks New Ground in Smart Grid Renewable Energy Integration
June 03, 2014
An award-winning energy-storage project in Texas managed by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is demonstrating the effectiveness of using advanced lead–acid batteries to store power generated by a wind farm for more effective power grid management—solid progress in the nation’s drive toward smart grid evolution.
DOE-Sponsored Project Shows Huge Potential for Carbon Storage in Wyoming
June 03, 2014
The Wyoming Rock Springs Uplift could potentially store 14 to 17 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2, according to results from a Department of Energy-sponsored study. This is equal to 250 to 300 years’ worth of CO2 emissions produced by the Wyoming’s coal-fired power plants and other large regional anthropogenic CO2 sources at current emission levels.
Preparing the Next Generation Workforce for 21st Century Smart Grid Success
June 02, 2014
The interconnected electric power system that the National Academy of Engineering recognized as the greatest engineering achievement of the 20th century is undergoing a major upgrade to 21st century functionality. A combination of sophisticated sensors, communications, and computing innovations help make this possible. Also needed—and one of the biggest challenges facing the transition—is having qualified people to make it happen and to keep it innovative.
Smart Grid Tool Helps Utility Companies Make Smart Decisions
May 28, 2014
Transforming the nation’s aging power grid—the interconnected system of electric power generation, transmission, and distribution—into a reliable smart grid that bolsters national security, improves emissions, and fuels a growing economy requires utility company leaders to make complex business and technology decisions. The Energy Department is providing assistance to navigate those challenges.
How the National Labs Help Us Understand the Inner Workings of Power Plants
May 27, 2014
From discovering subatomic particles to developing protective coatings for airplanes, our National Labs are constantly making advancements in research and development. This week, the National Energy Technology Lab held an open project review meeting to show the public exactly what they’re working on right now.
Elusive High-Speed Particles Caught on Video
April 30, 2014
To improve the efficiency and environmental performance of fossil fuel–based energy production, researchers at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) have developed high-speed imaging systems—comprising both video and accompanying software—that allow researchers to see and analyze particle motion in great detail, deep inside fast-moving flow fields.
NETL Nanotechnology May Make Life Easier for Diabetics
April 29, 2014
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory and the University of Pittsburgh have developed a hybrid nanostructure with a unique sensitivity to acetone that has the potential to easily and non-invasively monitor blood sugar.
NETL’s Nanometer-Sized Heaters Use Sunlight to Convert CO2
April 29, 2014
A team of scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory and West Virginia University has developed new nano-sized materials capable of converting visible light into thermal energy, which can then be used to drive the conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) to methane, carbon monoxide, and other usable gases.
Unconventional Oil and Gas Projects Help Reduce Environmental Impact of Development
April 17, 2014
Since the first commercial oil well was drilled in the United States in 1859, most of the nation’s oil and natural gas has come from reservoirs from which the resources are relatively easy to extract. As these "conventional" reservoirs become harder to find, however, we are turning to oil and natural gas in shale or other less-permeable geologic formations, which do not readily release the hydrocarbons. These "unconventional" reservoirs require additional engineering measures, such as hydraulic fracturing, to improve reservoir quality and enable them to produce oil and gas at commercially viable rates.
DOE Marks Major Milestone with Startup of Recovery Act Demonstration Project
April 09, 2014
Today, the U.S. Department of Energy joined RTI International (RTI) and Tampa Electric Company (TECO) to celebrate the successful startup of a pilot project to demonstrate a warm gas cleanup carbon capture technology in a coal gasification unit at the TECO Polk Power Station near Tampa, Fla. The project, which is approximately $3 million under budget, included $168 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
NETL-Led Laboratory-Industry-Academia Collaboration Is Accelerating Carbon-Capture Technologies
April 01, 2014
In 2011, the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) established the Carbon Capture Simulation Initiative (CCSI) to take carbon-capture concepts from the laboratory to the power plant more quickly, at a lower cost, and with reduced risk than would be accomplished following more traditional research and development pathways. Today, the NETL-led CCSI has proven itself to be a model of successful, effective collaboration among government, industry, and academia.
NETL Researchers Reap 15 New Patents in 2013
March 19, 2014
Just as the nation’s farmers sow, nurture, and ultimately harvest the results of their labor, scientists and engineers at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) can take pride when their own processes or products are ripe for patents recognizing their efforts. During 2013, 15 tools, techniques, and technologies developed by NETL researchers were recognized for their exclusivity and uniqueness by receiving patents from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
FE’s Ultra-Deepwater Program focuses on spill prevention, safety and environmental stewardship
March 06, 2014
Nearly everyone recognizes that prudent development of domestic oil and natural gas resources will continue to be an important part of U.S. energy strategy for decades to come. How important depends a lot on conducting operations responsibly, ensuring communities are safe and the environment protected as the nation maximizes use of this vital domestic energy resource.
Cleantech: Innovative Lab Partnership Reduces Emissions from Coal
January 30, 2014
As the United States transitions to cleaner, greener sources of power, the Energy Department is investing in technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from burning the fossil fuels that many areas of our country still rely upon. Recently, the National Energy Technology Laboratory partnered with Great River Energy to increase operating efficiencies and reduce the emission of pollutants at the company's Coal Creek Station in North Dakota using a new fuel enhancement system called DryFining™.
Celebrating a Decade of Carbon Storage Research Through Partnership
January 07, 2014
For the past decade, the Office of Fossil Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory has managed a nationwide network of partnerships that team government, industry, academia, and nonprofit organizations to identify the best approaches for permanently storing CO2 in deep geologic formations.
Uncovering Coal's Secrets Through the University Coal Research Program
January 06, 2014
The challenges confronting the environmentally sound use of our country’s fossil energy resources are best addressed through collaborative research and development. That’s why this approach, which stretches federal dollars, is at the heart of the Office of Fossil Energy’s University Coal Research (UCR) Program.
Department of Energy Releases $8 Billion Solicitation for Advanced Fossil Energy Projects
December 12, 2013
As part of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan , the Energy Department published a solicitation today, making up to $8 billion in loan guarantee authority available to support innovative advanced fossil energy projects that avoid, reduce, or sequester greenhouse gases. Authorized by Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, loan guarantees under this new solicitation will help provide critical financing to support new or significantly improved advanced fossil energy projects – such as advanced resource development, carbon capture, low-carbon power systems, and efficiency improvements – that reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gas pollution.
EDX - Share and Share Alike
November 26, 2013
At NETL, sharing energy technical knowledge and expertise just got a whole lot easier. The Laboratory’s Office of Research and Development has recently launched the Energy Data eXchange, or EDX, a knowledge-sharing network built to provide a single source for fossil energy-related datasets and the tools to use them. EDX is designed to make research and other data generated by NETL researchers, other EDX users, and outside agencies available almost instantly through a common portal that features key tools to support analysis and evaluation.
Energy Department Assisting Launch of Low Greenhouse Gas–Emitting Jet Fuels
November 22, 2013
On behalf of the Department of Defense and the U.S. Air Force, the Energy Department is seeking research projects that would lead to the commercial production of coal-derived jet fuel. Creating jet fuels from coal capitalizes on an abundant domestic energy resource and lessens our dependence on foreign oil for jet fuel production.
Wellbore Cement: Research That Begins Where the Sidewalk Ends
October 29, 2013
As we meander down the sidewalk, how many of us give more than a passing thought to the cement underfoot? For the most part, it’s just another flat surface, a means to an end, whether it leads us to a coffee shop, book store, or parking lot. But when it’s puckered, chipped, or crumbling, we certainly think about its need for repair.
NETL Technologies Recognized for Technology Development, Transfer
October 25, 2013
A great invention that sits on a shelf, gathering dust, benefits no one. That’s the idea behind the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC), a nationwide network of federal laboratories that provides a forum to turn laboratory innovations into commercial products. Organized in 1974, and formally chartered by the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986, the FLC now comprises approximately 300 federal laboratories and centers, along with their parent departments and agencies.
Project Aids Development of Legacy Oilfield on Alaska's North Slope
October 21, 2013
Building on a project sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Linc Energy (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) is exploring the potential for accessing significant amounts of oil in the Umiat oilfield, a shallow, low-temperature, light-oil reservoir within Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve. In the process, they’re shedding light on how this and similar reservoirs could be successfully developed to increase supplies of domestic oil and natural gas.
National Lab Technology Transfer Making a Difference
August 28, 2013
At the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), scientists and engineers work every day to develop solutions to the nation’s energy problems. Technology transfer makes it possible to move NETL innovations from the lab to the marketplace, benefitting the greatest number of people as quickly and efficiently as possible.
The Greenhouse's Effect: NETL and Phipps Join Forces to Study Water
August 15, 2013
At first glance, one of the world’s greenest greenhouses and an energy lab may seem an unlikely pair, but they share more than their Pittsburgh, Pa., location. The Phipps Conservatory Botanical Gardens and the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) also share a concern for water.
Ancient Lava Flows Trap CO2 for Long-Term Storage in Big Sky Injection
August 13, 2013
How can a prehistoric volcanic eruption help us reduce the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere today? The answer is found in the basalt formations created by the lava – formations that can be used as sites for injecting carbon dioxide (CO2) captured from industrial sources in a process called carbon capture and storage (CCS).
One Thing Leads to Another: How NETL Research Saves Lives
August 08, 2013
Balanced on the tip of a finger, it doesn’t look like much — a bit of screen door, perhaps, or a badly mangled paper clip — but this little piece of metal is making big news in the medical community, and big changes in the lives of patients with coronary- and peripheral-artery disease.
Secretary Moniz Dedicates New Supercomputer at the National Energy Technology Laboratory
July 29, 2013
Today, Secretary Moniz dedicated a new supercomputer—one of the world’s fastest and most energy efficient—at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). The high-performance computer for energy and the environment is not only one of the top 100 supercomputers in the world, but it is also one of the most energy efficient for its size.
How a Chemical Engineering Major and Track Star Came to a DOE Summer Internship
July 25, 2013
From an early age my mother always instilled in me that education was important. As a young child, growing up in Baltimore, Maryland, I was not always the best at math. During the fourth grade I was placed in a summer program to better my math skills. This gave me the foundation I needed to understand the math concepts enabling me to master the skills. With this new confidence, I began to excel in math and science related courses, even now as I enter my senior year at Howard University.
Research Without Borders: NETL Pens MOU with Brazilian Coal Association
July 18, 2013
In 1837, separated by an ocean, Charles Wheatstone and Samuel Morse both invented electrical telegraphs. On February 14, 1876, Elisha Gray and Alexander Graham Bell separately filed for a U.S. patent on the telephone. In 1902, German meteorologist Richard Assmann and French scientist Léon Teisserenc de Bort independently discovered the stratosphere.
Virtual “Open House” Makes it Easier to Tour NETL Labs
July 11, 2013
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work with a first class technology lab? Are you looking for a cutting-edge facility where you can be a part of important research projects? Or are you just interested in the latest research on energy technologies?
NETL Innovations Recognized with RD 100 Awards
July 09, 2013
Two technologies advanced by the Office of Fossil Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in collaboration with strategic partners have been recognized by R&D Magazine as among the 100 most technologically significant products introduced into the commercial marketplace within the past year.
New Breathalyzer Offers Hope of Pain-Free Diabetes Monitoring
July 08, 2013
Researchers at the Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) have teamed up with their Regional University Alliance (NETL-RUA) colleagues to develop a new hybrid nanostructure that could make it easier to monitor blood sugar.
Improving Our Environment One Roof at a Time
June 27, 2013
Living roof. Eco-roof. Vegetated roof. Known by a variety of names, green roofs – which are built on top of a conventional roof and are partially or completely covered by vegetation – have been around for thousands of years and are popular in many European countries, especially Switzerland, Sweden, and Germany. Because of their many benefits, including improved energy efficiency and enhanced regional biodiversity, green roofs are becoming increasingly popular in North America. According to the annual Green Roofs for Healthy Cities survey, the green roof industry grew a remarkable 24 percent from 2011 to 2012.
DOE-Sponsored Research Improves Gas Turbine Performance
June 17, 2013
An innovative airfoil manufacturing technology that promises to improve the performance of state-of-the-art gas turbines has been commercialized through research sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
DOE Lab Receives Award for Work on Drilling Technology
June 13, 2013
Directional drilling – the drilling of non-vertical wells that helped make the development of shale gas possible -- will continue to play a key role in energy development, and so will the technologies that make it possible.
Modeling Through Shared Resources, No High-Fashion Experience Required
May 29, 2013
Modeling—the computer kind, not the runway kind—can help researchers predict particle movement, enabling improvements in the design of components used in energy production. To give graduate students experience modeling these systems, NETL has placed several high-performance computer clusters at Oregon State University.
Recycling Carbon Dioxide to Make Plastics
May 20, 2013
The world's first successful large-scale production of a polypropylene carbonate (PPC) polymer using waste carbon dioxide (CO2) as a key raw material has resulted from a projected funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy.
Expedition Provides New Insight on Gas Hydrates in Gulf of Mexico
May 14, 2013
A joint-federal-agency 15-day research expedition in the northern Gulf of Mexico yielded innovative high-resolution seismic data and imagery that will help refine characterizations of large methane hydrate resources in the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.
Breakthrough Industrial Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage Project Begins Full-Scale Operations
May 10, 2013
The Energy Department’s Acting Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy Christopher Smith today attended a dedication ceremony at the Air Products and Chemicals hydrogen production facilities in Port Arthur, Texas. Supported by a $284 million Energy Department investment, the company has successfully begun capturing carbon dioxide from industrial operations and is now using that carbon for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and securely storing it underground. This first-of-a-kind, breakthrough project advances carbon capture, utilization and storage technologies and demonstrates the potential to safely secure carbon dioxide pollution underground while providing an economic benefit and increasing our energy security.
NETL Scientist Named Finalist for Service to America Medal
May 08, 2013
National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) metallurgist Dr. Paul Jablonski, was named a finalist for a Partnership for Public Service Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal – known as the Sammies – during a congressional breakfast ceremony today in Washington, DC. The annual awards pay tribute to federal employees whose work advances the health, safety and well-being of Americans.
Regional Partnership Documentary Wins "Best of Show" Aurora Award
April 30, 2013
A documentary co-produced by Prairie Public Broadcasting (Fargo, N.D.) and the Plains CO2 Reduction (PCOR) Partnership with support from the U.S. Department of Energy has received a 2012 Platinum Best of Show Aurora Award — the highest honor awarded — in the nature/environment documentary category.
Interagency Collaboration to Address Environmental Impacts of Shale Gas Drilling
April 23, 2013
A memorandum of understanding to perform collaborative research related to airborne emissions and air quality at natural gas drilling sites has been signed by the Office of Fossil Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The research supports DOE's goal of enhancing America's energy security by contributing to the health and safety of workers in the nation's energy sector.
Alaskan Ice Road Water Supplies Augmented by Snow Barriers
March 06, 2013
In a project supported and managed by the Office of Fossil Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks have demonstrated that the use of artificial barriers—snow fences—can significantly increase the amount of fresh water supplies in Arctic lakes at a fraction of the cost of bringing in water from nearby lakes. The results promise to enhance environmentally sound development of Alaska’s natural resources, lowering the costs of building ice roads used for exploring for oil and natural gas in Alaska. They could also be used to help augment fresh water supplies at remote villages.
NETL Earns Carnegie Science Awards for Advanced Materials, Corporate Innovation
March 04, 2013
For its leadership and innovation in science and technology, the Office of Fossil Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory has earned two Carnegie Science Awards from the Carnegie Science Center. NETL representatives will receive the Advanced Materials Award and the Corporate Innovation Award at the 17th annual award ceremony to be held May 3, 2013, at Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh.
NETL Research Results in New U.S. Patents
February 14, 2013
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) received nine patents in 2012 for innovations that address the Nation’s energy challenges. The patents include an integrated process for removing pollutants from fossil-fuel combustion systems; a metallurgical melting process to produce defective-free metal ingots; catalysts that make it easier to reform hydrocarbon fuels; stainless steel compositions and heat treatment processes to enhance stainless steel durability; a method to measure the circulation rate of coal solids in gasification reactors; and a process to separate and purify carbon dioxide (CO2). Deployment of these technologies will enhance energy efficiency, improve metallurgical processes, and allow for better emissions monitoring and control.
Researching the Climate
February 08, 2013
What role do methane hydrates play in the global carbon cycle? How might Earth's vast stores of hydrates respond to a warming climate? What impacts could large-scale gas hydrate dissociation have on the world's environment? Working with other federal agencies and academia, NETL seeks to answer these and other vexing questions about methane hydrates or "fire ice."
DOE-Supported Project Advances Clean Coal, Carbon Capture Technology
January 29, 2013
Researchers at The Ohio State University (OSU) have successfully completed more than 200 hours of continuous operation of their patented Coal-Direct Chemical Looping (CDCL) technology - a one-step process to produce both electric power and high-purity carbon dioxide (CO2). The test, led by OSU Professor Liang-Shih Fan, represents the longest integrated operation of chemical looping technology anywhere in the world to date.
New Set of Computational Tools and Models Expected to Help Enable Rapid Development and Deployment of Carbon Capture Technologies
January 28, 2013
An eagerly anticipated suite of 21 computational tools and models to help enable rapid development and deployment of new carbon capture technologies is now available from the Carbon Capture Simulation Initiative (CCSI). The toolset developed by CCSI, a public-private partnership led by the Office of Fossil Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory, will help meet an urgent need by industry to take carbon capture concepts from the laboratory to the power plant more quickly, at lower cost and with reduced risk.
Breakthrough Large-Scale Industrial Project Begins Carbon Capture and Utilization
January 28, 2013
A breakthrough carbon capture, utilization, and storage project in Texas has begun capturing carbon dioxide and piping it to an oilfield for use in enhanced oil recovery. The project at Air Products and Chemicals hydrogen production facility in Port Arthur, Texas, is significant for demonstrating both the effectiveness and commercial viability of CCUS technology as an option in helping mitigate atmospheric CO2 emissions.
NETL's New Supercomputer Ranks Among the World's Top 100
January 15, 2013
One of the world’s fastest, most energy-efficient supercomputers – expected to help energy researchers discover new materials, optimize designs and better predict operational characteristics – is up and running at the Office of Fossil Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in Morgantown, W.Va
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