PNNL's accomplishments in FY 2024 help address the remaining challenges the wind industry faces.

Pyrocumulonimbus clouds are increasing in frequency as large wildfires become more prevalent in a warming climate. These clouds can inject smoke particles into the atmosphere, where they can remain suspended for several months.

Using numerical simulations to reproduce the laboratory experiments, this study reveals that liquid droplets are present near the bottom surface, which warms and moistens the air in the chamber.

With the launch of a large research barge, PNNL and collaborators took another significant step to improve offshore wind forecasting that will lower risk and cost associated with offshore wind energy development.

PNNL and collaborators developed new models—recently approved by the U.S. Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC)—to help utilities understand how new grid-forming inverter technology will enhance grid stability.

PNNL served as workshop partner for the 2024 Marine Technology Society Buoy Workshop, held this year in Sequim, Washington, where PNNL operates the only marine research facilities in the Department of Energy system.

Researchers show how satellite observations from the MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer and CloudSat radar can be used to constrain the ACI radiative forcing that is linked to droplet collection in marine liquid clouds.

A set of papers combines surface science measurements on tiny particles with uncrewed aerial systems to better understand and model aerosols.

There are many ways that researchers at PNNL bring unique perspectives to the field of distributed wind. One is the fact that PNNL's distributed wind projects are all led by women.

Researchers devised a quantitative and predictive understanding of the cloud chemistry of biomass-burning organic gases helping increase the understanding of wildfires.

Models have identified a new source of anthropogenic emissions driving the observed weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation.

The nation is closer to its offshore wind energy goals than ever before, but better wind forecasting is still needed. To address this challenge, PNNL and collaborators are charting a new course with help from novel technology.

Atmospheric rivers, filaments of intense moisture transport in the atmosphere, can now be automatically detected in satellite observations.

Earth Scientist Laura Fierce mentors Department of Energy Science Graduate Student Research program awardees.

Fiscal year 2023 offered PNNL wind researchers a wealth of opportunity to address wind implementation challenges and expand its support of various federal and state agency wind energy goals.

This study revealed that fresh organic vapors are soluble in particulate organics that are actively growing in size. However, if the particulate matter ages, fresh organic vapors can no longer mix with the organic matter.

Partitioning measured ice nucleating particle concentrations into individual particle types leads to a better understanding of the sources and model representations of these particles.

Pasco School District teachers join PNNL for an immersive teaching experience.

PNNL will lead support to one of six community teams chosen today by the U.S. Department of Energy to receive a total of up to $25 million.

PNNL is supporting the floating offshore wind industry to enable gigawatt-scale development of floating offshore wind in the United States while minimizing environmental impacts and supporting local workforces.