Science Supporting Energy Storage
PNNL seeks a fundamental understanding of how energy storage materials work under real operating conditions as the foundation for the discovery and development of next-generation energy storage systems.
Chemical Energy Storage
PNNL is working on storing energy in chemical forms as a key part of decarbonizing the country's electric grid.
Regulation, Policy, and Valuation
PNNL provides expertise in regulatory and policy analysis for energy storage, including economic valuation, asset optimization modeling, regulatory treatment, policy strategies, and market design.
Grid Integration of Renewable Energy
With the growth of renewable energy, the electric grid is shifting. PNNL is working to make sure the grid is ready to meet the rising tide of clean energy technology.
Energy System Modeling
Energy System Modeling
Bioenergy Technologies
PNNL bioenergy research is in support of DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO). BETO’s goal is to develop a viable, sustainable domestic biomass industry that produces renewable biofuels, bioproducts, and biopower; enhances U.S. energy security, and reduces dependence on foreign oil. PNNL supports these goals by researching and developing processes that convert biomass and wastes to chemicals and to biofuels that are infrastructure ready (e.g., gasoline, diesel and jet fuel). The research team utilizes their technical expertise in advanced biotechnology, catalysis and thermal processing to enable these conversions to take place.
Modeling Earth Systems
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) continues to have an important role in developing and applying models of various Earth system components. These models, several of which focus specifically on the atmosphere, enable PNNL scientists to study the Earth system at global, regional, and local scales.
Human-Earth System Interactions
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) scientists continue to play major roles in leading human-Earth system interactions research. PNNL acts as the home of and primary development institution for GCAM, a global model that represents the behavior of, and interactions between, five systems: energy; water; agriculture and land use; the economy; and the climate.
Reactor Licensing
Since the 1980s, PNNL has worked with federal agencies to provide scientifically credible, legally defensible, and consistently useful documentation for the licensing and siting of nuclear power reactor facilities in the United States and internationally.
Reactor Operations
The nation’s existing fleet of commercial nuclear reactors must continue to operate safely, reliably, and with economic efficiency throughout their lifetimes—and after that, be decommissioned—meeting environmental and safety standards.