Energy Resiliency
In collaboration with industry experts and the research community, PNNL scientists and engineers work every day toward an affordable, reliable, resilient and secure energy future.
Grid Architecture
Grid architecture is a connected body of work that has found ever-increasing use in the electric utility industry, not just in the United States, but worldwide. For example, the Electric Power Research Institute has adopted the PNNL grid architecture approach as the basis for its utility modernization road maps. PNNL's approach is utilized by electric utilities and utility regulatory commissions and boards in dozens of states, with uptake in other countries worldwide. Grid Architecture helps stakeholders understand the issues of grid modernization from a structural standpoint and provides principles and reference models that they can adopt and then adapt to their unique circumstances.
Building Energy Codes
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) provides support in developing and implementing national model codes to support energy efficiency in buildings with energy-efficient building envelopes and mechanical, lighting, and power systems.
Hydropower Cybersecurity and Digitalization
Cybersecurity experts at PNNL helping to protect valuable hydropower resources during the transition to a digitalized world.
Materials Science for Hydropower
PNNL leads research in materials science to improve hydropower operations and to enhance hydropower’s capability to provide efficient grid services.
Pumped Storage Hydropower
PNNL researchers are working on efforts that overcome barriers and enhance the capabilities of existing and future pumped storage hydropower facilities.
Terrestrial Aquatics
With research focused on the critical interface of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, PNNL brings integrative science, modeling, analytical tools, and expertise to investigate, prevent, and reverse ecosystem decline.
Environmental Performance of Hydropower
PNNL researchers are advancing hydropower through research and innovation to improve fish passage, turbine design and evaluation, and the regulatory process.
Atmospheric Science
If Earth were the size of an apple, its atmosphere would be no thicker than the apple’s skin. What happens within that thin atmospheric layer is essential to life on the planet, from the quality of the air we breathe to the rainfall that supports agriculture and ecosystems.
Appliance and Equipment Standards
PNNL works with the U.S. Department of Energy to develop standards and test procedures to reduce energy used by residential and commercial appliances.