Researchers successfully demonstrated remote and autonomous power adjustments to a low-power research reactor using a digital control loop and reinforcement learning model. The demonstration linked three sites operating together in real time, showcasing the potential for autonomous nuclear energy operations.
The US Department of Energy has selected four companies to participate in its Nuclear Energy Launch Pad initiative, which aims to support the development and deployment of advanced nuclear technologies. The selected companies will receive technical, regulatory, and deployment support from the National Reactor Innovation Center.
The US Department of Energy's National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) has launched the world's first microreactor test bed, DOME, to accelerate development and testing of privately developed advanced nuclear reactors. The test bed will enable rapid demonstration of reactor concepts and gather performance data to support design verifi...
The National Reactor Innovation Center's new Molten Salt Thermophysical Examination Capability will enable researchers to gather reliable data for designing and testing molten salt reactors. The capability is a key step toward advancing next-generation nuclear reactor technologies, addressing national energy objectives.
The partnership aims to accelerate advanced nuclear reactor deployment and reduce costs through AI-driven design, licensing, and operation. By leveraging AI, Prometheus Grand Challenge seeks to deliver nuclear energy at a faster schedule, with at least 2x acceleration and greater than 50% operational cost reductions.
The Idaho National Laboratory is now accepting grants for STEM education and community development initiatives. The grants, funded by Battelle Energy Alliance, aim to strengthen Idaho's communities and future workforce through innovative projects and programs.
The Idaho National Laboratory has selected five companies to conduct end-user experiments on the Microreactor Application Research Validation and Evaluation (MARVEL) project. The selected teams will explore innovative applications of MARVEL, including powering data centers with nuclear energy and demonstrating desalination technologies.
The Idaho National Laboratory has successfully delivered the first batch of tri-structural isotropic (TRISO) particle fuel to the Transient Reactor Test Facility, paving the way for Project Pele's demonstration microreactor. This fuel, known for its durability under high heat and radiation, is a key component in advanced nuclear reactors.
The Idaho National Laboratory is collaborating with Amazon Web Services to develop artificial intelligence tools for nuclear energy projects. The laboratory aims to reduce the costs and timeframes of designing, licensing, building, and operating nuclear facilities using advanced AI technologies.
The Idaho National Laboratory will lead the Semiconductor Manufacturing and Advanced Research with Twins USA Institute (SMART USA) in advancing American digital twin technology. Leveraging high-performance computing, digital engineering, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing, SMART USA aims to reboot domestic manufacturin...
The Idaho National Laboratory is using Microsoft's Azure cloud and artificial intelligence to automate the nuclear permitting and licensing process. The tool generates reports required for construction permits and operating licenses, streamlining efficiency and accelerating deployment of advanced nuclear technologies.
The Idaho National Laboratory is seeking a private sector sponsor to invest in an innovation incubator supporting breakthrough innovations in nuclear energy, cybersecurity, and advanced materials. The program aims to provide seed-stage startups with access to INL's world-class facilities and technical expertise.
The proposal aims to provide a central repository for battery test information, enabling researchers to use advanced data science methods to accelerate battery technology development. The availability of open-source information on batteries is limited, but the Battery Data Genome could help address this challenge.
Researchers at Idaho National Laboratory have developed a dimethyl ether-driven process for selectively separating rare earth elements and transition metals from magnet wastes. This method significantly reduces energy and product consumption compared to traditional methods.
Researchers at Idaho National Laboratory developed a simple acid treatment to improve the efficiency of protonic ceramic electrochemical cells (PCECs), overcoming long-standing challenges. The treatment increases the surface area between the electrode and electrolyte, allowing for more efficient flow of hydrogen atoms and improved cell...
The Advanced Test Reactor has completed its sixth core overhaul in 11 months, replacing worn-out components to maintain peak performance. The reactor will resume normal operations this spring, supporting vital nuclear energy research and scientific missions.
Researchers at Idaho National Laboratory have created a nationwide-scale electric power grid test bed to develop and demonstrate cutting-edge technologies for grid modernization. The enhanced test bed offers a collaborative environment for labs, industry, academia, and government to leverage shared resources.
The Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment will provide crucial operational data for fast-spectrum salt reactors and unlock this uniquely flexible advanced reactor technology for use in a net-zero future. The project represents a significant inflection point in the technology demonstration roadmap for TerraPower's MCFR.
Researchers from the US Department of Energy's three applied energy laboratories have developed a new framework for engineering-based modeling and analysis to support complex optimization of hybrid energy systems. These systems can leverage multiple energy sources to maximize value and deliver lower-emission energy to industry.
Researchers at Idaho National Laboratory and University of California San Diego discovered a rare glassy metal during studies on lithium recharging. The discovery could lead to improved battery life and new applications for glassy metals, which are difficult to produce but offer powerful material properties.
Researchers at Idaho National Laboratory developed a new electrode material for an electrochemical cell that can efficiently convert excess electricity and water into hydrogen. The device operates at temperatures as low as 400-600 degrees Celsius, making it more cost-effective and sustainable.
Researchers have developed a method to extract rare-earth elements from phosphogypsum mining waste, a potentially game-changing solution to alleviate the world's REE supply shortages. The use of microorganisms to dissolve the elements has shown promise as an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional methods.
Researchers at Idaho National Laboratory discovered a way to make superalloys more resistant to heat-related failures, allowing them to withstand high temperatures six times longer than untreated counterparts. This breakthrough could improve materials performance in electricity generators and nuclear reactors.
The US Department of Energy has awarded a subcontract to GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy to support the conceptual design and cost/schedule estimate activities for a proposed fast spectrum Versatile Test Reactor. The reactor is crucial for developing innovative nuclear fuels, materials, instrumentation, and sensors.
Researchers developed a ceramic steam electrode that self-assembles for high-performance electrochemical hydrogen production below 600o C. This breakthrough enables efficient hydrogen production using only water and electricity.
New research from Idaho National Laboratory found that cold temperatures significantly impact EV charging efficiency, leading to longer charging times. The study analyzed data from a fleet of electric vehicles in New York City, revealing a decrease in battery state of charge with lower temperatures.
Researchers at Idaho National Laboratory have developed a new fuel cell technology powered by solid carbon, which can utilize three times as much carbon as earlier designs. The innovation enables lower temperatures and higher power densities, making it potentially more efficient than conventional hydrogen fuel cells.
Scientists developed an efficient process to turn captured CO2 into syngas, a mixture of H2 and CO that can be used to make fuels and chemicals. The new process uses switchable polarity solvents to control what molecules dissolve in the solvent.
Analysis reveals that public charging infrastructure is not needed everywhere, with homes, workplaces, and 'hot spots' sufficient for adoption. Drivers tend to favor a few public stations when away from home, with workplace charging enabling significant electric range extension.
The Human System Simulation Laboratory at Idaho National Laboratory is a full-scale virtual nuclear control room that tests proposed technology replacements before implementation. This facility enables scientists to improve control-room designs by studying human interactions with instruments and responses to alarms. The lab is now help...
The Idaho National Laboratory has demonstrated a suite of cybersecurity tools that provides situational awareness of networks and control systems. The Sophia software tool passively observes network communications, providing real-time and historical records of those communications.
Researchers achieved a world record by consuming approximately 19% of its low-enriched uranium, more than double the previous record. The advanced fuel design demonstrates robustness and safety, paving the way for commercial-scale HTGR fuel production.
A new research project at Idaho National Laboratory will use an innovative approach to learn how to get more use from nuclear fuel. The team plans to put pure samples of common actinides into the Advanced Test Reactor, which will then be analyzed using accelerator mass spectroscopy.
Researchers at Idaho National Laboratory and Brookhaven National Laboratory will develop more accurate reactor simulations using data from experiments performed around the world. The new approach combines information from atomic level to meter scale, covering an unprecedented range of 15 orders of magnitude.
A new study shows that a sensitive laser instrument developed at the Idaho National Laboratory can detect minuscule traces of cells in Martian minerals. The technique uses a 'point-and-shoot' laser method to preserve more of the rock and reduce contamination risk, with high sensitivity crucial for NASA's search for life on Mars.
Scientists successfully produced hydrogen at a rate of 5.6 cubic meters per hour using High-Temperature Electrolysis, a system that improves upon conventional methods. The achievement has potential applications in producing liquid fuels and upgrading heavy oil deposits.
Researchers at Idaho National Laboratory developed a way to produce plastic sheets containing billions of nanoantennas that collect heat energy generated by the sun. The technology has potential to be mass-produced on flexible materials, powering devices with higher efficiency than traditional solar cells.
A team of researchers from INL and partner institutions has successfully improved coated-particle nuclear fuel performance by reaching a burnup of 9% without any fuel failure. The breakthrough increases the efficiency of the reactor system, reducing fuel requirements and waste generation.
Researchers found that Yellowstone viruses migrate from pool to pool through droplets of steam, thriving in acidic environments even when hosts are rare. This discovery sheds light on how these viruses survive and interact with microbes in hostile surroundings.
Researchers will inject thousands of tons of pressurized carbon dioxide into Western basalt formations to monitor its storage. The experiment aims to create infrastructure for carbon sequestration, potentially storing over 100 billion tons of CO2.
Researchers are creating a chemical guidebook to identify signs of microbial life in Martian rocks. The team, supported by a $900,000 grant, will use advanced mass spectrometer technology and fuzzy logic computer program to analyze spectral images and make decisions about sample selection.
The INEEL-designed Munitions Assessment System processes drums containing multiple chemical munitions, using digital radiography and computed tomography to identify chemical fill. The system also includes portable isotopic neutron spectroscopy for accurate chemical analysis.
NASA is collaborating with Idaho National Laboratory (INEEL) to evaluate the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for routine fire surveillance and management. The project aims to improve speed, safety, and cost efficiency in firefighting efforts.
The Idaho National Laboratory has recognized five scientists, William Apel, James Delmore, Paul Meakin, David Petti, and Herschel Smartt, as its first-ever Laboratory Fellows. They were selected based on their professional knowledge, scientific achievements, and national technical leadership.
Researchers at Idaho National Laboratory have achieved a major advancement in producing hydrogen from water using high-temperature electrolysis, enhancing efficiency to 45-50%. This technology has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel consumption.
Researchers at INEEL isolated a stable catalase enzyme from T. brockianus, improving industrial half-life by 86,000-fold, reducing environmental costs and toxicity associated with chlorine-based bleaching processes.
The Geologic and Environmental Probe System (GEOPS) is an innovative technology that allows scientists to directly measure hazardous chemicals in the soil. By inserting the probe into the ground without disturbing the surrounding soil, researchers can gather accurate data quickly and efficiently, saving time and money.
The Idaho National Laboratory's (INEL) RELAP5-3D training module aims to enhance nuclear reactor safety worldwide. The five-DVD set includes a Russian translation, allowing students in countries like Slovakia and Lithuania to develop independent safety thinking.
Bechtel is collaborating with INEEL to test and develop critical infrastructure, including process control and SCADA systems. The partnership aims to provide scalable and secure testing capabilities for government and industry.
Loewen, an INEEL scientist, has been selected for a congressional fellowship to share his knowledge of nuclear science and technology with a member of Congress. The fellowship aims to bring a knowledgeable view of nuclear matters to Congress and provide a resource for Congress in science and engineering.