While the future is always said to be uncertain, one certainty is that the world’s demand for energy will continue to grow. An increasing population, burgeoning transportation grid, large data centers and other factors are pressuring scientists to develop new energy technologies to meet the demand. As these new energy sources take shape, it’s paramount…
The nuclear energy landscape is changing. Public attitudes toward nuclear clean energy have shifted, with a majority of Americans (57 percent) indicating they favor nuclear power plants for electricity generation – an increase of 14 percent since 2020. The look of nuclear power for electricity generation is similarly changing, as conversation in the industry increasingly…
How SRNL’s Legacy Helps Ensure Grid Security Our world is becoming increasingly interconnected and, now more than ever, the security of our power grid is paramount. As we become more interconnected the emergence of cyber threats is also a growing concern. Savannah River National Laboratory’s Global Security Directorate supports the U.S. national security communities by…
Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) strives to continually improve process efficiencies, generate innovation and increase impact. The Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program helps meet these objectives by providing early investment in research concepts, discovery science and programs that further strategic goals and future missions. Each year, the LDRD program recognizes a Most Valuable…
The United States is working toward a power sector free of carbon pollution by 2035. Achieving this ambitious goal requires a commitment to developing renewable energy sources that are commercially competitive. Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) Scientist Patrick Ward is supporting the drive toward a more secure energy future and less carbon pollution by working…
Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) is leading the development of a critical hardware system for ITER—the international collaboration to demonstrate the feasibility of fusion as a carbon-free source of energy based on the same principle that powers the Sun and stars. Using a tokamak approach to magnetic fusion, ITER will achieve a self-heated, or “burning…
For a commercially viable fusion energy plant, research, design and development is needed to create an efficient, continuously operational fuel cycle. That’s where SRNL’s expertise comes in. Savannah River National Laboratory is working to advance technologies, materials, and process efficiencies to help realize fusion energy commercialization. Initial commercialization of fusion energy expects to use a…