Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)

Hydropower operators can save money on turbine repairs and maintenance, and add revenue by adding battery-type energy storage systems (cropped, courtesy of PNNL via email to CleanTechnica).

The Coal-Killing Combo Of Hydropower & Battery Energy Storage Systems, Brought To You By US…

When US President Donald Trump declared an “energy emergency” on January 20 of last year, he tapped the nation’s hydropower industry for preferential treatment alongside coal and other fossil fuels. And so, it is no surprise to see the US Department of Energy issuing a new report that outlines the … [continued]

Vanadium flow battery technology will be the first to take advantage of a new energy storage test facility hosted by the US Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (courtesy of PNNL).

A New Flow Battery Will Get A Good Look-See From The US Dept. Of Energy

Vanadium flow battery technology will be the first to take advantage of a new energy storage test facility hosted by the US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Two wind turbines installed in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2024. (Photo: American Windpower)

Small Wind Power Projects Expanding into New Markets

The distributed wind market is growing both in size and variety, according to a new PNNL-led report An electric vehicle manufacturer, two schools and two Alaskan villages: these are just some of the organizations using wind turbines to help meet their energy needs. For the last eight months, researchers from … [continued]

Data scientist Tianzhixi “Tim” Yin is among many scientists at PNNL working to increase confidence in artificial intelligence when it comes to electric grid operations. (Photo by Andrea Starr | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

An Electric Grid That Thinks Ahead

PNNL researchers point toward a smart grid that includes machine learning and artificial intelligence inputs, but with human expertise in the loop When we flip the light switch in our homes, we have come to expect instant access to electricity. Behind the scenes, that reliability depends on utility operators who … [continued]

Heat pump water heater courtesy of LG.

New Tool Helps with Selection & Installation of Heat Pump Water Heaters

The Department of Energy aims to reduce barriers to technology adoption by providing customized, comprehensive guidance for sizing, selection, and installation The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released a new web-based tool that offers comprehensive information about how to size, select, and install electric heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) … [continued]

Credit: AndySproles/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

New Grid-Forming Inverter Models Help Utilities Plan for a Renewable Future

Now available in utilities’ everyday simulation tools, new models will help simulate how grid-forming inverters will enhance power grid stability Integrating renewable energy into the nation’s power grid isn’t as simple as plugging in a wind or solar power plant or energy storage facility—these resources produce direct current, while the … [continued]

Doctoral student Mason Bichanich reviews and troubleshoots tidal turbine data at the University of New Hampshire’s Turbine Deployment Platform. Photo from Nicole Marone, UNH.

How Two Rookie Engineers Expertly Designed a Tidal Energy Turbine

The Turbine Will Collect and Share Data To Deepen Our Understanding of Tidal Energy To innovate in marine energy requires some extracurriculars: turning wrenches at the barge, conducting trial runs in the wave pool, and talking through ideas with a supportive team. All this appeals to University of New Hampshire … [continued]