NETL’s mission is driving innovation and delivering solutions for an environmentally sustainable and prosperous energy future:
- Ensuring affordable, abundant and reliable energy that drives a robust economy and national security, while
- Developing technologies to manage carbon across the full life cycle, and
- Enabling environmental sustainability for all Americans.
NETL is organized to provide flexible, dynamic expertise and capabilities to its public and private sector customers throughout the nation. The Laboratory is focused on:
- Developing and maturing innovative energy technologies through strong and diverse extramural partnerships and collaborations.
- Maximizing technical achievement while minimizing cost and risk through technical program planning and long-term strategies.
- Emphasizing partnerships with industry, institutes of higher education, nonprofit organizations, small businesses, other federal agencies and national laboratories on global, state and local levels.
- Cultivating a world-class science and technology workforce.
- Building and maintaining a unique, world-class laboratory infrastructure that supports enduring mission elements.
- Integrating its extramural and intramural research to promote collaboration and coordination.
- Increasing transparency in business planning and technical operations.
- Prioritizing science, global climate change mitigation, social equity, environmental justice and economic revitalization.
NETL is led by the Office of the Director, which maintains full control and authority, including delegated authority, over the complete NETL complex for delivery and execution of NETL’s mission.
In continuous pursuit of the mission and to sustain NETL as a world-class research and development enterprise, the Office of the Director promotes organizational direction toward sustainability, consistency, effectiveness and efficiency in research efforts and business practices. The Office of the Director:
- Leads development of the NETL Strategic Plan, including identification of future competencies.
- Promotes NETL efficiency and effectiveness by establishing and maintaining organizational standards and metrics for quality, productivity, employee development and workforce utilization.
- Oversees the preparation, justification and execution of NETL’s institutional budget under guidance provided by the Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy and Carbon Management and the Department of Energy’s Chief Financial Officer.
- Exemplifies and promotes the highest levels of safety, scientific integrity, public accountability and social responsibility in the conduct of research and development (R&D) programs.
- The Communications and Public Affairs Team manages all NETL-wide public affairs and communications functions in support of the Director, the Department, and the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management. The team is responsible for developing and implementing NETL communications and public affairs strategy that elevates the NETL brand by developing NETL high-level messages and managing development of NETL communication products and internal communications efforts.
NETL is organized into four Centers and one unit under the Office of the Director: the Research and Innovation Center, the Science & Technology Strategic Plans & Programs unit, the Technology Development Center, the Laboratory Operations Center, and the Finance & Acquisitions Center. The Office of the Director also oversees the Office of the Chief Counsel and the Communications and Public Affairs team.
The Research and Innovation Center nurtures and exercises core technical competencies that enable NETL to be an international resource for fossil energy technology discovery, development and deployment. The technical core competencies, which combine world-class expertise with mission-relevant laboratory facilities, include: Computational Engineering, Energy Conversion Engineering, Geological and Environmental Systems, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering, and Systems Analysis & Engineering
Core competencies are exercised in collaboration with industry, academia and other government laboratories, to deliver knowledge and technologies that enable affordable, environmentally sustainable utilization of the nation’s abundant, domestic energy resources.
The Science and Technology Strategic Plans and Programs unit will develop the strategic direction for NETL programs and activities that will identify future competency requirements; leverage existing capabilities to optimize output, including through repositioning and redeployment as necessary; and identify investments to sustain and grow the Laboratory. Strategic planning efforts are centered on NETL’s enduring missions: effective resource development, efficient energy conversion and environmental sustainability. In pursuit of those objectives, the Science and Technology Strategic Plans and Programs unit will:
- Lead development of annual enterprise portfolio planning, connecting objectives of the strategic plan to specific actions, and including quantifiable deliverables and measurable outcomes.
- Develop technology roadmaps including the DOE Annual Laboratory Plan, the FECM Roadmap and integrated program development plans.
- Define technical capabilities that require investment for the long-term strength of NETL including budgetary requirements for achieving those capabilities.
- Develop a collective strategy and engagement plan for external stakeholders.
- Pursue partnerships with other national laboratories, industries and academia.
- Develop and implement a strategic plan for international efforts to advance the overall strategy of NETL research focus areas.
The Science and Technology Strategic Plans are executed by the Research and Innovation Center and the Technology Development and Integration Center.
The Technology Development Center implements national programs in fossil energy and carbon management and broader DOE programs in collaboration with partners through integrated technical and business teams that define, solicit, negotiate, award, manage and deliver federally sponsored research and development. The Center will:
- Define project technical and budget requirements to achieve research objectives
- Lead program/project teams to prepare and issue competitive solicitations
- Negotiate and manage projects with industry, universities, and national laboratories
- Coordinate and communicate project results and accomplishments
- Maintain a qualified and experienced workforce through training and job assignments
- Support DOE and NETL program planning, development, analysis, execution, outreach and communication efforts
- Maintain and utilize project management best practices to reduce project risk, enhance project outcomes, and support DOE program success.
- Leverage multiple perspectives and lessons learned through collaboration with RIC system analysts and researchers and FAC procurement specialists to develop and execute funding opportunities and projects that efficiently and effectively advance technology development objectives.
- Utilize an integrated systems perspective to appropriately develop and manage projects, especially with respect to project de-risking (FAC) and technology maturation (RIC).
The Technology Development and Integration Center’s work will be performed through four organization element areas: Natural Gas & Oil, Advanced Coal & Carbon Management, Energy Efficiency, and Energy Delivery and Security.
The Laboratory Operations Center manages a comprehensive, fully integrated program of operations and services necessary to support the NETL mission and in accordance with applicable law, federal policy, and best practices. The center maintains and develops facilities, while implementing, integrating, monitoring and continuously improving the products and services required to support NETL research, business and laboratory operations. The center’s responsibilities encompass security, facility operations, information technology and strategic support to:
- Maintain physical and cyber security.
- Perform internal compliance reviews.
- Provide strategic analysis, best practices and improved functions for efficiency.
- Manage facility engineering and property accountability.
- Manage environmental safety and health.
- Provide information technology and records management.
- Coordinate human resources and career management.
- Communicate equal employment opportunity.
- Maintain effective communications.
The Finance and Acquisition Center plans, directs, and coordinates NETL’s chief financial officer (CFO), procurement, and financial assistance (financial award and grant) functions to ensure effective oversight and stewardship of the Laboratory’s financial resources through the following major roles:
- Develop and implement the Laboratory’s financial policies.
- Serves as the principal advisor to the NETL Director and other senior NETL officials on matters related to the Laboratory’s financial resources, procurements, and financial assistance activities.
- Serves as liaison with DOE CFO and Procurement offices.
- Serves as the financial liaison with Fossil Energy leadership for budget and financial assistance matters.
- Ensures the financial integrity of the Laboratory’s books and records.
- Manages and monitors the funds control process.
- Provides contractual and financial expertise for sound procurement and business management.
- Implements and coordinates Federal acquisition and assistance policies and procedures.
