The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is the nation’s premier energy technology laboratory that delivers integrated solutions to enable America’s transformation to a decarbonized energy future. NETL’s staff exceeds 1,400, comprising federal employees and site support contractors. This diverse array of personnel includes scientists, engineers, economists, procurement specialists, legal professionals, research support staff, technical project managers, and interns at multiple academic levels.
As DOE’s only government-owned, government-operated laboratory (GO-GO), NETL specializes in cradle-to-grave activities. The GO-GO model allows NETL to be a “one-stop-shop” and provide independent and unbiased science-based analysis of technologies, energy policy, legislation, and regulations. NETL addresses high-priority national interest issues requiring highly focused technology research, development, demonstration, and deployment, engaging the best available resources, including multiple state, local, and federal agencies; academia; industry; and not-for-profit research institutes and organizations.
NETL is organized into six functional areas to accomplish its mission and to provide flexible, dynamic expertise and capabilities to its public and private sector customers throughout the nation.
The Office of the Director has authority over the complete NETL complex, ensuring the delivery and execution of NETL’s mission to drive innovation for an environmentally sustainable and prosperous energy future.
Function: Provides management guidance and oversight for several functional areas, including, Research & Innovation Center, Science & Technology Strategic Plans & Programs, Technology Development Center, Laboratory Operations Center, and Finance & Acquisition Center.
- Office of Chief Counsel: Services include interpreting state and federal statutory and regulatory requirements, legal contract oversight, litigation support, and managing Legal and NEPA activities.
- Communications & Public Affairs: Manages all NETL-wide communications and public affairs functions in support of the Laboratory, FECM, and the U.S. Department of Energy, while elevating the NETL brand. Functions as the primary liaison with multiple agencies, develops communication tools and strategies, manages NETL's online presence, and provides technical writing, multimedia product development, and public relations services.
The RIC develops, nurtures, and exercises core technical competencies enabling NETL to be an international resource for carbon management technology discovery, development, and deployment. Specializing in Computational Science & Engineering, Energy Conversion Engineering, Geological & Environmental Systems, Materials & Manufacturing Engineering, and Strategic Systems Analysis & Engineering.
Function: Collaborating with industry, academia, and other government labs, the RIC innovates and delivers technical solutions, manages research operations across multiple sites, and handles R&D portfolios to meet customer needs. Research typically focuses on concepts with technology readiness levels between two and four.
- Energy Conversion Engineering: Manages and conducts research in thermal sciences, systems integration, and reaction engineering, while maintaining technical expertise and providing support to the organization.
- Geological & Environmental Systems: Manages and conducts research in geochemistry, reservoir engineering, and geo-analysis, while ensuring expertise access to support the organization.
- Materials & Manufacturing Engineering: Manages and conducts research in functional materials, structural materials, and materials characterization, ensuring expertise access to support the organization.
- Strategic Systems Analysis & Engineering: Focus includes energy process analysis, systems engineering research, and energy market analysis, ensuring expertise access to support the organization.
- Computational Science & Engineering: Activities span computational materials engineering, computational device engineering, and advanced computing, ensuring expertise access to support the organization.
- Research Planning & Delivery: Manages the entire research lifecycle, from proposal to completion, leveraging expertise in project management, business management, and administrative support.
- Research Partnerships & Tech Transfer: Includes outreach to strategic partners, engaging in collaborative research, identifying technical challenge solutions, and ensuring the effective transfer of RIC intellectual property.
The TDC focuses on implementing national R&D programs, working closely with various energy-focused departments, industry, and educational institutes to achieve program goals.
Function: Oversees project definition, funding solicitations, negotiations, project management, and results communication. Maintains skilled staff and supports NETL's planning and outreach. This includes the four organizational elements: Carbon Management, Resource Sustainability, Energy Efficiency & Manufacturing, and Energy Delivery & Security.
- Carbon Management: Manages external R&D projects that support the DOE's FECM Carbon Management Program goals. Research focuses on point source carbon capture, CO2 removal and conversion, reliable CO2 storage, power cycle efficiency, and low-carbon hydrogen technologies.
- Resource Sustainability: Manages external R&D projects that support the DOE's FECM Resource Sustainability Program goals. Research focuses on improving the characterization, production, transportation, and utilization of our Nation's oil and natural gas resources.
- Energy Efficiency & Manufacturing: Provides technical, administrative, and project management support to DOE’s Offices of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE) – Building Technologies, Geothermal Technologies, and Vehicle Technologies.
- Energy Delivery & Security: Provides technical, administrative, and project management support to DOE’s Offices of Electricity (OE) – Grid Systems and Components, Grid Controls and Communications, and Energy Storage; Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) – Preparedness, Policy, and Risk Analysis, Risk Management Tools and Technologies, and Response & Restoration; and Grid Deployment Office.
The S&TSPP steers NETL's strategic direction, leveraging current capabilities and forecasting future competencies to ensure NETL's sustained growth.
Function: Guides the development of the NETL Strategic Plan, identifies critical technical areas for investment, and harmonizes strategies across NETL to engage with external stakeholders.
Collaborates with entities like the RIC and the Technology Development Center, emphasizing NETL's core mission.
The LOC delivers an effective, efficient, and quality work environment and support services that advance the NETL mission.
Function: Responsible for the development, implementation, integration, and monitoring of products and services essential for NETL business and laboratory functions. This includes Business Integration; Career Management and Education Programs; Information Technology; Facility Operations; and Security.
- Business Integration: Organizational roles span site support services, strategic planning, enterprise performance assessments, directives, continuous process improvement, internal controls & assessments, and external audit functions.
- Career Management and Education Programs: Focuses on human capital management, research associate & internship management, and STEM education & outreach.
- Information Technology: Covers IT liaison roles, enterprise architecture management, IT operations, records management, and cybersecurity risk management.
- Facility Operations: Manages real property assets, R&D engineering projects, facility operations, safety and health standards, environmental compliance, and comprehensive emergency management.
- Security: Oversees onsite security, access programs, continuity programs, risk assessments, protection levels establishment, and countermeasures development.
The FAC plans, directs, and coordinates NETL’s CFO, procurement, and financial assistance functions.
Function: Develops financial policies, liaises with DOE offices, provides advice on financial resources, procurements, and financial assistance activities.
- Accounting: Complies with regulations, establishes accounting policies, supports CFO Act requirements, develops accounting systems, liaises with various entities, and represents NETL at forums.
- Budget & Analysis: Develops operating budgets, maintains financial planning models, enforces fund use policies, provides financial reports, responds to data requests, supports financial matters, ensures budget adherence, and develops financial policies.
- Acquisition: Develops procurement plans, leads internal support contracting activities, manages contracts, provides business and financial expertise, implements federal policies, maintains various programs, and administers instrument closeouts.
