When NETL researchers began to research the potential to recover critical minerals from rocks that are processed to remove atmospheric carbon dioxide in a practice called mineral carbonation, they expected to find valuable commodities like chromium, cobalt, and nickel. But their work also discovered valuable quantities of platinum group minerals (PGMs) — extremely precious metal commodities that are critical for the clean energy economy.

NETL, in partnership with California-based Cerebras Systems Inc., is embracing new, efficient computer architecture that can accelerate research project simulations to make a clean energy economy a reality.

Researchers at NETL and the University of Wyoming report that using brackish water — water that is not suitable for drinking or irrigation because it contains between 1,000 and 35,000 parts per million of dissolved solids — to cool power plants can reduce freshwater consumption by 94% to 100%. The results of the study were reported in a paper published online by Nature Portfolio and available here. 

Recognizing the importance of collaborative assets for energy-related research needs, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has taken steps to ensure a permanent place for researchers around the world to access research data.

NETL’s Natalie Pekney, Ph.D., an environmental engineer leading research to mitigate methane emissions from abandoned oil and gas wells, has been named the recipient of a 2022 Arthur S. Flemming Award, one of the nation’s top honors presented to federal employees.

Summer research associates arrived at NETL sites June 5 and have begun collaborating with the Lab’s scientists, engineers and other professionals to gain direct experience in their fields and contribute to innovative projects to meet the nation’s energy needs. “NETL’s research associates are selected from an elite pool of candidates and represent the best and brightest in their fields,” said NETL Director Brian Anderson. “We are pleased they will be joining us as they contribute to projects and acquire experience to serve as the next generation of innovators.”

Strategically planning safe and sustainable routes for transportation of CO2 from where it is captured to where it can be stored underground or converted into other products is a critical priority in achieving a greenhouse gas (GHG)-neutral economy by 2050. NETL has responded to that challenge by creating an expansive and accessible Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Pipeline Route Planning Database to guide routing decisions and increase transportation safety.

To address the data needs of energy system designers and to serve as a baseline for research and development, NETL has carried out a study to characterize the flexibility attributes - both performance and cost - of nine common commercial natural gas-fueled electricity generating units.

A team led by NETL researchers recently launched airborne technology at a commercial-scale carbon dioxide (CO2) geologic storage site in Mississippi to complete a first-of-its-kind electromagnetic survey and collect data needed to monitor greenhouse gas sequestered in the subsurface.

Innovative technologies to enable the U.S. chemical industry to reduce carbon emissions and help the nation achieve a 100% clean electricity sector by 2035 are moving forward in two side-by-side projects supported with NETL expertise near Houston, Texas.