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Peter Balash
In high school, Peter Balash developed a lifelong interest in rugby, and the valuable lessons learned in those hard-hitting matches have guided him throughout his NETL career, helping him recently earn national recognition as an expert and leader in energy economics.
Wet cement being poured.
Researchers at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), in a project managed by NETL, developed and demonstrated a new approach for making ordinary Portland cement replacement in concrete that can significantly reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and is already being commercialized for use in U.S. cement plants.
NETL’s Ngoc Tien Huynh uses coal waste derived graphite to make a lithium-ion battery for performance testing.
NETL’s research has unlocked a low-temperature synthesis process to make America’s coal waste into critical mineral graphite with a lower processing intensity. This takes what would otherwise be an environmental liability and instead use it to help address rising demand by adding to the domestic supply chain and address commercial market needs for several key industries as well.
Sean Plasynski
Sean Plasynski has been named principal deputy director of NETL.
NETL’s new 1.5 kW solid oxide fuel cell system (center) installed and operating at the Morgantown, WV site.
NETL researchers took a major step forward in studying how well a new solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) product can work in a micro-grid setting when they installed a cutting-edge SOFC system to help meet power needs at NETL’s Morgantown, West Virginia site.
Notice of funding opportunity
NETL and the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) will post a pre-recorded webinar to provide information on the University Training and Research (UTR) Program and a grant writing discussion. 
Abstract concept of a supercapacitor powered by graphene energy storage technology.
NETL researchers have developed a low-cost process for converting coal tar waste into a high-quality graphene — material that can increase performance of energy-storing supercapacitor systems by up to 55%.
Equipment used at the National Carbon Capture Center included a DAC skid and heat skid (top) and a liquefaction unit (bottom).
NETL expertise and oversight played a significant role in completing the first successful field test of a direct air capture (DAC) technology at the National Carbon Capture Center (NCCC).
Modular Combustor
NETL researchers have successfully operated a new modular rotating detonation engine (RDE) combustor that offers full optical access to the fuel/air injectors, the combustion channel and across the exhaust duct. This will assist with acquiring crucial measurements to help accelerate the development of highly efficient RDE technology for power generation.
Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship Program
The application period is open to become a summer intern at NETL through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship (MLEF) Program. The MLEF Program offers summer research internships for undergraduate and graduate students preparing for energy-related careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). MLEF interns are mentored by NETL scientists and engineers while completing research projects focused on developing clean energy technologies and moving the nation toward net-zero emissions.