Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Archives – The Green Optimistic

Vanadium Flow Batteries Offer Advanced Renewable Energy Storage

Benji Jerew — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 21:03:25 +0000

Renewable energy sources, while free of emissions, also has environmental limitations, meaning energy storage is more important. Renewable energy generation continues to expand, from residential solar power installations to off-shore wind power, to the point where some locations could even eliminate their dependency on fossil fuels, if not for one little problem. Of course, I’m […]

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Understanding Electric Vehicle Batteries on a Microscopic Level

Benji Jerew — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 13:23:29 +0000

Electric vehicles, in the last decade, have become more affordable and reliable than ever before, but perhaps taking an even closer look can help researchers develop better solutions. Of course, better solutions for electric vehicle batteries would need to fulfill a number of requirements. Increased energy density (Wh/kg) would increase the range of the vehicle, […]

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Innovative Solar Power Process Maximizes Energy Content of Natural Gas

Leigh Hutchens — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 03:34:59 +0000

The Energy Department plans to use the sun’s heat to increase the energy content of natural gas and is preparing to test a new way for solar power to make electricity. Researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are conducting extensive testing they hope will reveal a process that might reduce the amount of natural […]

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EV Range Too Short? New Heat Pump Improves Heating & Cooling Energy Consumption

Mike Sandru — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:52:46 +0000

Although the range problem for electric vehicles has somehow been resolved, what do you with the heating issue? As you may know, if some of that needed electricity goes to the driver cabin in the form of heat, the vehicle’s range drops by 40%…Not very inviting, is it? However, as always, every problem has its […]

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PNNL Scientists Studying Cheap Borane-Based Hydrogen Storage System

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:48:10 +0000

Lots of money are spent on research and development of electric vehicles. Electric cars, powered by hydrogen fuel cells have an increased driving range and are also environmentally friendly. In not such a distant future many hydrogen powered vehicles may fill the U.S. roads, but this will only happen after the issues concerning the recharging […]

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Geothermal Efficiency Boosted Up to 30% by Newly Discovered Liquid

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:12:06 +0000

Scientists from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, WA, announce they developed a new type of heat extracting liquid that could absorb much better the heat coming from the hot water in the geothermal wells.

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