INL helps Idaho utility unlock potential of hydropower dams
Idaho National Laboratory
Changing the world’s energy future and securing our nation's critical infrastructure ⚛️
When managers at Idaho Falls Power wanted to explore the potential of their power generation assets, they turned to Idaho National Laboratory for solid hydroelectric power generation data for day-to-day operations and long-term planning. The lab’s Technical Assistance Program (TAP) provides 40 hours of free INL expertise to qualifying businesses and organizations. Through TAP, INL researchers prepared two reports quantifying the dams’ seasonal capacities and providing details on critical loads that can be supported in emergencies.
The old, the new and the industry: Worlds collide through chemical separation
In 2022, Rachel Umpleby, a chemical engineering intern, was introduced to solvent extraction. She was able to learn hands-on from expert scientists and industry connections through a strategic partnership between INL and the only rare earth element mine in the U.S.
This year, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded MP Materials $58.5 million to advance construction of America’s first fully integrated rare earth magnet manufacturing facility, and the INL Aqueous Separations and Radiochemistry team, including Umpleby, visited the mine to see how their work impacted the expansion.
Idaho’s Wireless Test Bed provides 20 years of service to the nation
INL is celebrating its Wireless Test Bed’s 20th anniversary, standing as the premier wireless research and development facility of its kind in the nation. The test bed is a large-scale, open-air controlled range that includes full-scale communications networks to test devices and hardware. Test bed researchers offer wireless and telecommunications technical expertise, systems and environments for testing and demonstrating wireless systems and equipment with a broad range of frequencies.
Driving into the future: Four decades and counting of battery research
As the world races to embrace electric vehicle technology, INL is on the forefront of understanding how batteries operate and how to make vehicle charging a more viable proposition. INL experts have conducted energy storage systems research for four decades of the lab’s 75-year history, positioning the lab as DOE’s primary center for battery technology testing.
How Experimental Breeder Reactor-I has made an impact across the world
INL Tour Ambassador, Taylor Wilhelm, was on KIFI News Group this week to share about the history of Experimental Breeder Reactor-I, and the impact this historic landmark has made during INL's 75 years of operation.
Researcher profile: Jacy Conrad
Jacy Conrad is an early-career INL scientist pursuing new challenges in radiation chemistry to understand and predict how chemicals behave under irradiation. The knowledge from her research is essential to evaluating how the materials involved in a nuclear fuel cycle perform. This includes better understanding of how reactor materials corrode, how materials behave in the reprocessing of used nuclear fuel, and how materials can be partitioned for safe and secure storage.
Idaho National Laboratory celebrates Pride Month: Embracing inclusion and belonging in the workplace
June is Pride Month, and INL is committed to celebrating the LGBTQ community and their invaluable contributions to our work environment and beyond. Pride celebrations have a rich history, serving as a powerful force for positive change over the last 50 years. The celebrations represent the LGBTQ community's ongoing pursuit of dignity, respect, visibility, safety, equal rights and equal treatment. At INL, we recognize the importance of this movement and its connection to fostering a workplace where everyone feels they belong. Inclusivity is a core value at INL, and it fuels innovation and excellence. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and to feel valued, welcomed, safe and empowered each day.
Read what some of our employees have to say about the importance of inclusion at INL.
INL scientist Mathew Snow’s team has discovered ways to produce new isotopes to treat cancer and save lives. They’ve discovered insights into the fundamental nuclear structure of radioactive isotopes, optimized processes for chemically separating them, invented advanced manufacturing approaches and developed 3D printing technologies.
His team is doing things no one has ever done before: breaking barriers and accomplishing what was thought to be impossible.
Eleanor Taylor selected as one of Idaho Business Review’s 2024 Women of the Year
Congrats to INL's Eleanor Taylor for being selected as one of Idaho Business Review's 2024 Women of the Year. The honorees represent a variety of industries and were selected based on professional achievement, leadership, mentorship and community service.
Meet Mary Scales, strategic land use program manager at INL. Scales oversees the planning and use of the lab’s 890-square-mile campus to support our researchers' work, from gravel pits to space batteries and more!
Albert Wilcox named Facility Management Contracting Officer of the Year
Congrats to INL’s Albert Wilcox on his selection as Facility Management Contracting Officer of the Year as part of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization’s Annual Small Business Awards Program. This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding small business achievements as a contracting officer, and showcased the ability to identify and overcome challenges and while capitalizing on opportunities to promote socioeconomic programs.
Over the past year, Albert and his team achieved their goal of including small businesses on all construction solicitations issued. This is a significant accomplishment considering the growing construction portfolio and highly technical mission at INL.
Congrats to INL botanist Kristin Kaser, winner of the 2024 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Earth Day photo contest's conservation category. Her photo features sagebrush seedling planting at INL. Sagebrush planting efforts support the Sage-grouse Candidate Conservation Agreement and focus on minimizing the impact of habitat loss due to wildland fires.
Science and climate influencers visit INL
We recently hosted a group of high-profile science and climate influencers to showcase the power and potential of nuclear energy. Watch Sierra Quitiquit, Michael Mezzatesta and Kyle Hill tour our facilities for a closer look at the technologies and research behind the next generation of advanced nuclear reactors that will power a clean energy future.
INL teams up with Shoshone-Bannock tribes to recycle municipal solid waste
INL teamed up with Shoshone-Bannock Tribal community members recently to showcase a process that converts municipal solid waste into feedstocks for the manufacturing of sustainable aviation fuel and other products.
As one of 17 national labs in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) complex, INL is home to more than 6,100 researchers and support staff focused on innovations in nuclear research, renewable energy systems and security solutions that are changing the world. From discoveries in advanced nuclear energy to carbon-free energy options and to protecting our nation’s most critical infrastructure assets, our talented team at INL is leading the world to a brighter energy future.
INL recently welcomed over 450 interns with education backgrounds in nuclear energy, recruitment, visual media and more! Our internships are recognized as some of the top in the country and enable students to collaborate with experienced experts and develop innovative solutions to challenging, real-world projects.
Check out what some of our interns are looking forward to.
Advanced Test Reactor open house
As part of INL's 75th anniversary celebration, we recently welcomed the public to an open house at the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) recently. Over 300 guests attended the event for to get a closer look at our work and a tour of the ATR facility. Here are some of the things they learned during the tour.
Workin' It with East Idaho News.com
As part of their Workin' It series, EastIdahoNews.com came out to INL to experience what it's like to be a member of our Protective Force security team.
Casey Overholser, a technical trainer, walked them through the officers’ day-to-day activities and what they do to protect the laboratory.