Argonne National Laboratory

How we produce and use energy is inextricably linked to global climate change. If we are to stabilise atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations a commitment to development of sustainable energy technology and to furthering our understanding of climate change is imperative. Long-term sustainability will require a transition to a less-carbon-intensive energy supply and end-use technologies.

Argonne National Laboratory, one of the United States (US) Department of Energy’s largest research centres, is committed to research and development (R&D) for a sustainable future. Chartered in 1946, it is the first US national laboratory and is operated by the UChicago Argonne LLC. It conducts cutting-edge basic and applied research in most scientific disciplines and its energy research activities span nuclear, bio-based fuels and chemicals, transportation technologies, nanomaterials, industrial technologies, and climate modelling.

Broadening the use of nuclear energy

Since its inception, Argonne has been a leader in nuclear energy R&D and design of commercial nuclear reactors. Current research includes the development of advanced reactor systems, technology for the stabilisation of nuclear waste and efficient processes for the disposal of spent fuel, and also integration of thermo-chemical processes for hydrogen production. Argonne participates in the international “Gen IV” initiative involving 10 nations.

Argonne is developing technologies to create bio-based products and processes that are competitive with petrochemicals. Research is on improving the process efficiencies of conventional bioprocess technologies, expanding the range of products from biomass feedstocks and extending the biomass feedstock base to source materials that do not compete for land more suitable for food crops. For example, researchers have developed a new membrane-based separative bioreactor as a more cost-effective and efficient alternative to batch processing. Research on the fermentation of synthesis gas looks at producing bio-based chemicals and fuels, including ethanol. Researchers are also developing trees and plants that can be grown on marginal lands, thereby adding to the biofeedstock base without using land better suited for food crops.

The environmentally benign passenger

Argonne’s transportation research activities address:

1. automobiles, aiming at create an environmentally benign passenger car, from fuel production to recycling end-of-life vehicles;

2. heavy vehicles, aimed at having safer, cleaner trucks, buses, and locomotives; and

3. transportation systems, to improve traffic flow, safety, and security. Programmes concentrate on alternative-fuel vehicles (including hybrids and plug-in hybrids), advanced batteries and fuel cells, emissions control, engine research, intelligent transportation systems, manufacturing technologies, materials, rail technologies, and end-oflife vehicle recycling.

Argonne is pioneering the synthesis, characterisation, and development of nanomaterials and their use in a wide range of applications, such as more-efficient and lower-cost solar cells, thermoelectrics, solid-state lighting, high-performance catalysts, improved superconductors, and thermal nanofluids and nanolubricants for industrial and transportation applications.

In the mid-1980s,Argonne engineers showed how to technically recycle carbon dioxide (CO2) in an oxy-fuelled, coal-fired boiler for enhanced oil recovery. This is being employed today, worldwide, to capture CO2. Argonne continues to develop transformational technologies for manufacturing and energy-intensive industries, such as (1) cement formulations produced with over a 75% reduction in CO2 emissions; (2) inert-anode technology, which will essentially eliminate the carbon emissions from primary aluminium production; and (3) an electrochemical process to replace energy-intensive, hightemperature heat-treatment technology.

Argonne is responsible for the management and operation of the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Climate Research Facility. Its primary goal is to collect and analyse data to improve the treatment of clouds and radiation physics in global climate models so they more accurately simulate and forecast global and regional climate conditions. Observations are from three fixed locations (the North Slope of Alaska, the Southern Great Plains and the Tropical Western Pacific) in year-long deployments of a mobile climate facility.

Climate change is a complex problem. Further complicating it is our desire for energy security and our expectation of a thriving global economy. Solving these issues while satisfying our expectations for continued improvement in the well being of the world can only be achieved through public and private partnership, international cooperation and a long-term commitment to research: an investment critical to developing advanced technologies needed for a sustainable future.

W: www.anl.gov