Latest news with #PNNL
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Eastern WA researchers fight cyber threats at aging U.S. hydropower system
Washington generates more hydroelectricity than any other state, so it is fitting that research to protect the critical infrastructure responsible for generating this power is happening right here in the Tri-Cities, at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Researchers at PNNL are combining their knowledge of the hydropower system and expertise in cybersecurity to secure the operational technology of the nation's hydropower fleet. Their work to protect these facilities helps ensure the continued generation of affordable electricity that powers our homes and factories. It also safeguards a key source of dispatchable power — generation that can be ramped up and down as needed to balance supply and demand — that enhances grid reliability and resilience. The federally managed hydropower projects have an average age of about 65 years, so researchers tasked with protecting them must bridge the past to the future. Efforts to adapt aging systems to thwart today's constantly evolving cyber threats include developing a suite of cybersecurity tools, an operational training model and a monitoring system. To make it easier for operators who may need to respond to and recover from a cyber incident, researchers assembled and integrated guidance from several agencies and created a cyber-physical framework and roadmap for the nation's entire fleet. They also prepared and shared a step-by-step desk guide for navigating a cyberattack. Fundamental to this work was an assessment of the connections and interactions among the cyber and physical components at hydropower facilities of all kinds. By studying a representative sample of plants with a wide range of ages and uses, researchers found that they could be binned into just nine distinct cyber-physical configurations. This allows operators to more easily identify shared risks and potential mitigations. In a separate effort to train cybersecurity professionals working on critical infrastructure, PNNL researchers developed a series of test platforms. These platforms, known as skids, are scaled-down, functional models that enable realistic exercises without putting real infrastructure at risk. Examples of PNNL-developed skids include models of a water treatment facility, the Class 1 freight rail network and a hydropower plant. Each can be 'attacked' by cyber means to explore vulnerabilities and mitigation strategies. The hydropower skid and associated training scenarios were designed with input from regional hydropower plant operators, including Spokane-based Avista Corporation and Grant County Public Utility District. Complete with wicket gates, turbines and other components needed to generate power, as well as small, representative industrial control systems, the skid allows operators to see the effects of unauthorized cyber access and learn how to manage the risk. Trainees can watch water levels above and below the miniature dam as the control systems undergo a simulated cyberattack. They can monitor relays in the substation that might trip, watch for flooding or erosion and see how the power grid responds. They also get a firsthand look at how their simulated responses impact the system. PNNL's support in protecting hydropower plants also extends to an award-winning technology called SerialTap. This palm-sized device serves as a data collector, allowing modern network cybersecurity tools to monitor dispersed serial communication devices and legacy industrial control systems. SerialTap makes it possible to detect cyberattacks and network anomalies so that analysts and operators can respond more quickly and effectively. The technology will be tested by a commercial partner whose affiliate companies own and operate 85 hydroelectric facilities in the United States. As the complexity and connectedness of the critical infrastructure we depend on for a strong economy increase, so does the risk of cyber threats with higher consequences. Experts at PNNL are developing novel approaches to protect, detect and recover from potential cyberattacks at the hydroelectric facilities that produce nearly 6 percent of the nation's total electricity — and more than 60 percent of the power generated in the great state of Washington. Steven Ashby is director of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
An underground lab in South Dakota could prove key in advancing the next generation of geothermal energy needed to power the digital age
The deepest laboratory in the United States provides a unique test bed for the study of enhanced geothermal systems. Dr. Chet Hopp, with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Lead, SD, May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With a total depth of 8000 feet, the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) is a one-of-a-kind location for experiments that are pioneering new ways to harness heat stored deep inside the earth. SURF has hosted a series of geothermal initiatives over the last decade, the latest is the Center for Understanding Subsurface Signals and Permeability (CUSSP). The multi-institutional project, led by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), could revolutionize the production of electricity by allowing the construction of geothermal power plants almost anywhere on the planet. As the digital age increases the demand for energy, these new Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) have the potential to help meet the nation's growing need for electricity. In the most basic sense, EGS technology involves cold water pumped into deep wells where it is heated by the Earth and returned to the surface as hot water or steam that will spin a turbine for the creation of electricity. Enhanced geothermal technology is the next frontier for energy deployment with the potential to power more than 65 million American homes and businesses. The tech sector is leading the way in developing EGS. In late 2023 tech giant Google, in partnership with geothermal startup Fervo Energy, announced the completion of the first enhanced geothermal energy power plant in the country. Like all fledgling technology, research is required to improve and advance its potential. EGS has challenges to overcome; for example, the underground fractures where heat is transferred to the fluid can become clogged. Over time, the water that is pumped into deep underground fractures can leave behind minerals that slow or stop the flow, in same way the water pipes in an old house can become mineralized and clogged. 'The big unknown is how long these reservoirs will last,' said Kevin Rosso, director of CUSSP. 'We are seeing successful EGS pilot projects all around the world right now that prove this technology works. But we don't know if these underground reservoirs will continue to produce heat effectively at the same rates for decades.' Rosso is a Battelle fellow and the associate director of the Physical Sciences Division for Geochemistry at PNNL. He says CUSSP aims to ensure that EGS power plants provide a return on investment. 'Whether or not these installations will be economical is still unproven territory at the moment. This is where CUSSP is out in front, working to answer these questions,' Rosso said. Searching for Signals in the Noise There are many variables to consider when working to keep enhanced geothermal systems from clogging up over time. The water chemistry, rock types, heat, pressure, and the rates of flow through underground fractures are some of the factors that can vary and change. The geothermal test bed, located on the 4100 level of SURF, is a place where many of these variables can be controlled and understood. 'That's one of the exciting things about this location. Here we have control over water temperature, water chemistry, and we know the rock types, and that's something that's never been done before,' Rosso said. Another challenge is the chemical reactions that lead to mineralization and clogging of fractures deep inside geothermal systems that normally occur miles underground–where they can't be seen. This is where remote sensing comes in. At SURF, scientists can employ a wide variety of sensing equipment in the test bed, from water and rock temperature and chemistry measurements to seismometers and electrical resistivity sensors, all of which help researchers better understand what is happening underground. 'We have multiple geophysical sensors collecting terabytes of data in real-time during these flow experiments,' Rosso said. 'The experiment allows us to learn what the signals look like that correspond to certain processes we see happening.' This ability to search for signals in the noise and corollate them with what's happening underground at SURF allows CUSSP scientists to build a better understanding of the complex processes that govern geothermal systems—and build better models that can be used across multiple geothermal extraction sites. 'Developing the ability to understand the chemistry remotely with geophysical signals is very exciting, and also very challenging,' said Jeff Burghardt, an Earth Scientist at PNNL who is working on parallel geothermal research at SURF. 'It's sort of a moonshot idea at this point, but I think we have a plausible path forward to being able to do it, and that would be a game changer.' A multidisciplinary collaboration that is building the next generation STEM workforce leaders in America The complexity of these problems requires large teams with a range of skills. CUSSP includes a collaboration of 40 researchers assisted by many undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students. This means geochemists and geophysicists are rubbing shoulders with mechanical engineers and computational scientists, all who are working together to achieve the same goals. 'It's really exciting to see multiple disciplines coming together, rallying around a really focused problem,' said Rosso. One of the co-principal investigators on CUSSP is Alexis Navarre-Sitchler, a geochemist and professor in the geology and geological engineering department at Colorado School of Mines. Navarre-Sitchler shares Rosso's excitement. 'This is the science that is taking us into the future,' Navarre-Sitchler said. 'This effort to lay the scientific groundwork and to invest in the fundamental research needed to develop geothermal in efficient and responsible ways will ensure longevity of these projects in the future. It's a very fulfilling project to be involved in.' Rosso notes the mix of leading researchers, postdocs, and students who find this work fulfilling are also those who will continue to push the field of geothermal energy forward in the coming decades. 'You know, CUSSP is an engine for the next generation of leaders who will be calling the shots for enhanced geothermal systems. I'm particularly excited about just seeing the students working on this project, many of them will make their careers here. And at the same time the nation will get a workforce of experts to help lead the country forward in geothermal energy.' The work at SURF also complements investments at other DOE geothermal facilities like the Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) in Utah. SURF is one of 16 deep underground laboratories around the world. Other labs in countries like China, Canada, Russia, Italy, and the United Kingdom are all competing for similar advancements in underground science. Attachment Dr. Chet Hopp, with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory CONTACT: Mike Ray Sanford Underground Research Facility 605.571.2314 cray@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
30-03-2025
- Science
- Forbes
Federal Researchers Find New Ways To Recycle E-Waste From Electronics
Discarded cellphone screens are part of the e-waste problem. Federal researchers are making gains in experiments to ease the process of harvesting recyclable materials in electronic waste from discarded cellphones and computers. Scientists at two leading national laboratories under the U.S. Department of Energy are pioneering solutions to solve the growing and arduous problem of recycling e-waste. 'E-waste is one of the fastest growing solid waste streams in the world,' the World Health Organization noted in an October 2024 fact sheet. Less than one-fourth of the 62 million tonnes of e-waste generated globally in 2022 was verified as being recycled from the millions of broken and obsolete electrical and electronic devices tossed into the trash per year, according to WHO. 'Millions of tonnes of e-waste are recycled using unsound activities, as well as being stored in homes and warehouses, dumped, and illegally exported,' WHO stated. 'When e-waste is recycling using unsound activities, it can release up to 1,000 different chemical substances into the environment, including known neurotoxicants such as lead.' Battery innovation. Two new methods developed by Richland, Wash.-based Pacific Northwest National Laboratory scientists may hold the keys for how to better salvage critical minerals in e-waste. Traditional methods are time consuming, require a great deal of energy and involve handling hazardous chemicals. PNNL is one of the DOE's top laboratories for scientific discovery and technical innovation in chemistry, data analytics and Earth science. In recent efforts, PNNL materials scientists have been working on how to extract critical minerals such as: One project tackled both neodymium and dysprosium. Scientists created a device to funnel dissolved e-waste from both substances. Then they used a chemical solution to split and extract both neodymium and dysprosium as purified solids. The new technique was completed in a few hours compared to traditional methods that require as long as a full week to accomplish. Another PNNL innovation involved a demonstration project that used a gel-based system to dissolve and extract manganese from lithium batteries. This new method is being viewed as a potential solution for how to best recycle cobalt, lithium and nickel from discarded batteries. Robotic arm welding and installing component at semiconductor circuit board. Scientists at Illinois-based Argonne National Laboratory spearheaded a project to make and recycle luminescent polymers in semiconductor materials that light up such electronics as computer screens and car dashboard navigation displays. ANL is a multidisciplinary science and engineering research center where scientists and engineers work to solve national problems through innovation. 'Recycling this electronic waste is complex, requiring expensive and energy-inefficient processes. Although there is an economic incentive to recycle the key semiconducting materials —in this case, luminescent polymers—there has been no method to achieve this due to the challenge of designing those materials at the molecular level,' PNNL noted when it announced the discovery in July. ANL led a team that included researchers from the University of Chicago, Purdue University and Yale University to tackle this problem. The solution they found was to create a new type of biodegradable and recyclable luminescent polymers for light-emitting semiconductors. This unique invention includes adding a chemical into the process that enables the e-waste to be broken down under heat or with mild acid for recycling. 'This is a $46 billion-a-year industry, and it is only growing,' Jie Xu, the lead ANL scientist on the project, noted when the discovery was made public. 'By 2032 the industry is estimated to grow to $260 billion. With this method, we can eliminate this type of electronic waste that would otherwise be piling up in landfills.'
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DOGE to close Hanford, PNNL worker office and 5 other federal leases in Eastern WA
The Trump administration plans to end the lease of the Richland office used to help ill Hanford workers and their survivors sort out their options for compensation and care. The Hanford Workforce Engagement Center at 309 Bradley Blvd. opened in 2018 with union and nonunion representative to help people who might be eligible for federal compensation understand what help is available from different programs and how to navigate the claims process. The programs are complex and with services that overlap benefits. To date it is the only federal lease that the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, led by billionaire Elon Musk has targeted to end in the Tri-Cities area. However, the Trump administration has announced plans to end five other federal leases elsewhere in Eastern Washington, including offices for the Drug Enforcement Administration and offices that work to protect endangered salmon and steelhead, help farmers and manage forest service land. DOGE lists the closure of the office just off George Washington Way as saving $53,700 by canceling an annual lease that costs about $19,500. The U.S Department of Labor has paid out nearly $2.5 billion in compensation and to cover medical bills of Hanford nuclear site workers who developed diseases such as cancer after exposure or suspected exposure to radiation or chemicals on the job. In some cases, the compensation from the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program was paid to their survivors. Workers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland also are eligible for compensation and medical care under the program, which has paid $435 million to PNNL workers or their survivors. The payments have included almost $860 million in medical care to current and former ill Hanford workers and $155 million to ill PNNL workers. Locally, people may know it as the 'white card' program because of the color of the medical benefits card issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, which covers medical expenses for covered conditions including 24-hour in-home health care. Compensation can include a $150,000 payment for radiation-caused cancers or lung disease caused by the metal beryllium and $250,000 for wage loss, impairment and survivor benefits for exposure to toxic chemicals. Claims have been filed for compensation or care for 15,600 Hanford and PNNL workers. Hanford was used from World War II through the Cold War to produce nearly two-thirds of the plutonium for the nation's nuclear weapons program. What is now called PNNL was established in the 1940s for research to support Hanford and the Manhattan Project. Hanford and PNNL workers or their survivors also may be eligible for Washington state Department of Labor and Industries workers' compensation under a Washington state law that eased eligibility for claim approval. The Hanford Workforce Engagement Center at this point remains open in Richland and can be reached by calling 509-376-4932. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said she is demanding answers from the Trump administration on how it plans to ensure the continuity of service for people who rely on the Hanford center and services provided by other federal agencies in offices with leases it plans to end. DOGE posted online that planned leased terminations would reduce about 8 million square feet the federal government is paying for and save $350 million. 'Trump and Elon are rich enough that they've never had to rely on any of the services the federal government provides and they have no idea what it's like for people who do,' said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., in a news release Friday. 'They're just trying to break government and enrich themselves, and they don't give a damn about the consequences for regular people,' she said. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., who was in Pasco on Thursday said then that the federal government must cut its spending of nearly $3 trillion more than money it collects annually. Other federal leases in Eastern Washington that the Trump administration plans to end include: ▪ The Bureau of Indian Affairs Yakama Agency office in Toppenish. Members of the Yakama Nation can get in-person assistance to help ensure the federal government's responsibility to the Yakama Nation are fulfilled. ▪ The Drug Enforcement Administration office in Yakima. Six employees, including federal law enforcement officers, worked out of the office as of April 2024, according to information from Murray's staff. ▪ Natural Resources Conservation Service's Dayton Service Center. The office provides in-person help with federal programs to farmers, producers and forest landowners. The agency works to reduce erosion and flood damage and to improve water quality, restore watersheds and manage agricultural waste. ▪ The Forest Service Ranger Station in Pomeroy. It is the Pomeroy Ranger District station for the Umatilla National Forest, which stretches over 1.4 million acres in the heart of the Blue Mountains of Southeast Washington and Northeast Oregon. ▪ The U.S. Geological Survey's Washington Water Science Center field office in Spokane Valley. The center works to protect endangered salmon and steelhead, ensure dam operators have the information needed to operate safely, and protect farmers and their crops, according to Murray's staff. In addition to ending leases, the Trump administration also listed online several federally owned buildings in the state that it plans to get rid of, before deleting the list, according to Murray's staff. They include the Henry M. Jackson Building in Seattle, the largest federal building in the Northwest, housing help centers for the Social Security Administration, Veterans Affairs and the Internal Revenue Service, plus other services. Other Seattle federal buildings also were on the list, along with the Vancouver Federal Building and the Bonneville Power Administration Headquarters in Portland, Ore.
