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Wind energy—one of the fastest-growing and lowest-cost sources of electricity in the world—will play an important role in the transition to a carbon-free energy system. However, wind energy’s growth must be planned with careful consideration of atmospheric physics, turbine design, and grid resilience, as well as environmental and social impacts.

The DOE Office of Science (SC) Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program announces its interest in applications for the Reaching a New Energy Sciences Workforce (RENEW) and Funding for Accelerated, Inclusive Research (FAIR) Funding Opportunity Announcements. Please see the funding opportunity for more details and requirements.

The National Virtual Climate Laboratory (NVCL) is a comprehensive web portal featuring climate science projects funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science’s Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program. It is a living portal, with new functionalities added continuously. New features are designed specifically to help students, faculty and researchers interested in climate science find connections and opportunities they seek.

There are many ways that researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) bring unique perspectives to the field of distributed wind—which focuses on smaller wind projects that generate energy for on-site or local use. One is the fact that PNNL’s distributed wind projects are all led by women who utilize a 'beautiful mashup' of technical and social science skills to advance the field.

Discover recent meetings and workshops attended by E3SM

Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM)

The Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) project includes Earth System Models, simulations, and predictions to investigate energy-relevant science using code optimized for DOE's advanced supercomputers.

Source: NVCL Web Page Source

teams, such as the Research Software Engineer Conference, Ocean Science Meeting, and the AeroCom/AeroSAT Workshop. DOE's E3SM is a state-of-the-science Earth system model

earth system model (ESM)

A model that simulates how chemistry, biology, and physical forces work together. These models are similar to, but much more comprehensive than, global climate models.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy Source

development and simulation project aimed at investigating energy-relevant science using code optimized for DOE's advanced computers.

Think back to high school and how it might have shaped your passion for science if you had the opportunity to engage with cutting-edge technology and scientific experts firsthand. Students from the Chicago area had the chance to do so at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory’s See Yourself in STEAM (U/STEAM) event.

Three recent studies by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory advance the role of hydropower

hydropower

One of the oldest and largest sources of renewable energy, which uses the natural flow of moving water to generate electricity

Source: U.S. Department of Energy Source

in driving the clean energy transition. The research explored hydropower’s potential in Alaska, its value to grid operations and its optimal design. DOE’s Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) recognized this work in its 2022-2023 Accomplishments Report — a compilation of some of the most impactful WPTO-funded hydropower research.

Particulate soil carbon

soil carbon

The measurable amount carbon dioxide stored in soil. It is the primary indicator of soil health, and it impacts the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of the soil.

Source: Science Direct Source

may be more vulnerable to microbial decomposition under warmer temperatures associated with climate change.

climate change

A change in the average conditions — such as temperature and rainfall — in a region over a long period of time.

Source: NASA Climate Kids Source

Soil organic matter contains more carbon than plants and the atmosphere combined. Soil is increasingly considered for its potential role in climate mitigation due to its ability to sequester more carbon, but it also is critical to understand the vulnerability of soils to lose carbon as global temperatures rise.

Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (UNC) have demonstrated the selective conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2)

carbon dioxide (CO2)

An important heat-trapping gas, also known as a greenhouse gas, that comes from the extraction and burning of fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and natural gas), from wildfires, and natural processes like volcanic eruptions.

Source: NASA Source

into methanol using a cascade reaction strategy. The two-part process is powered by sunlight, occurs at room temperature and at ambient pressure, and employs a recyclable organic reagent that’s similar to a catalyst found in natural photosynthesis.

One of the most promising solutions is clean energy: If the world can switch from fossil fuels to clean energy sources, like solar, wind, geothermal,

geothermal

Heat energy from the earth—Geo (earth) + thermal (heat).

Source: US Department of Energy Source

water, and more, we could dramatically reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Now, the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy

renewable energy

Renewable energy comes from unlimited, naturally replenished resources, such as the sun, tides, and wind. Renewable energy can be used for electricity generation, space and water heating and cooling, and transportation.

Source: U.S Department of Energy Source

Laboratory (NREL) and Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) have created a tool to help students visualize these technological solutions.

Applications are currently being accepted for the Fall 2024 term of 2 undergraduate internship programs offered by the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science: the Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) program and the Community College Internships (CCI) program. Through SULI and CCI, students will conduct research and technical projects at national Llaboratories

With March being Women’s History Month, the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility wants to acknowledge the many women who have been important contributors to ARM’s success. This page features current ARM and Atmospheric System Research (ASR) program managers, infrastructure staff, User Executive Committee (UEC) members, constituent group chairs, principal investigators, and other scientists participating in field campaigns.