Newswise — Argonne National Laboratory is involved in a wide array of research and development projects aimed at advancing alternative energy sources and other "green" technologies in an effort to reduce greenhouse gases and ameliorate climate change, as well as to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and promote energy independence for the United States. Among those projects are:
"¢ Advanced Transportation Research " Argonne has conducted cutting-edge transportation research for more than 30 years and employs a multidisciplinary staff of engineers and scientists involved in engine, battery, fuel cell, vehicle systems and applied materials research. From work on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles capable of driving 100 miles per gallon of gasoline to hydrogen powered automobiles boasting near-zero emissions, Argonne researchers are at the forefront of our nation's efforts to develop and advance more energy-efficient and environmentally benign vehicle and fuel technologies.
"¢ Solar Energy -- In an effort to help the world meet energy needs through solar power, Argonne along with Northwestern University created the Argonne-Northwestern Solar Energy Research Center. Scientists will examine new economical ways to use sunlight to produce clean fuels, such as hydrogen, from water and to produce electricity directly from low-cost photovoltaic and thermoelectric systems.
"¢ Alternative Fuels -- Scientists at Argonne are working to genetically manipulate algae to create the next generation of renewable fuels " hydrogen. Algae can be grown anywhere and may be able to produce hydrogen in the same amounts as oxygen.
"¢ Climate Modeling -- Argonne computational scientists have developed a high-performance regional climate modeling simulations capability that allows climate researchers to study both past and future climate. Researchers at the laboratory are particularly interested in the study of the impact of extreme events on natural and human systems. The Argonne Leadership Computing Facility, one of the fastest and 'greenest' public supercomputing facilities in the world, will improve our ability to understand and respond to climate change and global environmental issues through better observation, data, analysis, models and research.
"¢ Green Computing " Argonne's Leadership Computing Facility has incorporated several innovative steps designed to maximize the energy efficiency of Argonne's Blue Gene/P high-performance computer, saving taxpayers more than a million dollars a year while reducing the laboratory's environmental footprint.
"¢ Reduce, Reuse, Recycle -- Argonne researchers have developed a technology to increase the recovery of plastics and other materials from obsolete cars and trucks. The materials can be re-used for new automotive parts and other applications instead of winding up in landfills.
"¢ Conservation Efforts " Argonne is putting phytotechnology, which uses plants and trees to reduce contaminant concentrations, into action on the Argonne site and elsewhere to clean up ground water contaminants while improving air, water, and wildlife habitats.
"¢ Pollution Prevention and Control Programs " Argonne scientists are busy seeking ways to keep our air and water clean. A few examples:
* Studied and modeled air pollution in Beijing in an effort to improve air quality for spectators and athletes at the 2008 Summer Olympics. * Utilized the Advanced Photon Source to create a new x-ray technique to view fuel expelled from fuel injectors. The research could lead to better and cleaner fuel injectors for automobiles.* Created a cleaner way of producing the common organic compound Ethylene, without the harmful greenhouse gasses which result from current production methods.* Developed a compound that removes radioactive material from nuclear power plant waste.* In conjunction with Purdue University Calumet, identifying technologies to reduce pollution discharges into Lake Michigan by refineries and other large facilities.* Argonne has been recognized as "best in class" for its' outstanding commitment to pollution prevention and environmental stewardship for the following programs:* The development of the Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) life cycle model used to evaluate emission impacts of advance vehicle technologies and new transportation fuel combinations. * Argonne's wetland restoration project was selected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Chicago Wilderness for a 2008 Conservation and Native Landscaping Award, recognizes our exemplary use of native plants and best practices of conservation design that creates habitats for a variety of species and produces important environmental benefits. * Custodial operations efforts to reduce energy costs and greenhouse gases using the lighting efficiency initiative which replaced 10,000 incandescent bulbs and lowered green house gases to the local area atmosphere by 4.0 million lbs.* Argonne was one of 18 winners in the Electronics Reuse and Recycling Campaign (ERRC), a program that has recycled more than 9 million pounds of electronics.
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