Today, Idaho National Laboratory dedicated its new Energy Systems Laboratory on its Idaho Falls Research and Education Campus.

John Grossenbacher, Battelle Energy Alliance president and INL laboratory director, hosted special guests including elected officials and U.S. Department of Energy representatives. The new facility has 54,000 square feet of reconfigurable laboratory research space, plus a large laboratory for biomass characterization.

“Our new Energy Systems Laboratory adds significant research capabilities that will contribute to the timely, material and efficient transformation of America’s energy systems and infrastructure,” said Steve Aumeier, Energy and Environment associate laboratory director, who is responsible for research in the new ESL.

“The impact of research at ESL is to enhance the nation’s global competitiveness by advancing energy security through integration of clean energy systems, advancement of energy storage technologies, and biomass design and analysis,” Aumeier said.

ESL contributes significantly to efforts to integrate low-carbon energy onto America’s electrical grid, reducing the nation’s dependence on foreign-sourced fossil fuels by researching bioenergy and electrical vehicle performances, and increasing energy efficiency in manufacturing, critical materials supplies and used nuclear fuel systems engineering.

During the dedication, the lab’s LEED Accredited Professional, Kath Williams, presented Aumeier with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification. The LEED program recognizes the implementation of practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. BEA and the Ormond Builders project team worked together to achieve the LEED Gold status.

Among the officials who spoke at the event were U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho and Jeff Sayer, chairman of Idaho's Leadership in Nuclear Energy (LINE) Commission and Director of Idaho's Department of Commerce.

INL is one of the DOE's 10 multiprogram national laboratories. The laboratory performs work in each of the strategic goal areas of DOE: energy, national security, science and environment. INL is the nation's leading center for nuclear energy research and development. Day-to-day management and operation of the laboratory is the responsibility of Battelle Energy Alliance.