NETL Publications Recognized for Excellence
Publications Communicate Research Advances, Annual Accomplishments, Carbon Sequestration Data

Morgantown, W.Va.—Three publications prepared by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) have been recognized for excellence by two different national organizations. The publications— a carbon sequestration atlas, a quarterly newsletter of research results, and an annual accomplishments report—communicate how NETL is fulfilling its mission to advance science and technology for a clean, secure energy future.

NETL recently received an APEX Grand Award from Communications Concepts Inc. for its Carbon Sequestration Atlas of the United States and Canada. This groundbreaking publication presents the first coordinated assessment of carbon capture and storage potential across the majority of the United States and portions of Western Canada.

Created jointly by NETL and its Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships, along with the National Carbon Sequestration Database and Geographical Information System, the atlas supports carbon sequestration efforts by providing an overview of the lifecycle of carbon dioxide through the entire capture and sequestration process. It also summarizes DOE’s sequestration activities, as well as the activities of DOE’s Regional Partnerships, and it details the most current and best available estimates of geologic carbon dioxide storage potential.

The atlas is being updated and is expected to be re-released in November 2008.

A second APEX award, an Award of Excellence, went to NETL’s research newsletter, netlog. Published quarterly since March 2006, netlog highlights research conducted by NETL’s Office of Research and Development (ORD).

ORD oversees NETL’s onsite research activities and provides the U.S. Department of Energy’s fossil energy research and development program with a “corporate laboratory” in which to address key energy and environmental issues. The office conducts basic and applied research in four areas:

• Computational and Basic Sciences develops tools that enable more rapid and efficient scale-up of new sub-systems, devices and components, to enable more cost effective demonstration of new technologies.
• Energy System Dynamics focuses on natural gas technology development, including higher efficiencies and lower costs in the use of advanced gas turbines and fuel cells.
• Geological and Environmental Systems focuses on the minimization and abatement of environmental problems associated with the development and use of fossil fuels.
• Materials Science specializes in life cycle research of most metals, alloys, and ceramics; and the recycling and remediation of waste streams associated with these processes.

The netlog newsletter conveys research results in these focus areas to a broad audience that includes scientists and engineers as well as the general public. It is available in two versions: a web-based version suitable for online viewing, and version that can be downloaded and printed. Both are available on the NETL website.

The 2006 Accomplishments Report captured the third award for NETL: a Blue Pencil Award of Excellence from the National Association of Government Communicators in the Technical or Statistical Report category. The purpose of this annual report is to share research and technology successes during the previous fiscal year with NETL’s stakeholders and to demonstrate how NETL is producing results to benefit the American people.

Each year, NETL’s accomplishments report discusses the key energy and environmental challenges facing the nation, and then highlights successes the laboratory has had meeting those challenges. The 2006 report also includes NETL successes related to technology transfer, as well as awards and recognition associated with the successful commercialization of advanced technologies.

The award-winning 2006 version of the accomplishments report is available on the NETL website, along with the newer 2007 version and an archive of past accomplishments reports.

While NETL is rightly proud of the awards themselves, even more important are the contents of the publications and what they represent. NETL has been entrusted with implementing research and technology development to provide America with reliable, affordable, and secure sources of energy. These publications demonstrate that NETL has upheld the trust of the American public by wisely investing taxpayer dollars to benefit the nation.