Seminar: The Path to Clean Energy: Integrated Nuclear-Renewable Energy Systems

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recognizes the need to transform the energy infrastructure of the U.S. and elsewhere to systems that can significantly reduce environmental impacts in an efficient, economically viable, and sustainable manner while utilizing both hydrocarbon resources and clean energy generation sources. Thus, the DOE Offices of Nuclear Energy (NE) and Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) are supporting research and development that could lead to more efficient utilization of clean energy generation sources, including nuclear and renewable technologies. These systems would be designed to optimize energy use for the combined electricity, industrial manufacturing, and the transportation sectors. This integration concept has been referred to as a “hybrid system” capable of providing energy (thermal or electrical) where it is needed, when it is needed. Integrated Nuclear‐Renewable Hybrid Energy Systems (N-R HES) must be tailored to regional resources and markets to dynamically optimize the use of thermal and electrical energy. Hence, the design must carefully consider the intended location and the associated regional resources, traditional industrial processes, energy delivery infrastructure, and markets to identify viable region-specific system configurations. This seminar will provide an overview of the research that is led by INL to design, develop, and ultimately deploy N-R HES options.

About the Speaker

Dr. Bragg-Sitton is a Senior Nuclear Engineer at Idaho National Laboratory in the Nuclear Science & Technology Directorate, Nuclear Fuels & Materials Division. Dr. Bragg-Sitton serves in various leadership positions within the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy programs related to advanced nuclear fuel development and advanced nuclear systems implementations. Shannon is currently the Deputy National Technical Director for the Advanced Fuels Campaign (AFC) in the DOE Fuel Cycle Research and Development Program. AFC focuses on the development of enhanced accident tolerant fuels for light water reactors, advanced reactor fuels, and capability development to support fuel fabrication, testing, and characterization. Shannon is also the lead for Nuclear-Renewable Hybrid Energy Systems (N-R HES) under the DOE-NE Crosscutting Technologies Program. N-R HES seek to coordinate the use of multiple clean energy generation sources to meet both thermal and electrical energy needs.

Hosted by Professor Marat Khafizov