SRNL Named 12^th DOE National Laboratory
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by Ed Danko, SRNL, Westinghouse Savannah River Company

The Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) was recently designated the 12^th Department of Energy National Laboratory during a site visit by the Secretary of Energy, Spencer Abraham on May 7, 2004.  As Secretary Abraham mentioned during his speech, “this makes official what many have known for a long time--that Savannah River has been functioning as a National Laboratory in everything but name.” He also added that the lab “now takes its rightful place as an equal member in the most comprehensive research system of its kind anywhere.”

As a National Lab, the Savannah River National Laboratory will be better positioned to compete for independent R&D funding, to share expertise across the DOE complex and around the world, and to form partnerships with other entities such as universities and industry.   SRNL is the applied research and development center for the DOE Savannah River Site (SRS). The Site was established in the 1950s to produce specialty nuclear materials for the national defense mission. SRS is a 310 square mile reservation located in the mid-western portion of South Carolina on the border between Georgia and South Carolina.

While SRNL continues to support the sites ongoing Defense Mission at SRS, the laboratory has determined that many of its defense-related hydrogen technologies may be useful in commercial applications.  To facilitate this technology transfer initiative, in 1995 the Hydrogen Technology Center (HyTech) was created. The HyTech Group within SRNL has over 90 scientists and engineers dedicated to hydrogen research and is recognized as a world-class leader for the development of safe handling and storage systems for hydrogen. The goal of HyTech is to provide a simple means for SRNL to partner with other governmental, academic, and commercial organizations to support the growing interest in hydrogen as a long-term energy carrier.

In addition to being named a National Laboratory, the Department of Energy recently approved plans for the SRNL to construct the Hydrogen Technology Research Laboratory (HTRL) dedicated to hydrogen research and development (see artist’s rendition below).  The HyTech Group will occupy about half of this 60,000 square foot hydrogen facility; academic and industrial partners will also be encouraged to locate there to conduct joint hydrogen research activities.  The main focus of this facility will be hydrogen R&D for advanced storage, separation, production, sensors, safety, and hydrogen effects on materials.   The hydrogen laboratory is scheduled for completion and occupancy in the summer of 2005. Additional plans for the facility are underway to include a hydrogen refueling station, a small fleet of hydrogen vehicles and a stationary fuel cell for some of the facilities auxiliary or backup power requirements.

For further information on SRNL’s hydrogen activities or the new Hydrogen Lab, contact Ed Danko, (803) 725-4264, edward.danko@srs.gov. ©2003. All Rights Reserved. A Publication of the National Hydrogen Association.
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