Number 235

NREL researchers rate solar power conditions for new PV plant

DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory worked with Xcel Energy to research different technologies and offer advice on what technologies were the most viable for a new photovoltaic installation being built in Colorado 's San Luis Valley. Groundbreaking for the 8.22 megawatt installation was April 23 in Alamosa, Colo. Working with Xcel, NREL's team conducted modeling runs for various locations in Colorado to find the best place for the plant. NREL rates the San Luis Valley as having the best solar power conditions in the state and some of the best in the country. When completed, the Alamosa solar power plant will create enough clean energy to power nearly 1,500 homes a year.

[Sarah Holmes Barba, 303/275-3023, Sarah_Barba@nrel.gov]

Research reactor sports 'cool' new feature

The High Flux Isotope Reactor at DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory has begun a new fuel cycle—its 408th since the HFIR opened in the 1960s—with new capabilities for materials analysis, most notably a “cold source.” It can now produce lower energy, cold neutrons, which can be used to study soft materials like biological tissues. The temperature of thermal neutrons coming out of the reactor is lowered by passing them through the 20-Kelvin, liquid-hydrogen cooled cold source. HFIR's continuous, cold neutron stream combined with the Spallation Neutron Source's higher energy, pulsed neutron stream make ORNL a world center for neutron scattering research.

[Bill Cabage, 865/574-4399,
cabagewh@ornl.gov]

PNNL developing new approach to identifying catalysts

PNNL chemist Dan DuBois monitors reduction of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide using a palladium catalyst. DuBois and colleagues are developing a new method of predicting and identifying useful catalysts.

Researchers at DOE¹s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are learning how to predict and identify better catalysts based on the relationships between "global energy maps" of a material. The maps detail the amount of energy it takes materials to get to the point where they can speed up a chemical reaction.  Using these relationships, PNNL researchers discovered a new catalyst that is almost as active as the enzyme hydrogenase, the fastest known catalyst to reduce water to hydrogen. PNNL scientists are searching for a catalyst that is more durable, faster acting and even more efficient than current catalysts. They also are developing a predictive tool that will greatly improve chances of identifying valuable catalysts. The team hopes to find new catalysts to enhance hydrogen storage and carbon dioxide reduction.

[Susan Bauer, 509-375-3688,
susan.bauer@pnl.gov]

Exploring the next steps in biofuels

Reinhold Mann standing in switchgrass

Switchgrass has long been regarded as a strong candidate for biomass crop. At DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the nearby University of Tennessee, researchers are paying particular attention to potential questions and issues, such as which are the best switchgrass varieties, how often should a farmer plant and harvest and what are the environmental consequences of a so-called "monoculture crop" that could span vast acreage across the nation? ORNL is working with UT and other universities to go beyond the groundwork toward developing a major biofuels industry as an alternative energy source.

[Larisa Brass, 865/574-4163,
brasslm@ornl.gov]

Pentagon recognizes
a decade of service

Hriar S. Cabayan

A special Pentagon event recognized service to our nation with the highest civilian award that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs can bestow. The recipient's name was Hriar S. Cabayan, PhD. But for a decade, everyone at the Pentagon had just called him “Doc.” He served as liaison and conduit between the DoD and DOE laboratories, other government agencies, and the Combatant Commands.

Brigadier General Maurice H. "Maury" Forsuth requested that Colonel Mike Carroll, Division Chief for Joint Staff Operations, Information Operations, Operations Division, do the honors. Because much of Hriar's work was of a sensitive nature, some of his finest accomplishments went unmentioned, but nonetheless were much appreciated.

Commander Todd Veazie had worked with Hriar for just over one year on the Joint Staff, “He's a humble person. But a great patriot who rises above politics to serve our troops at the front, and who will cut through any bureaucracy to get help to our war-fighters. Lots of guys are alive and enjoying life today because of what he's done.”

After ten years, Hriar's memories include the 9/11 terrorist assault on the building. “I was in Corridor 8, and the aircraft struck Corridor 5. I didn't hear the impact, but I did hear the screaming and shouting as we evacuated the building,” Hriar recalled.

Hriar “Doc” Cabayan received his doctorate degree from the University of Illinois in Urbana, Illinois in 1971. After four years of teaching assignments at New York and McGill Universities , he joined DOE's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in 1977.

Initially he worked on nuclear weapons effects, Strategic Defense Initiatives related efforts, and directed-energy programs. Today he is part of the National Security Office, currently assigned to support the Office of the Secretary of Defense-Director of Defense, Research and Engineering.

Submitted by DOE's Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory

DOE Pulse highlights work being done at the Department of Energy's national laboratories. DOE's laboratories house world-class facilities where more than 30,000 scientists and engineers perform cutting-edge research spanning DOE's science, energy, national security and environmental quality missions. DOE Pulse is distributed every two weeks. For more information, please contact Jeff Sherwood (jeff.sherwood
@hq.doe.gov, 202-586-5806)