NETL researchers are closing in on a more effective and less expensive way to combine a growing accumulation of plastic waste with coal and biomass for a steam gasification process that can produce hydrogen-rich syngas — a versatile gas that can be used as a fuel or as a building block for a range of chemicals that can help tackle critical energy challenges.

NETL researchers who discovered transformational technologies to produce high-quality synthetic graphite from plastics, convert wastes and biomass into fuels and chemicals, and find critical minerals using a new revolutionary sensor were named winners in the prestigious R&D 100 Awards competition.

NETL researchers have developed a process to manufacture a class of high-performance alloys for use in a variety of applications, including the export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States to international markets.

NETL has developed a new tool to assist in the reuse and recycle of produced water generated by oil and gas operations, providing the industry with an easy-to-use online portal that encourages responsible water use during the production of U.S. fossil energy resources.

A free Zoom webinar to introduce a new NETL-led national laboratory consortium that addresses the gasification of alternative and blended feedstocks to produce syngas for chemicals, fuels or hydrogen is set for 11:30 a.m. EDT, Thursday, Aug. 21.

A collaborative effort between NETL, Ramaco Resources and Weir International is poised to transform the way critical minerals (CMs), including rare earth elements (REEs), are located and recovered.

A research and development project managed by NETL with the University of Utah and industry partner Zephyr Energy plc has unlocked the potential to produce significant volumes of natural gas and oil in eastern Utah’s Paradox Basin, providing the nation with a new source of plentiful energy from a region rich in hydrocarbon resources but challenging to develop.

NETL researchers demonstrated that naturally occurring signals in underground fluids can serve as effective indicators of flow patterns between existing oil and gas wellbores — a discovery that can help decision makers understand the interactions between wells to optimize the efficiency and safety of oil and gas production.

NETL’s Ruishu Wright has been selected as an honoree for the prestigious 2025 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals in the Emerging Leader category for her groundbreaking work developing novel sensor technologies aimed at monitoring critical infrastructure and preventing catastrophic failures.

NETL researchers are leading efforts to reduce mineral scaling in hydraulic fracturing operations, which can compromise wellbore integrity, obstruct the flow of gas and oil from unconventional reservoirs and impede the expansion of U.S. energy production.