By Haley Hughes
Aiken County and Savannah River Nuclear Solutions have announced a corporately-funded expansion plan at the Center for Hydrogen Research, which will result in six new laboratories to support growing energy research.
The expansion is funded privately via a $3 million expenditure authorized by the Board of Directors of SRNS.
The plan will add 6,435 square feet of finished laboratory and support space to the center, located in Aiken County’s Savannah River Research Campus adjacent to the Savannah River Site.
The new laboratory will be known as the Energy Materials Research Laboratory.
The Center for Hydrogen Research opened in 2006 and houses the Savannah River National Laboratory’s Hydrogen Technology Research Laboratory, a 24,4000-square-foot lab complex primarily used for unclassified research into new applications for hydrogen technology, USC Aiken research and small technology companies, according to the press release.
The announcement came at Aiken County Council’s meeting Tuesday and was welcomed by Chairman Ronnie Young, who thanked SRNS and the Aiken-Edgefield Economic Development Partnership for bringing the project to fruition.
The biggest advantage to the Energy Materials Research Laboratory is that it will allow SRNL to work with private industry, reseachers and the government in a way that is not as complicated as it is “behind the fence,” said Fred Humes, director emeritus of the Aiken-Edgefield Economic Development Partnership.
The Energy Research Materials Laboratory will conduct research on advanced materials to support nuclear energy, energy storage, materials and systems, solar energy materials, materials for wind and marine energy systems and carbon dioxide capture, according to the press release.
Humes said some existing SRS employees will be tapped to work at the new laboratory and other employees will be new hires. It is unclear how many new jobs will be created.
“This will add to what is already a first-rate laboratory complex at the county’s facility,” said Dr. Terry Michalske, executive vice president of SRNS and director of SRNL. “In addition to providing us with new, contemporary research labs, the addition of more off-site laboratory space makes it that much easier for us to partner with universities and private companies. As we continue to grow our business in the clean energy arena, it’s clear that there are tremendous opportunities to build research partnerships that will be good for the region. I believe that public-private partnerships are critical to our future, in terms of both facilities and of business development.”
The Center for Hydrogen Research will be re-designated as the Applied Research Center in the future.
Upon completion of the new lab, SRNL will lease the space. The Department of Energy has authorized an initial 10-year lease.
“This is another step in furthering Aiken County’s goals of creating jobs for the future through advancement of technology from SRNL,” Young said. “We are very appreciative of the commitment and partnership of SRNS and SRNL as we grow jobs in the future. As partners with SRNS, I see great potential for the Energy Materials Research Laboratory, as together with the Hydrogen Research Technology Laboratory, we establish Aiken County as a technology leader.”
SRNS LLC is a Fluor partnership comprised of Fluor, Newport News Nuclear, and Honeywell, responsible for the management and operation of SRS, including SRNL.
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Aiken County and Savannah River Nuclear Solutions have announced a corporately-funded expansion plan at the Center for Hydrogen Research, which will result in six new laboratories to support growing energy research.
The expansion is funded privately via a $3 million expenditure authorized by the Board of Directors of SRNS.
The plan will add 6,435 square feet of finished laboratory and support space to the center, located in Aiken County’s Savannah River Research Campus adjacent to the Savannah River Site.
The new laboratory will be known as the Energy Materials Research Laboratory.
The Center for Hydrogen Research opened in 2006 and houses the Savannah River National Laboratory’s Hydrogen Technology Research Laboratory, a 24,4000-square-foot lab complex primarily used for unclassified research into new applications for hydrogen technology, USC Aiken research and small technology companies, according to the press release.
The announcement came at Aiken County Council’s meeting Tuesday and was welcomed by Chairman Ronnie Young, who thanked SRNS and the Aiken-Edgefield Economic Development Partnership for bringing the project to fruition.
The biggest advantage to the Energy Materials Research Laboratory is that it will allow SRNL to work with private industry, reseachers and the government in a way that is not as complicated as it is “behind the fence,” said Fred Humes, director emeritus of the Aiken-Edgefield Economic Development Partnership.
The Energy Research Materials Laboratory will conduct research on advanced materials to support nuclear energy, energy storage, materials and systems, solar energy materials, materials for wind and marine energy systems and carbon dioxide capture, according to the press release.
Humes said some existing SRS employees will be tapped to work at the new laboratory and other employees will be new hires. It is unclear how many new jobs will be created.
“This will add to what is already a first-rate laboratory complex at the county’s facility,” said Dr. Terry Michalske, executive vice president of SRNS and director of SRNL. “In addition to providing us with new, contemporary research labs, the addition of more off-site laboratory space makes it that much easier for us to partner with universities and private companies. As we continue to grow our business in the clean energy arena, it’s clear that there are tremendous opportunities to build research partnerships that will be good for the region. I believe that public-private partnerships are critical to our future, in terms of both facilities and of business development.”
The Center for Hydrogen Research will be re-designated as the Applied Research Center in the future.
Upon completion of the new lab, SRNL will lease the space. The Department of Energy has authorized an initial 10-year lease.
“This is another step in furthering Aiken County’s goals of creating jobs for the future through advancement of technology from SRNL,” Young said. “We are very appreciative of the commitment and partnership of SRNS and SRNL as we grow jobs in the future. As partners with SRNS, I see great potential for the Energy Materials Research Laboratory, as together with the Hydrogen Research Technology Laboratory, we establish Aiken County as a technology leader.”
SRNS LLC is a Fluor partnership comprised of Fluor, Newport News Nuclear, and Honeywell, responsible for the management and operation of SRS, including SRNL.