b'I D A H O N A T I O N A L L A B O R A T O R Y F Y 2 0 2 1 L A B O V E R V I E WLETTER FROM THE DIRECTORI n December 2020, I became director atINL can change the worlds Idaho National Laboratory (INL). It is an honor to lead an organization workingenergy future by being to improve the lives of the American peoplebold, innovative, and by changing the worlds energy future anddeliberate in our thoughts securing the nations criticalinfrastructure. and actions, and by focusing on outcomes that The COVID-19 pandemic changed how wematter. We will dream big, live and work. Through it all, INL remainedexecute, collaborate, and be focused, learned important lessons, adjusted,receptive to change. John Wagnerand delivered outstanding mission-focusedDirector, Idaho National Laboratoryresults for the nation. I am grateful to our staff for their dedication and determinationINLs five strategic science and technology (S&T)Combined, these five initiatives are a roadmap and am proud of our accomplishments toinitiatives drive our work toward this net-zerotoward making the secure, resilient, net-zero date. But now it is time to look forward.energy future. Our nuclear reactor sustainmentenergy future a reality.and expanded deployment initiative isINL is committed to leading by example, Important projects and initiatives arefocused on nuclear energy generation andby aligning our clean energy research, underway at INL. Our workforce is talented,continues to support the existing fleet, whiledevelopment, and demonstration (RD&D) dedicated to its clean energy and nationalleading research and development (R&D) formission activities with our operations to security missions, and determined to succeed.the advanced reactor technologies poisedbecome a national carbon neutral prototype The laboratory is growing, and our culturefor deployment over the next 5 to ten years.and achieving net-zero emissions on the continues to evolve. INL can change the worldsIntegrated fuel cycle solutions ensure that theINL Site within the next 10 years. Achieving energy future by being bold, innovative, andclean, reliable energy generated by nuclearnet-zero means drastically reducing on-site deliberate in our thoughts and actions, andreactors will be powered by a fuel cycle that isemissions and offsetting the limited residual by focusing on outcomes that matter. Wesafe, secure, and economical from inception toemissions from activities that are impossible will dream big, execute, collaborate, and bedisposition. INL works to advance integratedto decarbonize. Working with partners, INL receptive to change.energy systems to transition to net-zero and iswill demonstrate and deploy advanced nuclear prepared to demonstrate how a nuclear powerreactors, grid integration, transportation INLs mission guides our path to fullyplant can be integrated with other forms ofelectrification, improved electricity storage, realizing the game-changing potential ofclean generation to stabilize the grid, produceand other elements of a clean, integrated nuclear energy as an essential element ofreliable and economical electricity, and produceenergy system at scale. future energy systems with net-zero carbonindustrial hydrogen and other products. emissions. INL envisions secure, resilient net- Changing the worlds energy future is an Advanced design and manufacturingaudacious goal, but one that is necessary zero energy systems integrating the power offor extreme environments efforts secureto mitigate climate change while also clean, reliable nuclear energy and other firmmanufacturing processes to produce materialsaddressing global energy poverty. INL is up power sources with intermittent renewables,solutions with the properties required for thefor the challenge and prepared to leverage its while repurposing heat and electricity forextreme and harsh operating conditions ofexceptional people, unique infrastructure, and direct use and to support industrial processes,future reactors, elements of the fuel cycle,world-class facilities to deliver on its vision. such as hydrogen generation. integrated energy systems components, andThis 2021 Laboratory Overview contains defense applications. INL will continue todetails about how INLs research, development, demonstrate national leadership in secure anddemonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) resilient cyber-physical systems by developingactivities will innovate clean energy solutions and deploying transformational all-hazardsand robust critical infrastructure protections solutions across U.S. critical infrastructures.on behalf of our fellow citizens.1'