Editing Oak Ridge National Laboratory (section)

===Energy===
The laboratory has a long history of energy research; nuclear reactor experiments have been conducted since the end of World War II in 1945. Because of the availability of reactors and high-performance computing resources, an emphasis on improving the efficiency of nuclear reactors is present.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ornl.gov/sci/nsed/division_fcid.shtml |title=Fuel Cycle and Isotopes Division |publisher=Oak Ridge National Laboratory |access-date=February 6, 2013 |archive-date=February 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201091901/http://www.ornl.gov/sci/nsed/division_fcid.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="rnsd">{{Cite web |url=http://www.ornl.gov/sci/nsed/rnsd/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521030833/http://www.ornl.gov/sci/nsed/rnsd/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 21, 2011 |title=Reactor and Nuclear Systems Division |publisher=Oak Ridge National Laboratory |access-date=February 6, 2013 }}</ref> The programs develop more efficient materials, more accurate simulations of aging reactor cores, sensors and controls as well as safety procedures for regulatory authorities.<ref name=rnsd/>

The Energy Efficiency and Electricity Technologies Program aims to improve [[Air pollution in the United States|air quality in the US]] and reduce dependence on foreign oil supplies.<ref name="eetp">{{Cite web |url=http://www.ornl.gov/sci/ees/factsheets/fs_eere.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070816060313/http://www.ornl.gov/sci/ees/factsheets/fs_eere.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 16, 2007 |title=Energy Efficiency and Electricity Technologies Program Fact Sheet |publisher=Oak Ridge National Laboratory |access-date=February 6, 2013 }}</ref> There are three key areas of research: electricity, manufacturing and mobility. The electricity division focuses on reducing electricity consumption and finding alternative sources for production. Buildings, which account for 39% of US electricity consumption as of 2012, are a key area of research as the program aims to create affordable, [[carbon-neutral]] homes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ornl.gov/sci/eere/research_building.shtml |title=Program Areas – Building Technologies |publisher=Oak Ridge National Laboratory |access-date=February 6, 2013}}</ref> Research also takes place into higher efficiency [[Solar panel|solar panels]], [[Geothermal power|geothermal electricity]] and [[Geothermal heating|heating]], lower cost [[Wind turbine|wind generators]], and the economic and environmental feasibility of potential [[Hydroelectricity|hydro power plants]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ornl.gov/sci/eere/research_wind_hydro.shtml |title=Wind & Water Power Program |publisher=Oak Ridge National Laboratory |access-date=February 6, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ornl.gov/sci/eere/research_geothermal.shtml |title=Geothermal Technologies |publisher=Oak Ridge National Laboratory |access-date=February 6, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ornl.gov/sci/eere/research_solar.shtml |title=Solar Energy Technologies |publisher=Oak Ridge National Laboratory |access-date=February 6, 2013}}</ref>

The Fusion Energy Division pursues short-term goals to develop components such as [[High-temperature superconductivity|high-temperature superconductors]], high-speed hydrogen pellet injectors, and suitable materials for future fusion research.<ref name="ornlfus">{{Cite web |url=http://www.ornl.gov/sci/nsed/factsheets/fs_fusion_energy.pdf |title=Fusion Energy Division Fact Sheet |publisher=Oak Ridge National Laboratory |access-date=February 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512172630/http://www.ornl.gov/sci/nsed/factsheets/fs_fusion_energy.pdf |archive-date=May 12, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="fed">{{Cite web |url=http://www.ornl.gov/sci/nsed/division_fed.shtml |title=Fusion Energy Division |publisher=Oak Ridge National Laboratory |access-date=February 6, 2013 |archive-date=February 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201091912/http://www.ornl.gov/sci/nsed/division_fed.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> Much research into the behaviour and maintenance of plasma takes place at the Fusion Energy Division to further the understanding of [[Plasma (physics)|plasma physics]], a crucial area for developing a fusion power plant.<ref name=ornlfus/><ref name=fed/> The US [[ITER]] office is at ORNL with partners at [[Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory]] and [[Savannah River National Laboratory]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.usiter.org/about/ |title=About US ITER |publisher=[[ITER|US ITER]] |access-date=February 6, 2013 |archive-date=June 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620111704/https://www.usiter.org/about/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The US contribution to the ITER project is 9.1% which is expected to be in excess of US$1.6&nbsp;billion throughout the contract.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8103557.stm |title=Fusion falters under soaring costs |last=McGrath |first=Matt |date=June 17, 2009 |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=February 6, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.iter.org/procurementsharing |title=ITER Procurement Sharing |publisher=[[ITER]] |access-date=February 6, 2013}}</ref> ORNL researchers participated in developing of an extensive research plan for the US-ITER collaboration detailed in 2022.<ref>{{Cite arXiv |title=Report of the US ITER Research Program Research Needs Workshop |eprint=2303.12094 |last1=Greenfield |first1=Charles |last2=Collins |first2=Cami |author3=Workshop Participants|year=2023 |class=physics.plasm-ph }}</ref>