US lab gets green light for expansion

US firm Savannah River Nuclear Solutions LLC (SRNS) has reached an agreement with the local authority in Aiken County, South Carolina which will see them embark on a jointly funded scheme to construct a 6,435 sq ft research laboratory complex.

The facility, which will be situated at the Savannah River Research Campus, will also provide support space to the county-ownedCentre for Hydrogen Research (CHR).

The centre, which was opened in 2006, is currently home to the Savannah River National Laboratory’s (SRNL) Hydrogen Technology Research Laboratory, a 24,400 sq ft facility which is used for unclassified research.

Some $3 million (approx £1.9 million) will be invested into the new expansion and on completion the facility will be leased out to the Department of Energy on a ten year agreement.

In total the expansion will add six new laboratories, each of which is flexible so that growing SRNL research on advanced materials can be catered for when the need arises.

“This development further strengthens the good working relationship between SRNS, the National Laboratory and Aiken County,” said Dwayne Wilson, president and CEO of SRNS.

“All along, the intent of our company and our parent company organizations has been to strategically invest corporate dollars in ways that would enhance the National Laboratory’s competitive position. This is a concrete example of that commitment.”

Dr Terry Michalske, executive vice president of SRNS and the director of the SRNL said that the investment will provide a multitude of benefits to all involved.

“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,” he stated.

He added that the scheme will help to grow business in the clean energy sector and provide a platform for further research partnerships to be forced in the future.