The appointment of King signals a strategic emphasis on addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by increasingly demanding AI workloads and their substantial energy consumption footprints. NGDCI’s research agenda is expansive, tackling core areas such as thermal management aimed at mitigating heat dissipation issues in dense computing environments, development of robust physical frameworks for power systems, sophisticated grid integration techniques, and advanced operational load management. Moreover, NGDCI prioritizes cybersecurity in data center operations and applies decision sciences alongside integrated systems modeling to optimize performance and resilience across the entire ecosystem of AI infrastructure.

King’s extensive career at ORNL, where he has remained a pivotal figure for over two decades, lends unparalleled expertise to this role. His leadership experience encompasses overseeing the Grid Infrastructure Program and acting as a senior advisor on national grid deployment strategies. His prior collaborative role with the University of Tennessee’s CURENT Engineering Research Center emphasized innovations in wide-area situational awareness and control systems, critical to enhancing grid stability and responsiveness—skills essential to NGDCI’s mission of tightly coupling AI data centers with grid operations.

A fundamental challenge NGDCI addresses is the complex interplay between computational efficiency, power consumption, and cooling requirements within AI data centers. King underscores this by highlighting the necessity of integrated design and validation approaches that encompass power, cooling, and grid considerations simultaneously. This systems-level perspective ensures that advancements are not isolated but holistically optimized, thereby reducing deployment risks and accelerating technological breakthroughs for commercial applications.

To realize these goals, NGDCI leverages ORNL’s cutting-edge research assets and platforms. One such resource is the ExaDIGIT initiative, which facilitates sophisticated modeling of interactions between large-scale computing infrastructure, energy networks, and the electric grid. Additionally, hardware-in-the-loop testbeds simulate real-world operational conditions to assess the robustness and effectiveness of emerging technologies. Complementing these, NGDCI employs real-time virtual models—digital twins—that offer comprehensive insights into chip performance, rack-level dynamics, facility operations, and grid behavior, providing a dynamic feedback loop for continuous innovation.

The institute adopts a “lab-as-a-test-bed” methodology, enabling end-to-end validation of AI data center technologies within controlled ORNL environments before their widespread industry adoption. This approach significantly curtails deployment risks while enhancing system reliability and efficiency, imperative for the mission-critical nature of AI workloads that underpin national research and development endeavors.

NGDCI’s work also aligns with the broader objectives of the Department of Energy’s Genesis Mission, which aims to synergize the country’s preeminent computational resources with the energy systems that power them. The ultimate aspiration is to double the impact and productivity of American R&D within a decade, positioning the U.S. as a leader in AI infrastructure innovation and energy-efficient computation on a global scale.

King’s vision for NGDCI encapsulates a proactive steering of cutting-edge research and development efforts that address the pressing energy, reliability, and infrastructure challenges posed by next-generation AI systems. By bridging the gap between computational demands and grid capabilities, NGDCI aspires to create AI data centers that are not only powerful but also sustainable and resilient, advancing both industry and national interests.

Before joining ORNL, King contributed his expertise at the Department of Energy as a program manager specializing in distributed energy resources and industrial technologies. His tenure in the commercial sector provided leadership experience in fossil energy generation, adding a diverse energy management perspective that informs his holistic approach to AI data center challenges.

King’s educational foundation includes a mechanical engineering degree from Clarkson University, a master’s in materials engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and an MBA from the University of Tennessee. This blend of technical and business acumen uniquely positions him to lead NGDCI in translating complex scientific discoveries into commercial innovations that address the critical needs of AI infrastructure and energy management.

As the Next-Generation Data Centers Institute embarks on its ambitious mission, it represents a nexus of interdisciplinary research and practical development aimed at revolutionizing AI data centers. Through its comprehensive integration of computing, energy systems, and applied engineering under Tom King’s leadership, NGDCI holds the promise of delivering transformative solutions that will power the future of artificial intelligence while safeguarding the grid and optimizing resource utilization for years to come.

Subject of Research: Integration of AI Data Centers with Electric Grid Systems, Thermal Management, Energy Efficiency, and Advanced Modeling Techniques

Article Title: Oak Ridge National Laboratory Launches Next-Generation Data Centers Institute Under Grid Research Leader Tom King

News Publication Date: Not specified

Web References:

• https://www.ornl.gov/nextgendatacenters
• https://www.olcf.ornl.gov/tag/exadigit/
• https://www.ornl.gov/genesis
• https://www.energy.gov/science/office-science

Image Credits: Alonda Hines/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

Keywords

Next-Generation Data Centers, AI Infrastructure, Electric Grid Integration, Thermal Management, Systems Modeling, Grid Reliability, ExaDIGIT, Digital Twins, Energy Efficiency, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, High-Performance Computing, AI Data Center Innovation

The accolades began with ORNL receiving the 2025 SAMPE Organizational Excellence Award, an esteemed national recognition bestowed upon organizations demonstrating extraordinary contributions to the advanced materials and processes community. This award reflects ORNL’s multidisciplinary impact across industrial, academic, and governmental sectors, highlighting its vital role in accelerating innovation in composites.

Among the technological breakthroughs celebrated was ORNL’s multiplexing extrusion system, which earned the Equipment and Tooling Innovation Award. This revolutionary additive manufacturing technology integrates multiple 3D printing extruders into a unified high-output manufacturing stream. By leveraging specially engineered nozzles, the system simultaneously deposits multiple materials within a single continuous bead, eliminating the need for frequent equipment swaps or manual retooling. This integration not only accelerates print speed but also enhances precision and material versatility, representing a transformative advance in large-scale composite fabrication.

The multiplexing extrusion system’s design solves critical bottlenecks faced in traditional extrusion-based additive manufacturing. Conventional processes often require sequential material changes that increase downtime and complicate production workflows. ORNL’s approach harmonizes throughput with multi-material capability, enabling complex composite structures with spatially varying material properties to be produced seamlessly. This technology stands to revolutionize sectors such as aerospace, automotive, and energy, where lightweight, multifunctional composite components are increasingly demanded.

In addition to tooling innovations, ORNL’s collaborative research partnership with Electroimpact garnered the Material and Process Innovation Award. This project pioneered the development of composite rocket nozzles using modular, additively manufactured heads combined with assisted large-scale dissolvable tooling. By employing water-soluble molds, the manufacturing process eliminates reliance on traditional machining, harsh solvents, and labor-intensive demolding operations, thereby significantly reducing production costs and lead times.

The use of dissolvable tooling embodies a novel strategy in advanced composites manufacturing. It enables the fabrication of geometrically complex and load-optimized components with minimal post-processing. This innovation not only streamlines production but also expands design freedom, facilitating new possibilities in aerospace propulsion systems and other high-performance applications where precision and weight reduction are paramount.

Robert Wagner, ORNL’s associate laboratory director for the Energy Science and Technology Directorate, emphasized the broader implications of these advances. According to Wagner, ORNL’s pioneering work is pivotal in transitioning carbon fiber and composite technologies from experimental platforms into real-world industrial applications. The technologies emerging from ORNL’s labs are expected to revolutionize sectors ranging from defense and infrastructure to commercial transportation and renewable energy.

Individual excellence in the composites domain was also recognized during the CAMX event. Uday Vaidya, holding the prestigious University of Tennessee-ORNL Governor’s Chair in Advanced Composites Manufacturing, was awarded the Academic Pioneer Award. This accolade honors his visionary research and sustained contributions that have pushed forward engineered plastics and composites technologies. Vaidya’s role as the chief technology officer of IACMI-The Composites Institute has been instrumental in fostering collaborative ecosystems that accelerate composite innovations from concept to commercialization.

CAMX, held this year in Orlando, Florida, is widely regarded as the foremost global exposition and conference for composites and advanced materials. The event serves as a vital forum for disseminating scientific breakthroughs, fostering industrial partnerships, and showcasing cutting-edge manufacturing technologies that define the future of materials engineering.

Many of ORNL’s celebrated innovations at CAMX are supported by the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy through initiatives such as the SM2ART Program in collaboration with the University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center. This funding enables high-risk, high-reward research focused on scalable, energy-efficient manufacturing technologies that strengthen the U.S. position in critical materials and composites.

UT-Battelle, the managing contractor of ORNL, operates the laboratory for the DOE’s Office of Science, the nation’s largest federal supporter of fundamental research in physical sciences. The Office of Science’s sustained investment in foundational and applied research at ORNL underscores a commitment to confronting some of the most pressing scientific and technological challenges of our time.

In summary, ORNL’s multiple awards at CAMX 2025 reflect the laboratory’s unparalleled expertise and innovative capacity in the field of composite materials and additive manufacturing. These advancements promise to accelerate the deployment of next-generation materials solutions across diverse industries, enabling lightweight, multifunctional components with enhanced sustainability and performance. As additive manufacturing technologies continue to evolve, ORNL’s pioneering efforts serve as a beacon for the future of advanced materials innovation.

Subject of Research: Advanced composites manufacturing and additive manufacturing technologies, including multiplexing extrusion systems and dissolvable tooling for composite components.

Article Title: Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Pioneering Advances in Composites Manufacturing Captured by Four Prestigious Awards at CAMX 2025

News Publication Date: 2025 (Exact date unspecified)

Web References:
– ORNL news on 2025 SAMPE Organizational Excellence Award: https://www.ornl.gov/news/ornl-receives-2025-sampe-organizational-excellence-award
– Electroimpact Website: https://www.electroimpact.com/
– IACMI-The Composites Institute: https://iacmi.org/
– DOE Office of Science: https://www.energy.gov/science/office-science
– ORNL SM2ART Program: https://www.ornl.gov/content/sm2art

Image Credits: ORNL, U.S. Department of Energy

Keywords: Manufacturing, Additive manufacturing, Composite materials, Multiplexing extrusion system, Dissolvable tooling, Rocket nozzles, Aerospace composites, Carbon fiber, Advanced manufacturing, Composites innovation

Molten salt reactors represent a groundbreaking development in nuclear technology, offering significant advantages over conventional water-cooled reactors. These next-generation systems can operate at elevated temperatures while maintaining ambient pressure, which not only enhances their energy efficiency but also addresses many safety concerns inherent to traditional designs. The innovative use of molten salts as coolant—comprised solely of positively and negatively charged ions—enables a unique operational dynamic, akin to the transition of table salt from solid to liquid form. This state is achievable only at high operational temperatures, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of the materials used in construction as well as their chemical interactions under extreme conditions.

At the heart of Brookhaven Lab’s exploration lies the fundamental question: How do molten salts interact with various metallic elements in environments characterized by intense radiation? To answer this, the research team, led by distinguished chemist James Wishart, has zeroed in on chromium—a metal frequently incorporated into the alloys proposed for use in molten salt reactors. Understanding chromium’s behavior in these high-stress environments is critical due to its predominant role in corrosion processes, which could severely impact reactor integrity and performance.

Wishart highlights the pivotal concerns associated with chromium’s presence in molten salt environments. It is commonly observed that chromium from the structural alloys can dissolve into the coolant, leading to a myriad of chemical reactions that can exacerbate corrosion through the formation of more aggressive oxidation states. In particular, the oxidation states of chromium—specifically trivalent chromium (Cr³⁺) and divalent chromium (Cr²⁺)—play a crucial role in dictating the corrosive potential within the reactor’s cooling system. The intricacies of chromium’s redox chemistry are fundamental to predicting the lifespan and reliability of the reactor components, making this research a linchpin in the advancement of molten salt technology.

Diving deeper into the chemistry, the researchers sought to understand how different oxidation states of chromium reacted with various species produced under radiation bombardment. This investigation unraveled the troubling fact that while Cr³⁺ can potentially accelerate corrosion processes, the presence of Cr²⁺ appears to be less harmful, thus creating a necessary balance that engineers and scientists must navigate to ensure reactor performance remains uncompromised.

To facilitate their experiments, the Brookhaven team leveraged advanced facilities capable of inducing radiation-driven chemical reactions and tracking these processes in real time. The Laser Electron Accelerator Facility and the two-million-electron-volt Van de Graaff accelerator provide the necessary high-energy environments to simulate the conditions within a functioning nuclear reactor. Here, the researchers meticulously measured the reaction rates and temperature dependencies of chromium ions in molten salt—insights that are invaluable for future reactor designs.

One of the most illuminating findings was that the radiation environment within molten salts tends to promote a conversion of corrosive chromium ions from the trivalent state to the less corrosive divalent state. This transformation underscores a potential mitigation strategy for combating corrosion, as it suggests that radiation can inadvertently assist in preserving the structural integrity and function of reactor materials over time, a notion not previously articulated in the context of molten salt reactors.

Furthermore, this research aligns with a broader initiative within the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, which has established the Energy Frontier Research Center focused on "Molten Salts in Extreme Environments." This center aims to explore the fundamental properties and applications of molten salts, underscoring the significant investments and commitment to advancing nuclear energy technologies in a sustainable manner.

With nuclear power being vital to addressing global energy needs and climate goals, furthering our understanding of material interactions in molten salt reactors is more than just an academic pursuit; it is a crucial step toward ensuring that the next generation of reactors can be both efficient and resilient against the corrosive forces at play. This foundational research from Brookhaven Lab could change the narrative around nuclear energy, making it a more viable option for large-scale energy production without compromising safety or structural reliability.

In conclusion, as we march toward a future where sustainable energy sources must compete with traditional fossil fuels, the insights gathered from this pioneering work on chromium chemistry in molten salts will undoubtedly play a key role. The innovative approaches and technologies employed by scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory not only advance the science of nuclear energy but also lay the groundwork for a safer and more sustainable energy future for generations to come.

Subject of Research: Radiation-induced chromium chemistry in molten salt reactors
Article Title: Kinetics of radiation-induced Cr(ii) and Cr(iii) redox chemistry in molten LiCl–KCl eutectic
News Publication Date: March 4, 2025
Web References: Link to article
References: DOI 10.1039/D4CP04190A
Image Credits: Roger Stoutenburgh/Brookhaven National Laboratory

Keywords

Nuclear reactors, Salts, Chromium, Nuclear radiation, Corrosion, National laboratories, Chemical physics, Physical chemistry.