Sandia California Net Zero Plan

The Sandia California Net Zero Plan frames the energy, resiliency and value-chain initiatives Sandia National Laboratories can take at our Livermore, California, site to address greenhouse gas emissions. We are targeting net-zero emissions at the Livermore site by 2040, 10 years ahead of the federal mandate.

Sandia California Net-Zero Vision

We envision a holistic sitewide approach to achieving net zero that engages Sandia California’s personnel, state-of-the-art research, and emerging technologies.

This vision has four main components: 1) reduce energy consumption through energy conservation measures for existing facilities, efficient space and master planning, and new facility design standards; 2) improve system efficiency using district energy and geothermal storage; 3) optimize renewable energy with solar photovoltaic cells and wind power, geothermal energy; and 4) a climate and sustainability-focused California workforce by building a culture of sustainability and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Plan to Achieve Net-Zero Emissions

Sandia California envisions a holistic sitewide approach to achieving net zero that engages its personnel, state-of-the-art research, and emerging technologies. We are targeting net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, including scopes 1, 2, and 3 emissions, by 2040, with interim targets that either align with or exceed Executive Order 14057 milestones.

Sandia California Net-zero Milestones

To achieve net-zero emissions and resiliency at our Livermore site, Sandia will draw on diverse technologies, many of which contain capabilities derived from Sandia R&D, including:

1. Resilient microgrid design and operation to ensure power to critical services during electric grid disruptions (e.g., earthquakes, cyberattacks)
2. Interoperability of distributed energy resources (solar PV, batteries, etc.) with controllable loads (heating and cooling, electric vehicle charging, etc.), including cybersecurity considerations
3. Energy storage materials, sizing, and controls to enable safe, resilient, and efficient operations
4. Characterization, modeling, and performance assessments of new and emerging renewable energy technologies

Site Background

Sandia opened our second main site in California’s Livermore Valley in 1956. From a small group of employees, the Livermore site has grown to 1,600 employees and 71 facilities across 410 contiguous acres. Infrastructure at this site is shared in part with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Baseline GHG emissions for the Sandia California site totaled 18,820 MtCO₂e in fiscal year 2021. Scope 2 emissions in the form of electricity made up the largest portion, followed by scope 3 emissions from activities like commuting and air and ground travel. Less than 20 percent are considered scope 1 emissions.

Fiscal Year 2021 Greenhouse Gas Baseline (total = 18,820 MtCO₂e)

Resources

Contact

To contact a member of the Sandia California Net Zero Team, please email canz@sandia.gov.