Test and User Facilities
NREL has test and user facilities available to industry and other organizations for researching, developing, and evaluating renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.
Here you'll find an alphabetical listing and brief descriptions of NREL's test and user facilities.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A
Advanced Research Turbines
At our wind testing facilities, we have turbines available to test new control schemes and equipment for reducing loads on wind turbine components. Learn more about the Advanced Research Turbines on our Wind Research Web site.
D
Distributed Energy Resources Test Facility
This facility was designed to assist the distributed power industry in the development and testing of distributed power systems, including interconnection and systems integration. Learn more about the Distributed Energy Resources Test Facility on our Electric Infrastructure Systems Research Web site.
F
Field Test Laboratory Building
In this facility, researchers explore new and more efficient methods of using resources such as unwanted waste to create useful fuels, electricity, and chemicals. This includes photovoltaics, biomass, hydrogen, and buildings research. Learn more about the Field Test Laboratory Building on our Photovoltaic Research and Buildings Research Web sites.
H
High-Flux Solar Furnace
The power generated by this furnace can be used to expose, test, and evaluate many components used in concentrating solar power systems. The heat generated at the facility can also be used for the thermal and thermochemical decomposition of water to produce hydrogen. Learn more about the High-Flux Solar Furnace on our Concentrating Solar Power Research Web site.
I
Integrated Biorefinery Research Facility
This facility houses process development trains for converting biomass to ethanol, the Steam Gun Pretreatment Laboratory, a fermentation mini-pilot unit, and compositional process monitoring equipment. Learn more about the Integrated Biorefinery Research Facility on our Biomass Research Web site.
L
Large-Payload Solar Tracker
This structure supports testing of solar components that require tracking of the sun in elevation and azimuth. Learn more about the Large-Payload Solar Tracker on our Concentrating Solar Power Research Web site.
O
Outdoor Test Facility
Researchers use this facility to study and evaluate advanced or emerging photovoltaic technologies under simulated, accelerated indoor and outdoor, and prevailing outdoor conditions. Learn more about the Outdoor Test Facility on our Photovoltaic Research Web site.
R
Renewable Fuels and Lubricants Laboratory
Also known as the ReFUEL laboratory, this facility tests advanced fuels in heavy-duty engines and vehicles, and advanced heavy hybrid vehicles. It features a heavy-duty chassis dynamometer, a heavy-duty engine transient test cell, and emissions measurement capability. Learn more about the ReFUEL Laboratory on our Advanced Vehicles and Fuels Research Web site.
S
Science and Technology Facility
Scientists at this facility research and test silicon solar cells, thin films, and nanostructures in laboratory space that is both functional and flexible. Learn more about the Science and Technology Facility on our Photovoltaic Research Web site.
Solar Energy Research Facility
Research in photovoltaics and basic energy sciences is conducted primarily at this facility. Learn more about the Solar Energy Research Facility on our Photovoltaic Research Web site.
T
Thermal Test Facility
The facility houses laboratories for researching building technologies and energy storage technologies for vehicles. Learn more about the Thermal Test Facility on our Buildings Research Web site, and its Energy Storage Laboratory on our Advanced Vehicles and Fuels Research Web site.
Thermochemical Process Development Unit
This facility is used to demonstrate and evaluate the thermochemical conversion of biomass to produce syngas or pyrolysis oil that can be further converted to fuels and chemicals. It has a 0.5-ton/day feedstock capacity. Learn more about the Thermochemical Process Development Unit on our Biomass Research Web site.
Thermochemical Users Facility
The facility offers the capability to test new processes and feedstocks by converting them into a variety of products, including electricity, chemicals, and transportation fuels. Learn more about the Thermochemical Users Facility on our Biomass Research Web site.
W
Wind Dynamometer Test Facilities
Our 7,500-square-foot dynamometer facility offers wind industry engineers a unique opportunity to conduct lifetime endurance tests on a wide range of wind turbine drivetrains and gearboxes at various speeds. Learn more about the dynamometer test facilities on our Wind Research Web site.
Wind Industrial User Facility
This facility provides office space for industry researchers, experimental laboratories, computer facilities for analytical work, and space for assembling components and turbines for atmospheric testing. Learn more about the Industrial User Facility on our Wind Research Web site.
Wind Research High Bay
The high bay houses a 225-kilowatt dynamometer for testing small wind turbine components and subsystems. Learn more about the wind research high bay on our Wind Research Web site.
Wind Turbine Test Pads
Test pads are available for wind turbine manufacturers that need to test their prototype machines. Learn more about the wind turbine test pads on our Wind Research Web site.
