Buildings and Grid Manufacturing

NREL is researching new manufacturing approaches for producing advanced building materials and technologies, developing standardized energy efficiency protocols, and optimizing manufacturing facility interoperability with the grid.

A photo of transmission lines.

Capabilities

NREL supports advanced manufacturing through various buildings- and grid-related capabilities and projects.

A cell phone tower at sunset

Cellphone Tower Power System Prototype Testing

NREL validated a cellphone tower power system based on DC interconnection and photovoltaics to reduce operating costs and environmental impacts. This work was enabled through a cooperative research and development agreement between NREL and Verizon Wireless.

Both wearing eyewear and blue shirts, two researchers communicate while standing on the side of a long piece of machinery, one holding a blue and white object while the other points to the machinery.

High-Performance Computing and Advanced Air-Conditioning Technology

NREL is using its molecular dynamics capabilities to help an HVAC technology company improve its energy-efficient solutions for air-conditioning technologies. NREL's efforts support industry efforts to reduce costs, enhance building-user performance, and limit greenhouse-gas emissions.

A city skyline view with blue skies.

District Energy Systems

NREL researchers and collaborators are developing advanced capabilities for district-scale simulation of heating and waste heat recovery energy systems in support of NREL's Urban Renewable Building and Neighborhood Optimization (URBANopt) tool and other modeling tools.

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