News and Feature Stories
The following news stories take an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at how NREL is advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.
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August 2021
Aug. 30, 2021
In Geothermal Collegiate Competition, Students Compete Using Heat Beneath Our Feet
The winners of the Spring 2021 Geothermal Collegiate Competition were announced.
Aug. 30, 2021
NREL Study Shows a Bright Future for Energy Storage in South Asia
NREL performed a first-of-its-kind assessment of opportunities for grid-scale energy storage in South Asia over the next three decades.
Aug. 30, 2021
NREL Options a Modular, Cost-Effective, Build-Anywhere Particle Thermal Energy Storage Technology
Researchers at NREL are in the late stages of prototype testing a game-changing new thermal energy storage technology that uses inexpensive silica sand as a storage medium—known as ENDURING—a reliable, cost-effective, and scalable solution that can be sited anywhere.
Aug. 30, 2021
Industry Experts, Researchers Put Charging Systems for Electric Trucks to the Test
Electric vehicle industry experts and scientists at NREL are at work on a new high-power charging standard for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles called the Megawatt Charging System (MCS).
Aug. 27, 2021
Space Mission Tests NREL Perovskite Solar Cells
The latest collaboration between NREL and NASA will evaluate the potential use of perovskite solar cells in space and assess the durability of materials used in those cells.
Aug. 27, 2021
Ushering in the Future of Building Retrofits
The American-Made E-ROBOT Prize Phase 1 winners are transforming existing U.S. homes and buildings with a sweeping portfolio of advanced robotics innovations.
Aug. 26, 2021
Annual Technology Baseline Provides Updated Foundational Solar Model Input Data for Electric Grid Studies
One of the challenges of aggregating solar energy data from different sources into studies is knowing whether the data uses consistent assumptions. The Annual Technology Baseline (ATB) resolves this challenge by creating consistent assumptions for all electric generation technologies cost and performance data, including solar.
Aug. 24, 2021
Modeling and Analysis Inform COVID-19 Mobility Impacts and Vaccination Planning
A data-informed mobility modeling and analysis effort led by a crosscutting team at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory has identified pandemic-related travel changes--on the road and in the air--and informed regional vaccine administration site planning.
Aug. 24, 2021
NREL Develops FLASH Hydropower Framework for a Greener Grid
With support from the U.S. DOE Water Power Technologies Office, NREL researchers are developing the Framework for Linked Analysis of Streamflow and Hydropower (FLASH), a systems-engineering-based approach that will improve hydropower's representation in grid operations modeling.
Aug. 20, 2021
Wave-Powered SeaRAY Preps for Hawaii Trial
C-Power is collaborating with NREL and the U.S. Department of Energy Water Power Technologies Office to prep their autonomous, wave-powered, renewable energy device—called the SeaRAY autonomous offshore power system—for its first open ocean trial.
Aug. 18, 2021
Going the Way of T-Rex: Life Cycle Waste and Emissions in Construction Material Manufacturing
NREL researchers are developing strategies to prevent construction from gobbling up resources with BREX—shorthand for Building Materials' Reduce, Reuse, and Recycling.
Aug. 13, 2021
Teams Ride Wave of Winnings To Succeed in Water Desalination Challenge
Seasoned Waves to Water Prize competitors are developing novel, wave-powered desalination devices that can provide clean drinking water to coastal and island communities as well as in disaster recovery scenarios.
Aug. 12, 2021
NREL's International Programs Overcome Travel Restrictions To Provide Global Trainings
While COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Prevent NREL Researchers From Hosting In-Person Trainings, Virtual Solutions Are Creating Opportunities To Build Partnerships at a Distance
Aug. 12, 2021
NREL's Thermoplastic Blade Research Dives Deep With Verdant Power's Tidal Energy Turbines
NREL is measuring the performance of its potentially industry-changing thermoplastic blades on Verdant Power's tidal power turbine in New York City's East River.
Aug. 10, 2021
Big Emissions Cuts and Efficiency Gains for Big Rigs
A new report from the DOE Co-Optimization of Fuels & Engines (Co-Optima) initiative identifies potential big gains for big rigs and the environment by creating low-carbon renewable diesel fuel blends for use in truck engines.
Aug. 5, 2021
Closing the Gap in Inventories for Emissions From U.S. Oil and Natural Gas Production
NREL's partner institution, the Joint Institute for Strategic Energy Analysis, and research partners developed a new approach to more accurately estimate emissions from oil and natural gas production.
Aug. 4, 2021
RAPID Changes Are Coming for Hydropower
Launched in 2015, the Hydropower RAPID Toolkit collects and organizes the latest regulations that protect air and water quality, preserve wildlife habitats, prevent soil erosion, and shield valuable cultural and recreational resources.
Aug. 2, 2021
Lightning No Match for Wind Turbine Blade Protection System
NREL develops lightning protection system for wind turbine blades made of thermoplastic resins and bonded together with NREL's patent-pending thermal welding process.
July 2021
July 30, 2021
NREL Methods Assist Maui in Approaching 100% Renewable Operations
NREL is developing and validating multi-timescale tools that will bring Maui and other systems closer to 100% clean and stable energy futures.
July 30, 2021
Advancing NREL's Capabilities in Cybersecurity and Grid Communications
As group manager of NREL's Secure Cyber-Energy Systems group, Dane Christensen is seeking to mitigate the impact of cyberattacks and severe weather events on the grid.
July 30, 2021
Engaging Autopilot: NREL Explores Automation To Build Better Blades, Lower Costs, and Transform Wind Technology Manufacturing
NREL researchers are charting the course to better quality, lower-cost wind turbine blades through automation.
July 30, 2021
Workshop Presents New Approaches to Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure Supply Chains
A workshop hosted by the DOE Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) and NREL brought speakers from the counterintelligence community, national laboratories, and renewable energy industry to share their perspectives on securing power systems of renewables and distributed energy resources.
July 29, 2021
Competitors From Industry Tapped for Drinking Water Challenge
Waves to Water Prize competitors are using their industry expertise to help advance marine energy technologies that could harness the power of ocean waves to produce clean drinking water.
July 29, 2021
Liz Weber, Rising Star in Clean Energy Project Management, Leads High-Impact Projects
JISEA program manager Liz Weber knew in 2010 she was ready to become an environmental leader. She did not know she would become a leading project manager within the U.S. Department of Energy complex.
July 29, 2021
New Financial Analysis Tool for Long-Duration Energy Storage In Deeply Decarbonized Grids
Researchers at NREL have developed a rigorous new Storage Financial Analysis Scenario Tool (StoreFAST) model to evaluate the levelized cost of energy (LCOE), also known as the levelized cost of storage (LCOS).
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