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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July 2021
July 22, 2021
News Release: NREL Chooses Mortenson To Complete RAIL Facility
The 15,700-square-foot Research and Innovation Laboratory (RAIL) will provide multipurpose lab space for cross-disciplinary research at the intersection of chemistry, materials science, bioscience, and engineering in support of a breadth of energy efficiency and renewable energy research areas.
July 21, 2021
Multiyear NREL Study Uses Digital Twin of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport To Inform Long-Term Investments at Major Transportation Hubs
Now in the third year of the Athena project, the team has published a series of three journal articles sharing key results on shuttle bus route optimization and expanded parking choices to improve energy use and reduce operational costs at airports.
July 21, 2021
Using Direct Lithium Extraction To Secure U.S. Supplies
NREL is driving innovation in geothermal lithium extraction through research, expertise, and prize incentives.
July 20, 2021
NREL Open-Source Modeling Framework Cracks the Code of Simulating Low-Inertia Energy Systems
The United States has 37 gigawatts (GW) of utility-scale solar capacity—enough to power over 4,070,000,000 LED lights—with an impressive additional 112 GW of capacity currently under development.
July 19, 2021
News Release: NREL Elevates Two to Prestigious Senior Research Fellow Roles
NREL elevated two principal scientists to the position of senior research fellow, Joseph Berry and Ingrid Repins, who, along with the current research fellows, will advise NREL executive management on the strategic direction of science and technology research and ensure NREL's work continues to meet the highest standards.
July 19, 2021
Charging Infrastructure Analysis Aims To Help California Meet Zero-Emission Vehicle Goals
Leveraging its data science expertise and state-of-the-art modeling and analysis tools, NREL is helping the California Energy Commission pinpoint the number of electric vehicle chargers needed to meet the state’s ambitious zero-emission vehicle and greenhouse gas reduction goals.
July 15, 2021
University Researchers Dive Into Water Desalination Challenge
In the Waves to Water Prize, competitors from academia are part of the diverse set of pioneers dipping their feet in the water by introducing, expanding, and evolving what is possible for marine energy.
July 15, 2021
News Release: Analysis Shows Enzyme-Based Plastics Recycling Is More Energy Efficient, Better for Environment
Researchers in the BOTTLE Consortium, including from NREL and the University of Portsmouth, have identified using enzymes as a more sustainable approach for recycling polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a common plastic in single-use beverage bottles, clothing, and food packaging.
July 15, 2021
Microstructure Analysis ToolBox Changes the Game for Heterogeneous Material Modeling
Microstructure-scale modeling carried out by NREL over the past five years has culminated in the newly released Microstructure Analysis ToolBox (MATBOX) dedicated to the meshing, numerical generation, segmentation, and characterization of three-dimensional heterogeneous materials, such as battery electrodes.
July 15, 2021
NREL, First Solar Celebrate Nearly 30 Years of Collaboration on Cadmium Telluride Solar Cell Research
NREL and First Solar Inc. have been collaboratively breaking ground on thin film solar technology for more than two decades, helping NREL fulfill its goal as a DOE national laboratory of commercializing technology through partnerships, and contributing to First Solar's success in development, manufacturing, and operation of photovoltaic (PV) power plants with technology that still bucks industry trends.
July 14, 2021
CdTe PV Accelerator Consortium Solicitation Aims To Enhance U.S. Competitiveness in Cadmium Telluride Thin Film Photovoltaic Technologies
DOE's Solar Energy Technologies Office announced $20 million for the Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) Photovoltaic (PV) Accelerator Consortium Solicitation to formalize the leadership of a consortium that will identify the technology development priorities to impact the entire domestic CdTe supply chain.
July 14, 2021
News Release: New NREL Report Details Current State and Vast Future Potential of U.S. Geothermal Power and Heat
A new publication from NREL showcases the current state of geothermal energy use in the United States and provides an outlook to a future where geothermal power and heat can play a key role in the national transition to a renewable, decarbonized energy system.
July 14, 2021
NREL Creates Blueprint To Help Expand Deployment of Grid-Interactive Efficient Building Technologies in Federal Performance Contracts
NREL researchers have crafted a guide to using federal energy performance contracting to transform U.S. General Services Administration buildings into tomorrow's energy-efficient, grid-interactive facilities.
July 12, 2021
Students Build Skills for the Clean Energy Economy in 2021 Collegiate Wind Competition
The CWC aims to prepare students from multiple disciplines to enter the wind energy workforce by providing real-world technology experience. This year's contest met that goal with 173 students from a range of disciplines, including engineering, economics, and architecture
July 12, 2021
2021 Annual Technology Baseline Adds Technologies, New Data Features To Support High-Impact Energy Analysis
The 2021 Annual Technology Baseline offers new and improved electricity-generation technology cost and performance data to inform high-impact U.S. electricity-sector analysis.
July 1, 2021
DOE Recognizes Multiple NREL Hydrogen Researchers at 2021 Annual Merit Review Awards
The U.S. Department of Energy Hydrogen Program recently honored nine National Renewable Energy Laboratory researchers for their outstanding achievements at the 2021 Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation Meeting.
July 1, 2021
NREL Issues Request for Information on Advanced Distribution Management System Research
NREL is soliciting feedback from industry, utilities, grid operators, governments, and other grid stakeholders around applications of the Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS) Test Bed, a capability for validating advanced grid architectures, controls, and operations.
July 1, 2021
News Release: What To Do With Food Waste? Well, That Depends
The expected decline in the number of landfills across the United States coupled with bans on disposing large amounts of organic waste in landfills that have been enacted in multiple states has prompted researchers at NREL to examine other ways to grapple with the issue of food waste disposal.
June 2021
June 30, 2021
Solar Desalination Prize Round 2 Seeks Innovative Desalination Technologies Combined With Storage
Department of Energy launches second round of Solar Desalination Prize with new focus on storage.
June 29, 2021
NREL Follows Up Groundbreaking LA100 Study With New Equity Strategies Initiative
Partnership with Los Angeles Department of Water and Power continues with stakeholder-driven effort to ensure equitable transition to 100% renewable energy for Los Angeles.
June 29, 2021
From Satellite Launches to Expert Energy Analysis for Earthlings
NREL's Modeling and Analysis Group is an interdisciplinary team of technical experts who support government and private entities with techno-economic modeling and analysis of energy efficiency, renewable energy, storage, and microgrids.
June 28, 2021
NREL Finds Keeping Renewables at Today's Levels—or Limiting Their Growth—Results in Higher U.S. Power System Costs
Simulations show nonlinear relationship between renewable contribution and costs—and that the U.S. can get to 80+% renewables at the same cost as keeping the system at today’s 20%.
June 25, 2021
Technology Commercialization Fund Awards NREL $4.9 Million To Bring Tech to Market
The U.S. Department of Energy funded 16 National Renewable Energy Laboratory awards through its Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF).
June 24, 2021
North American Renewable Integration Study Highlights Opportunities for a Coordinated, Continental Low-Carbon Grid
Multiyear analysis shows that increasing electricity trade between countries and expanding interregional transmission can support a reliable future power system.
June 23, 2021
Carbon-Neutral Future Unites NREL, Sempra Energy in Partnership
NREL and Sempra Energy's cooperative, multiyear projects exploring low-carbon fuels and microgrid technology have reaped success—including some groundbreaking achievements. Now, a memorandum of understanding signed in June 2021 formalizes a joint effort by NREL and Sempra Energy to continue advancing clean energy systems.
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