Strengthening Energy Resilience: NREL’s Commitment to Disaster Recovery
As extreme weather events become more frequent and destructive, communities are grappling with new demands to ensure energy resilience in the face of disasters.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has been at the forefront of supporting communities in rebuilding and enhancing their energy systems for over a decade and provides insights into effective strategies for community and infrastructure resilience.
Learning From Diverse Recovery Experiences
NREL’s extensive disaster recovery research illustrates a crucial truth: Each community has unique challenges and needs. For instance, Galena, Alaska, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have both faced catastrophic disruptions to their energy systems but have approached recovery in distinctly different ways.
In Galena, which was severely damaged by a spring ice jam on the Yukon River in 2013, community leaders had already identified the need for renewable energy investments prior to the disaster. With the assistance of NREL, and funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Galena implemented resilience strategies that not only accelerated their transition to renewable energy but also reduced energy costs. Galena has become a model for other remote communities looking to enhance resilience.
Damaged solar PV arrays in the U.S. Virgin Islands devastated grid infrastructure, complicating community response efforts. Photo by Eliza Hotchkiss, NREL
In contrast, the U.S. Virgin Islands faced immediate challenges following the 2017 Hurricanes Irma and Maria that devastated its grid infrastructure, which complicated community response efforts. NREL's team worked closely with local utilities to analyze damages and develop storm-hardening practices that informed recovery efforts, not only in the Virgin Islands but also in neighboring Puerto Rico. These collaborative efforts are helping to establish best practices for integrating resilient solutions in hurricane-prone regions.
Applying the lessons that have been learned through previous disaster recovery efforts, NREL staff are currently supporting recovery in Guam after Typhoon Mawar and on Maui after fires, both of which occurred in 2023, and supporting states and communities impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024.
Guam recovery efforts have included conducting energy efficiency trainings with utility staff and auditing local public buildings to identify energy conservation and solar photovoltaic (PV) opportunities to enhance resilience. NREL staff are also deployed to Maui to support recovery efforts after fires devastated the community of Lahaina. Being sensitive to the needs of the community, recovery efforts are focusing on how to enhance resilience, while respecting local culture and goals with rebuilding. NREL is partnering with FEMA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Hawaii State Energy Office, Maui County, and other agencies to provide support for energy resilience through recovery.
Lessons learned from community-engaged recovery efforts have helped inform the development of replicable tools and methodologies, which could be beneficial to other communities attempting to enhance resilience.
Innovative Methodologies for Resilience Planning
Recognizing that resilience planning must be data driven, NREL has developed a replicable resilience assessment methodology. This approach incorporates local hazards and threats, infrastructure capabilities, and emergency response strategies, enabling local officials to prioritize actions based on their unique risks and resources.
“Our methodology has been fine-tuned through real-world applications, allowing us to create a framework that can be tailored to specific community needs,” said Eliza Hotchkiss, a principal investigator at NREL. “The extensive site data we have collected allows NREL to provide communities with a clear understanding of their vulnerabilities and helps identify effective solutions for resilience.”
Valuing Resilience: New Metrics for Investment
A ballistic flood on the Yukon River severely damaged 90% of the homes and businesses in the remote community.
As the concept of resilience becomes increasingly important in energy planning, NREL is pioneering ways to quantify its value. With tools like the Customer Damage Function calculator, stakeholders can assess the economic impact of outages and justify investments in new resilient infrastructure. This approach aims to ensure that resilience is not just an abstract concept but a tangible, quantifiable factor in energy investments.
Community Engagement in Recovery Efforts
NREL’s commitment to community engagement is exemplified by its work in Puerto Rico, where a multibillion-dollar FEMA investment is set to transform the energy landscape. Through the Puerto Rico Grid Resilience and Transitions to 100% Renewable Energy (PR100) study, NREL is leading an advisory group that includes a diverse range of stakeholders, including community leaders and environmental organizations.
“This collaborative effort is about more than just rebuilding; it’s about creating an energy system that is clean, resilient, and reflective of community priorities,” explained Robin Burton, an NREL research analyst. “The inclusive approach ensures that the voices of local residents are integrated into every step of the decision-making process.”
From Research to Real-World Application
As resilience becomes a priority in energy system design, NREL continues to innovate in this field. The laboratory’s Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES) platform demonstrates new resilient grid architectures, while ongoing research into cybersecurity and microgrid capabilities addresses the vulnerabilities that modern energy systems face.
As communities prepare for future disasters, NREL remains committed to providing the tools and expertise necessary for building a more resilient energy future.
Get Involved
For communities seeking to better understand and enhance their energy resilience, NREL offers a wealth of resources and expertise. To learn more about NREL’s initiatives and how they can assist in disaster recovery planning, visit the Energy Security and Resilience website or contact ESR Center Director Eliza Hotchkiss.
As energy challenges continue to evolve, the need for robust, community-focused energy solutions has never been more critical. Together, we can build a more resilient future.