Program News
Access news stories from NREL's research programs.
Dec. 28, 2022
Industries transitioning to renewable energy need the ability to analyze economic performance of various hydrogen production pathways. H2A-Lite can help.
Dec. 15, 2022
How do we balance both human and environmental needs? This is NREL’s Kerry Stout Grantham’s big question as she helps design the blueprint for coastal, island and remote communities to adopt marine energy.
Dec. 15, 2022
Over his 40-plus-year career, Michael E. Himmel has unraveled the complexities of using enzymes to deconstruct lignocellulosic biomass for climate-friendly fuels.
Dec. 15, 2022
NREL has announced plans to award $2.9 million to 11 manufacturers of small- and medium-scale wind turbine technology through CIP. These awards help manufacturers of wind turbines less than 1 megawatt in capacity, as well as other distributed wind technology.
Dec. 13, 2022
The 2022–2023 JUMP into STEM Challenge Winners have been announced, featuring six teams of college students with diverse backgrounds and academic majors exploring solutions towards an equitable clean energy future through building science.
Dec. 13, 2022
The electrical grid is a symphony with each component playing its own tune. NREL researchers have taken such musical principles to heart in designing tools to test grid stability, and they had some fun on the way.
Dec. 8, 2022
NREL has released the 2022 Standard Scenarios, a suite of forward-looking scenarios of the U.S. electricity sector.
Dec. 8, 2022
The American-Made Solar Prize announced the 20 semifinalist teams in this year's competition, selected for their game-changing solar energy ideas, including concepts to energize solar manufacturing, address obstacles to wider solar adoption, or make installation and maintenance more efficient and cost-effective.
Dec. 7, 2022
"Let's look to the past and learn so we can figure out what we need to do for the future," said Dr. Monica Mayer, a tribal councilwoman for the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara (MHA) Nation at a Nov. 5, 2022, panel discussion focused on geothermal energy possibilities for the tribal nation.
Dec. 6, 2022
Transit agencies across the country conduct detailed passenger studies and surveys to better understand transit passenger trends. The data from many of these studies are now housed in the transit passenger data section of NREL's Transportation Secure Data Center.
Dec. 6, 2022
NREL and BioPrincipia, a Georgia-based bioprocess technology company, are partnering to scale NREL's fermentation process for producing 2,3-butanediol.
Dec. 6, 2022
Analysts at the Joint Institute for Strategic Energy Analysis and National Renewable Energy Laboratory studied lab-to-market pathways for clean energy technologies.
Dec. 5, 2022
It was not even close. In 2022, seaweed levels floating in the Caribbean smashed the record set in 2018 by 20%. You could see the consequences drifting up on shorelines from Puerto Rico to the Florida coast.
Dec. 2, 2022
Scott Mauger and Michael Ulsh received awards at this year's International Society of Coating Science and Technology (ISCST) Symposium.
Dec. 1, 2022
NREL is enthusiastically supporting development of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) technologies, and a new collaboration with the U.S. Air Force is taking that research to new heights.
Nov. 30, 2022
NREL has released its annual cost breakdown of installed solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery storage systems.
Nov. 30, 2022
Two NREL studies analyze the causes of the wind energy workforce gap and offer solutions to connect industry employers and potential workers.
Nov. 30, 2022
NREL announced 12 communities as winners of Step 1 of the American-Made Solar Automated Permit Processing Plus (SolarAPP+) Prize—a two-step competition to help communities adopt automated processing of residential solar permits, lowering costs and making solar more accessible for homeowners.
Nov. 28, 2022
A plastic-degrading enzyme and an engineered bacterial strain have just been launched into space with an important mission: to convert waste plastics to upcycled materials during spaceflight.
Nov. 23, 2022
For Stephanie Bostwick's American Indian partners, the primary concern is energy sovereignty. Bostwick is an NREL project manager in the Energy Security and Resilience Center's Resilient Systems Design and Engineering group who supports technical assistance for tribal nations as well as resilience assessments for federal partners.
Nov. 23, 2022
As human knowledge grows deeper and broader, new and more complex scientific problems require multidisciplinary teams with more diverse ideas and skills.
Nov. 22, 2022
Over the last four years, NREL has been part of a multilaboratory team that explored deployable wind turbine systems—including a few solar panels and batteries—using standard shipping containers to power military and disaster relief purposes.
Nov. 18, 2022
A new technical report published by researchers with NREL, the University of Colorado Boulder, and WinBuild Inc. proposes new methods to evaluate how long windows sustain their energy performance.
Nov. 18, 2022
There is a new way to explore NREL's famous chart spotlighting the efficiency of solar cells. The Best Research-Cell Efficiency Chart is now interactive, with the ability to pull up decades of research data and create custom charts that focus on specific technologies or time periods. You can also dive deeper into the data behind many points on the chart, going beyond just efficiency.
Nov. 18, 2022
Skyscrapers dominate city skylines, but these massive glass-walled structures can be made more energy efficient through the addition of thermally efficient photovoltaic (PV) windows, according to an analysis by researchers at NREL.
Nov. 18, 2022
An accessible, centralized data library for all things marine energy is making it easier for everyone in marine energy—from small startups to big universities—to get the data they need to accelerate technology development.
Nov. 17, 2022
Developing a secure supply chain—from material extraction to manufacturing battery cells and packs—is essential for a competitive edge in lithium-ion domestic and global markets.
Nov. 17, 2022
For its 10th cohort, the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN²) formed an all-demonstration group, where each participant would scope and perform a demonstration of their technologies as part of the program.
Nov. 16, 2022
Electric vehicle adoption is increasing—and fast. At this point, you may own one or probably know someone who does.
Nov. 15, 2022
Eight scientists from NREL were named today to the Highly Cited Researchers list, including two who are making their first appearance.
Nov. 14, 2022
124 teams from 97 collegiate institutions are working to solve the climate crisis, one building at a time, by participating in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2023 Design Challenge.
Nov. 11, 2022
Finding readily available and easily accessible data sets is a common challenge in the research community. DOE's Livewire Data Platform's growing catalog of transportation and mobility-related projects helps address this need by providing researchers with a unified platform to connect with each other and easily find data sets.
Nov. 10, 2022
As a child growing up in Massachusetts, Gabriel Prepetit went to football stadiums to watch the games and excitement unfold, but the massive structures around him ultimately made the real lasting impression.
Nov. 10, 2022
Renewable fuels still carry a high burden of proof: They need to be high performing, efficient, and cost-effective. Analysis performed by national laboratory researchers has uncovered a slate of biofuels produced from organic materials, including plants and agricultural waste, that have the potential to replace petroleum-derived fuel.
Nov. 10, 2022
Throughout her academic journey, Katrina Ramirez-Meyers has always pursued equal paths of heart and science. Whether helping West African communities in the Peace Corps or building her skills as an engineer and scholar, her end goal is always about empowering people.
Nov. 9, 2022
NREL-developed PRECISE™ automates interconnection assessments to help customers and utilities reach growing solar goals.
Nov. 7, 2022
Cybersecurity is gaining significant importance on the power grid as more distributed energy resources (DERs) are connecting to operational technology (OT) networks.
Nov. 7, 2022
Today’s hydropower workforce is aging, creating an oncoming wave of retirement. Yet, with new and lower-impact technologies and increased demand for workers, the hydropower industry is projected to grow.
Nov. 4, 2022
NREL’s cell and module performance team recently commissioned a new testbed for measuring the spectral response of silicon PV modules.
Nov. 3, 2022
Securing the grid from cyberattacks is increasingly important as systems become more distributed, digital, and interdependent. Thanks to serendipitous events in his career, Maurice Martin was able to board the cybersecurity train right as it was taking off.
Nov. 3, 2022
NREL-authored reports provided insights on supply chain issues related to solar photovoltaic, wind power, energy storage, semiconductor, and hydrogen fuel cell and electrolyzer technologies.
Nov. 2, 2022
A new agreement between NREL and the Lithuanian Energy Agency kicks off a multiyear research collaboration to support Lithuania with achieving 100% clean electricity.
Nov. 1, 2022
An NREL project is among seven selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to help fast-track affordable housing solutions for disadvantaged communities.
Nov. 1, 2022
At the start of Otto Van Geet's career, most research laboratories spent energy freely for science. Thirty years later, laboratories are more likely to be monuments of futuristic sustainability, and that progress is thanks in large part to Otto's creative work in designing efficient buildings.
Oct. 31, 2022
The U.S. construction industry is facing a housing supply deficit on the order of millions—and growing—at a time when climate targets mean that every unit needs be built as efficiently, sustainably, and affordably as possible.
Oct. 28, 2022
To meet its 2050 decarbonization goals, the United States will need to install up to 20 times more solar photovoltaic (PV) modules than are installed today.
Oct. 27, 2022
Two recently published papers spell out advances in the field of photovoltaics made from III-V materials. The improvements to the III-V solar cells will help the technology find a terrestrial home. III-V cells—although efficient—carry such a high price tag it only makes economic sense to use them on satellites and Mars rovers.
Oct. 27, 2022
For its latest NREL-based cohort, the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN²) formed an all-demonstration group, where each participant would create a demonstration of their technologies as part of the program. Among the first to have its demonstration project underway is San Francisco-based Kit Switch.
Oct. 25, 2022
Read a summary of the six manufacturing experts profiled throughout the year as part of NREL's Manufacturing Masterminds Q&A profile series.
Oct. 25, 2022
NREL Director Martin Keller stood alongside Kern Community College District Chancellor Sonya Christian to formally announce that the state of California has awarded KCCD $50 million to create a renewable energy hub, called the California Renewable Energy Laboratory, and $200K of that has come to NREL to help get CREL off the ground.
Oct. 24, 2022
The World Economic Forum, an independent global organization based in Switzerland that is dedicated to improving the state of the world, has welcomed Doug Arent as a Distinguished Fellow. Arent's year-long appointment will see him working on two platforms: WEF's Clean Power and Electrification program and the Energy, Materials, and Infrastructure team.
Oct. 24, 2022
Moving rows of solar panels further apart can increase efficiency and improve economics in certain instances by allowing greater airflow to whisk away some heat, according to a new analysis.
Oct. 20, 2022
To commemorate Bioenergy Day, NREL is reflecting on recent partnerships, technical advancements, and research breakthroughs in making sustainable aviation fuel from biomass, capturing and recycling carbon from the atmosphere, enabling circular economies for materials, sending research projects into space, and more.
Oct. 19, 2022
In response to daunting climate challenges, battery researchers are mobilizing to increase collaboration and data sharing. Top battery researchers across the globe—including at NREL—are joining an ambitious movement to spur technology development through a shared Battery Data Genome.
Oct. 18, 2022
One week remains for collegiate teams to register for the next U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon cycle!
Oct. 18, 2022
Experts at NREL have published a new report documenting the first national-level evaluation of the U.S. offshore wind energy industry's workforce gaps and opportunities, what might be needed to grow a domestic workforce, what educational opportunities are needed to train that workforce, and what actions can be taken.
Oct. 17, 2022
The new Small WEC Analysis tool—an online, publicly available graphical user interface recently co-developed by NREL researchers—provides baseline information about the performance of different types of wave energy converters in various ocean settings.
Oct. 14, 2022
After successful presentations at Geo! Demo Day, the concluding event of the American-Made Geothermal Manufacturing Prize, two teams were named winners and awarded $500,000 each.
Oct. 13, 2022
The future of buildings—constructing new ones and transforming existing ones—will serve as a cornerstone of a decarbonized society.
Oct. 13, 2022
Mentors play an integral role to the success of interns and postdocs. Honoring mentors at the end of each summer is an NREL tradition. Since 2013, mentees have submitted Outstanding Mentor nominations to highlight the support received from their mentors.
Oct. 12, 2022
A recently approved U.S. offshore wind energy guidance document developed by industry with NREL leadership could become one of the primary resources for offshore wind energy development, leading to shorter regulatory timelines and increased worker safety.
Oct. 11, 2022
As part of continuing efforts to address energy industry workforce needs, the DOE-sponsored Solar District Cup Collegiate Design Competition empowers students to embrace the challenge and bring their most innovative solutions to real-world applications.
Oct. 10, 2022
Students from a school of petroleum and geological engineering may not be obvious choices for a $10k geothermal prize—but in winning this year's U.S. Department of Energy Geothermal Collegiate Competition, the University of Oklahoma team proved that oil and gas industry knowledge can transfer to geothermal energy development.
Oct. 6, 2022
Elizabeth Doris officially takes the helm of the Joint Institute for Strategic Energy Analysis. Get to know Doris and her vision for the institute moving forward.
Oct. 5, 2022
NREL and Duke Energy investigated the pathways to a decarbonized grid.
Oct. 3, 2022
Researchers at NREL are developing data-gathering tools to help accelerate the development of promising marine energy technologies.
Oct. 3, 2022
Pioneer. Visionary. Mentor. Buildings Champion. These are a few words that describe Sheila Hayter's impact during her 30-year career.
Oct. 3, 2022
Nothing says "fossil fuel" like a 400-ton mining rig, but that reality may be fading behind in the dust as the off-road sector strives for carbon-free operation.
Sept. 30, 2022
With the modern transition to renewable energy and electrified transportation, power electronics have the potential to enable seamless integration of renewable energy resources with the electric grid. Take a virtual 360-degree tour of NREL's power electronics capabilities.
Sept. 29, 2022
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has now published a description of the improvised controls that saved NREL during its own outage, which could make microgrids easy and low cost where they are needed most.
Sept. 29, 2022
NREL's validation capabilities range from lab to field, watt to megawatt, component to system, and nanogrid to microgrid.
Sept. 29, 2022
"Science" was a class you probably took in school, but the subject matter you studied was not the only thing you learned.
Sept. 29, 2022
West Gate is a program that embeds innovators at NREL and pairs them with national laboratory scientists and capabilities over a period of two years, during which they have prime access to world-class national laboratory capabilities and expertise to significantly advance the development of their clean-energy technologies.
Sept. 26, 2022
As product managers at NREL, Nicholas Gilroy and Haiku Sky help turn complex information into a compelling journey on the web. Their work allows users to interact with data, and even download information as the story of research unfolds.
Sept. 22, 2022
For some entrepreneurs, carbon dioxide is more than a greenhouse gas. It is an opportunity and a business case for decarbonizing fuel and chemical production.
Sept. 22, 2022
National Renewable Energy (NREL) Senior Research Fellow Matthew Beard accepted the prestigious Ernest Orlando (EO) Lawrence Award on Thursday at a hybrid awards ceremony held in Washington, D.C.
Sept. 22, 2022
Cutting-edge semiconductor research at NREL will continue at the Center for Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Semiconductors for Energy (CHOISE) as part of funding announced last week.
Sept. 21, 2022
New study led by the Joint Institute for Strategic Energy Analysis identifies drivers, barriers, and costs of adopting building sensors and controls systems.
Sept. 19, 2022
Distributed embedded energy converter technologies (or DEEC-Tecs) could eventually transform sources of everyday energy into electricity or other forms of usable energy.
Sept. 19, 2022
As electric vehicle (EV) adoption increasingly gains momentum, NREL is collaborating with Hyundai Motor Company to ensure EV batteries can safely and reliably go the distance.
Sept. 15, 2022
The new FLoating Offshore Wind ReadINess (FLOWIN) Prize, administered by NREL, invites competitors to help drive down the costs of floating offshore wind energy by 70% by 2035.
Sept. 14, 2022
As a child growing up in suburban Nigeria, Opeoluwa Wonuola Olawale recalls when the portable fan in her room stopped working.
Sept. 14, 2022
As part of the Manufacturing Masterminds Q&A profile series, Avantika Singh shares why she hates waste and what she's doing to help combat it.
Sept. 14, 2022
An NREL-led team demonstrated cellular automata on a quantum computer, teasing out the underlying nature of complexity.
Sept. 13, 2022
Free online calculator helps quantify impacts to support resilience investments.
Sept. 12, 2022
A growing body of research has demonstrated that cost-effective high-renewable power systems are possible, but costs increase as systems approach 100% carbon-free electricity—what has become known as the "last 10% problem."
Sept. 12, 2022
A collaborative team from NREL and Princeton University has resurrected a century-old microwave technique to reveal a surprising feature of well-established light-driven chemistry. The study outlines how an important class of "photoredox catalysts" operates, leading to unforeseen ways to manipulate their efficiency and selectivity.
Sept. 12, 2022
If every journey starts with one footstep, Nicole Taverna knew exactly where to begin: Colorado.
Sept. 8, 2022
Distributed energy resources (DERs) with advanced controls can provide services to the grid such as frequency response. However, unlike conventional generators, DERs have to regularly exchange signals with faraway control centers.
Sept. 2, 2022
Danish Saleem is a senior cybersecurity researcher who supports multiple efforts to develop novel cyber-technology solutions, advance next-generation networking concepts, and standardize the cybersecurity requirements for systems of renewable energy technologies through consensus building.
Aug. 30, 2022
NREL study identifies the opportunities and challenges of achieving the U.S. transformational goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035.
Aug. 30, 2022
Researchers from NREL and various DOE national laboratories recently participated in a collaborative electrochemical energy storage workshop hosted by the United Kingdom's Faraday Institution.
Aug. 30, 2022
Researchers at NREL are considering circular economy strategies to mitigate the impact of wind turbine blades at the end of their useful lifespan.
Aug. 25, 2022
As early-career researchers get ready to head back to campus, their impactful research and unique perspectives will live on with the contributions made to a variety of buildings projects.
Aug. 24, 2022
A cooperative research project with Toyota will study the scaling and integration of fuel cell systems for stationary power generation.
Aug. 19, 2022
The free, publicly available Marine Energy Atlas just got some new features, making it even easier for marine energy developers to learn how much electricity their device could produce at various U.S. sites.
Aug. 18, 2022
It is hard to find a flock of sheep nestled under an array of solar panels. But both solar developers and those in the local community who care for the land—whether as farmland, rangeland, or native habitats—can benefit from agrivoltaics.
Aug. 17, 2022
The Joint Institute for Strategic Energy Analysis released a best-practices guide to supporting community energy planning.
Aug. 16, 2022
Whaling season had just begun when the housing survey team from NREL's Cold Climate Housing Research Center (CCHRC) showed up in Point Lay this spring.
Aug. 11, 2022
A small project in New Hampshire could help tidal energy go global.
Aug. 11, 2022
New sustainable aviation technologies are providing actionable pathways for lowering greenhouse gas emissions for aircraft travel. Advancements in electrification and fueling are one exciting aspect, but research at NREL goes beyond power generation with a holistic approach to optimize energy use throughout the entire system design.
Aug. 10, 2022
At NREL, Ritu Treisa Philip focuses her energy—and expert analyses—on marine energy technologies, which could provide renewable, reliable, and locally sourced power to coastal communities.
Aug. 10, 2022
NREL's energy analysts use the "three Rs" concept to provide a fuller picture of power system reliability with changing resource mixes and grid conditions.
Aug. 10, 2022
This week, aviation industry experts join with the nation's top energy researchers to discuss strategies for cleaner air transportation that makes the nation less reliant on traditional fossil fuels while slowing climate change.
Aug. 9, 2022
In a collaborative effort, NREL researchers joined 100 worldwide wind energy experts in writing a series of 10 publications to summarize and clarify the most critical needs to advance wind energy science.
Aug. 9, 2022
State and local zoning laws and ordinances influence how and where wind and solar energy projects can be sited and deployed—which can have a measurable impact on U.S. renewable energy resource potential.
Aug. 9, 2022
Three winners of the Ocean Observing Prize BUILD Contest share a cash prize pool in recognition of their prototypes' potential to one day power ocean observing technologies after wave tank testing.
Aug. 8, 2022
On July 11, 2022, NREL experts hosted two workshops at the 2022 HydroVision International Conference in Denver, Colorado.
Aug. 8, 2022
A critical pathway for producing large quantities of low- to negative-carbon sustainable aviation fuel is enroute to market following a collaborative research and development agreement between NREL and Alder Fuels.
Aug. 5, 2022
Over 10 years and more than 2.6 million downloads later, the Department of Energy's Geothermal Data Repository has taken the geothermal field from siloed science to becoming an industry leader in the open data movement.
Aug. 4, 2022
This week, U.S. Department of Energy announced a new three-year consortium intended to accelerate the development of cadmium telluride (CdTe) technologies by lowering the cost and increasing the efficiency of the thin-film solar cells.
Aug. 4, 2022
Researchers at NREL ran hundreds of millions of simulations to gauge the contribution buildings make to gross grid value and created a publicly available dataset for others to use.
Aug. 2, 2022
As federal sites invest in distributed energy resources like solar panels and battery backups, investments in cybersecurity must also be considered. More energy resources create more complexity to manage—introducing the potential of new cyber vulnerabilities and added costs down the road.
Aug. 1, 2022
In 2020, more than a quarter of all U.S. households (34 million households) reported difficulty paying energy bills or reported keeping their homes at an unsafe temperature due to energy cost concerns, according to a U.S. Energy Information Administration report.
July 29, 2022
The U.S. Department of Energy has selected industry leaders Shell, Spirae LLC, Electrical Grid Monitoring Inc., and Israel Electric Corporation to partner with NREL on power distribution system management and controls.
July 28, 2022
Utilities need cybersecurity solutions that are easy to implement and can make a real-world difference immediately. That is why the theme for the first cohort of the new Clean Energy Cybersecurity Accelerator (CECA) is strong authentication for distributed energy resources.
July 28, 2022
Researchers at NREL will send an engineered bacteria into space as early as next year as part of ongoing research into solving the problem of plastic waste mitigation on Earth.
July 28, 2022
In recognition of his work, NREL recently named Kandler Smith a Distinguished Member of Research Staff for his world-class contributions in battery lifetime modeling, prediction, optimization, and design.
July 27, 2022
Bakers ferment dough for a well-risen loaf of bread. Brewers ferment wheat and barley for a smooth, malty glass of beer. And as nature's foremost bakers and brewers, some microbes can do even more.
July 27, 2022
Learn how NREL simulates rivers and oceans (and much more) to help accelerate the development of cost-effective and durable hydropower and marine energy technologies.
July 26, 2022
The first sentence...
July 25, 2022
NREL's Distributed Generation Market Demand Model helps identify where distributed energy resources could provide the most value to the grid, informing new compensation mechanisms.
July 21, 2022
NREL has awarded three industry teams $1.1 million in funding to support research on bats and wind energy projects. The two-year studies will explore bat behavior around wind turbines and help inform future efforts to improve coexistence of clean, renewable energy with wildlife.
July 20, 2022
Johney Green, associate laboratory director for Mechanical and Thermal Engineering Sciences at NREL, was appointed Chairman of The National GEM Consortium Board of Directors on July 18, 2022. GEM is a 45-year-old national nonprofit organization whose vision is to make scientific impact through underrepresented minority STEM talent in the United States.
July 20, 2022
With integrated analysis from NREL, the FAA can create safety standards and recommend efficient and resilient airport infrastructure able to support electrified aircraft designs.
July 19, 2022
On July 11, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm and Australia's Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen signed the Australia-United States Net-Zero Technology Acceleration Partnership at the Sydney Energy Forum.
July 18, 2022
Video explains how having more than enough renewable energy capacity can make the grid more flexible.
July 18, 2022
In a new paper in PNAS, NREL researchers tackle one of the fundamental problems in quantum information science: how to produce pure elements of quantum information at practical temperatures.
July 18, 2022
Want to design a zero-energy building while still in school? Register now and form a 2023 Design Challenge team to develop sustainable building expertise and tackle real-world problems through the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® collegiate competition.
July 15, 2022
NREL has been selected to receive over $5.4 million from the U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) for the development of technologies that can transform buildings into carbon storage structures.
July 15, 2022
From sustainable fuels to airport infrastructure analysis to next-gen aircraft, NREL offers solutions for lowering emissions in a sector that is among the most difficult to decarbonize.
July 11, 2022
The transportation sector is one of the largest contributors to the nation's carbon emissions. The fastest-growing form of electric vehicle made to help combat climate change, however, is not an electric car.
July 7, 2022
Last month, the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon was honored with the Malcolm Lewis IMPACT! Award during the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Live conference.
July 1, 2022
How do we reduce the carbon impact of an already green technology?
July 1, 2022
The U.S. Department of Energy Hydrogen Program recently honored three NREL researchers for their outstanding achievements at the 2022 Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation Meeting.
June 17, 2022
The first West African hydro-solar plant was deployed in Ghana in January, with technical support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
June 16, 2022
Growing up in Canada, Robynne Murray got her hands dirty clam digging in the Bay of Fundy. Now, at NREL, the mechanical engineer likes getting her hands dirty, manufacturing and evaluating new materials--like recyclable plastics and carbon fibers--for wind and tidal turbines and electric vehicles.
June 15, 2022
The latest additions to the Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project (ETIPP) more than double the number of communities advancing local energy goals through this DOE-funded, multi-lab, multi-partner effort.
June 15, 2022
The sixth round of competition offers $4.1 million in prizes for those ready to revolutionize the solar industry.
June 15, 2022
Just as the wheels keep turning on cars, trucks, and trains, the planet keeps spinning in its orbit. All the while, climate change is accelerating, along with the dire need to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions responsible for global warming.
June 15, 2022
A partnership between the mining and geothermal industries could lead both toward a more lucrative and greener future.
June 14, 2022
A new strategic business plan for marine energy standards showcases how close the industry is to wide-scale commercial use.
June 14, 2022
Here's What You Need to Know About This Year's Annual Technology Baseline, Including Distributed Wind and Pumped Storage Hydropower Supply Curve Data for the First Time
June 13, 2022
NREL is building up young energy leaders in Colombia through hands-on training and education. A cohort of early-career energy sector leaders from Colombia traveled to NREL's campus in May 2022 to tour the facilities, learn from NREL's experts, and collaborate in person after nearly three years of working together virtually.
June 9, 2022
When Greg Glatzmaier left NREL for the last time after a career that spanned four decades, he was already planning trips to Nevada and Spain. But not to play poker or hang out on the beach.
June 8, 2022
As the culmination of two years of work on the Innovating High Throughput Hydrogen Stations (IHS) Project, NREL researchers have successfully demonstrated high-flow-rate hydrogen fueling into a heavy-duty (HD) vehicle system.
June 7, 2022
In our world where windowless buildings rarely exist, the subtle significance of windows can easily be lost. Today, windows are responsible for about 10% of energy use in buildings and influence end uses that comprise 40% of building energy use.
June 7, 2022
Energy storage is expected to play a big role in tomorrow's clean energy grid. To help guide future development of pumped storage hydropower facilities in the United States, NREL researchers developed a new interactive map and geospatial dataset to identify potential installation sites and estimate the quantity, quality, and cost of resources available at each.
June 6, 2022
At the DOE Solar Decathlon 2022 Competition Event, Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm announced the launch of two Solar Decathlon workforce development programs to bring the collegiate competition's sustainable buildings expertise, experience, and mentorship into high school classrooms and architectural studios across the country.
June 6, 2022
NREL Senior Scientist Steve Johnston has been selected as a recipient of the 2022 American Solar Energy Society (ASES) Hoyt Clarke Hottel Award.
June 2, 2022
Jordan Burns is a risk and resilience researcher helping communities reach their energy goals through the DOE's Energy Transitions Initiative. She uses a community-driven approach to understand placed-based resilience solutions that can be incorporated into local strategic clean energy plans.
June 2, 2022
Jerry Davis has been selected as the new Laboratory Program Manager for two of NREL's leading research capabilities: the Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES) research platform and the Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF).
June 2, 2022
A new video and report explain why fault protection should be on grid planners' radar as the power system continues to evolve.
June 1, 2022
A surprisingly high number of auto accidents—21% of all car crashes—occur at intersections with traffic lights. While these incidents are usually caused by driver error, new technology linked to roadway infrastructure can help prevent crashes resulting from human lapses of judgment.
June 1, 2022
A demonstration of outage recovery using inverter-based resources is showing how renewable energy can lead the way to power system resilience.
June 1, 2022
With fuel prices soaring, a new government-industry partnership based at NREL plans to shift the aviation market further away from oil fields and closer to the farmlands.
June 1, 2022
Students from the University of Oklahoma took home first place and $10,000 in prize funding as part of the U.S. Department of Energy 2022 Geothermal Collegiate Competition, an annual event that prepares students to lead the next generation of geothermal energy development.
May 31, 2022
NREL provides technical support to the residential construction industry through its Subject Matter Experts (SME) program.
May 31, 2022
Deblasio was instrumental in getting the solar photovoltaics and distributed energy industries going. Sadly, he died on April 27 at the age of 80.
May 31, 2022
With SHARKS, ARPA-E and NREL could make it possible for marine energy devices to power up in rivers across the country and play a valuable role in combating the climate change crisis.
May 27, 2022
NREL has released version 2.3 of its Open Operational Assessment (OpenOA) software, which helps demystify wind plant operations for wind plant operators.
May 27, 2022
Using novel analyses for floating wind turbines, researchers at NREL have assessed the best way to divide up the first West Coast offshore wind energy areas into leasing areas that could power 1.5 million homes, bringing California and the United States closer to their clean energy goals.
May 26, 2022
Deploying 60 gigawatts of geothermal electricity would be enough to provide clean, reliable power for 129 million American homes and businesses. A key factor to unlocking that amount of always-available geothermal energy could be through innovation in subsurface seismic sensors, or geophones.
May 26, 2022
U.S. Department of Defense's ESTCP is working to identify and demonstrate the most promising, innovative, and cost-effective technologies and methods that address DOD's highest-priority environmental requirements.
May 26, 2022
Trick question: What is your nearest airport? You might think of the urban hub you always catch flights from, even if that airport is hours away.
May 26, 2022
The third catalyzer in the JISEA Catalyzers initiative will explore algorithmic energy efficiency, in addition to ways to limit energy usage of computing and potential pathways to reuse, repair, or recycle hardware products and materials.
May 25, 2022
Bioenergy and waste-to-energy researcher Anelia Milbrandt will be featured in an upcoming children's book including stories of modern diverse women working in energy.
May 24, 2022
The U.S. Department of Energy and NREL announced Phase One winners of the Inclusive Energy Innovation Prize, who are paving the way to an inclusive, equitable, and just energy future.
May 24, 2022
Representatives from solar research institutes around the world and international participants from academia and industry discussed the implications of the multi-terawatt photovoltaics market at the 3rd Terawatt Workshop of the Global Alliance of Solar Energy Research Institutes, May 16-17 in Freiburg, Germany.
May 24, 2022
Drastically increasing fleet and consumer use of electric vehicles (EVs) and developing energy storage solutions for renewable energy generation and resilience are key strategies the Biden administration touts to slash national transportation emissions and curtail climate change.
May 19, 2022
Among NREL's many funding agencies, the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) funds what is perhaps some of NREL's most innovative work.
May 18, 2022
NREL has a long history of building solar cells that capture light from the sun at record-setting efficiencies. But the sun is not the only light source from which photovoltaics can capture energy.
May 18, 2022
NREL's Autonomous Energy Systems work has been used commercially, applied in cross-cutting demonstrations, and is continually pushing the scientific edge of controls and optimization.
May 18, 2022
Meet NREL senior legal and regulatory analyst Aaron Levine, who examines how environmental regulations and hydropower could help protect the planet.
May 16, 2022
At NREL, there is a common consensus that X-ray imaging techniques hold the key to unlocking critical information about the performance of energy storage systems.
May 12, 2022
Researchers from NREL are working to make sure that New York City's electric vehicle charging network and local utility can meet the eventual demands of more than 100,000 electric cars for hire.
May 11, 2022
The Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Prize allows entrepreneurs to access state-of-the-art research facilities as technical partners in collaboration within the American-Made Network.
May 9, 2022
As part of the Manufacturing Masterminds Q&A profile series, Nic Rorrer shares why he loves polymers as well as Legos, yoga, RuPaul's drag races, and saving the world.
May 6, 2022
Amid global supply chain delays and semiconductor shortages, NREL researchers use creative problem-solving to deploy two high-performance computing solutions within one year.
May 5, 2022
Fifteen researchers across NREL have been awarded the Distinguished Member of Research Staff designation for their exemplary contributions to NREL's mission, the respect they have earned from peers around the world, and their leadership at the laboratory and beyond.
May 5, 2022
Through the U.S. Department of Energy's Testing Expertise and Access for Marine Energy Research (TEAMER) program, developers, researchers, companies, and national laboratories are teaming up to share resources.
May 4, 2022
DOE announced the winners of the 20th annual Solar Decathlon, DOE's longest-tenured student competition that has challenged 40,000 students across the world to use the latest technologies to design and build the most sustainable buildings possible.
May 4, 2022
On Monday, April 25, DOE announced the top division winners and Project Pitch Champion in the Solar District Cup Collegiate Design Competition Class of 2021–2022. A total of nine student-led teams won first, second, or third place across the three divisions, plus four honorable mentions.
May 2, 2022
To help electric utilities better understand what a full cybersecurity program looks like, NREL partnered with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in support of the Resilient Energy Platform, providing assistance to a variety of stakeholders to improve security for the electrical grid.
April 29, 2022
The U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Desalination Prize Round 2 has named six semifinalist teams with innovative solar-thermal desalination system concepts.
April 29, 2022
In early April, members of the electric vehicle industry gathered at NREL to evaluate enhanced cybersecurity for the connections between electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.
April 29, 2022
To help federal energy managers assess, monitor, and manage cybersecurity, NREL's Distributed Energy Resource Cybersecurity Framework (DER-CF) offers a comprehensive, web-based assessment tool focusing on cyber governance or policies, technical management, and physical security.
April 29, 2022
Researchers at NREL are leading research to address bias in artificial intelligence and machine learning for clean energy innovation.
April 28, 2022
As the electrical grid makes a historic transition to renewable and distributed energy, even its organizing principles are in flux.
April 26, 2022
On April 22, DOE announced the 20 finalist teams moving forward in the American-Made Solar Prize Round 5. After pitching their concepts for solar innovation during Set! Demo Day events, 10 hardware-focused and 10 software-focused teams were named finalists and awarded cash prizes.
April 26, 2022
Twenty-one of NREL's water power successes earn the spotlight in the U.S. Department of Energy Water Power Technologies Office 2020-2021 Accomplishments Report.
April 25, 2022
The release of Version 3.0 of the FLOw Redirection and Induction in Steady State (FLORIS) wind farm controls software offers significant improvements to maximize wind energy facility productivity and profits.
April 25, 2022
Stage 2 of the CABLE Conductor Manufacturing Prize is now open to all interested in producing a sample of novel conductivity-enhanced materials for evaluation to help upgrade and expand aging electric, transportation, and industrial infrastructures in the United States.
April 22, 2022
As solar grows rapidly as an energy source, the number of photovoltaic (PV) modules that are manufactured and installed each year will continue to expand.
April 22, 2022
A new software developed at NREL with support from the U.S. Department of Energy Wind Energy Technologies Office endeavors to predict the most likely long-distance flight paths of individual golden eagles as they ride updrafts in the wind.
April 22, 2022
This year's Earth Day theme is "Invest in Our Planet." NREL is—already has been, in fact—investing in clean energy, like water power, which helps preserve the planet.
April 22, 2022
The U.S. Department of Energy's Bioenergy Technologies Office announced 15 student teams advancing as finalists in the 2022-2023 AlgaePrize competition. Finalist teams receive $5,000 to conduct their proposed research projects over the next 16 months and will present the results next year at NREL.
April 22, 2022
Meeting U.S. decarbonization goals is expected to require rapid deployment of additional wind energy. As more wind is deployed, social and ecological considerations of the surrounding landscape are becoming increasingly important--but research on the land use impacts of wind deployment has been limited.
April 21, 2022
NREL Scientist Melissa Gish has been selected as a member of the American Chemical Society's Trailblazers list—a prestigious recognition that is presented annually in the American Chemical Society's news magazine, Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN).
April 20, 2022
NREL's Cold Climate Housing Research Center's Sherry Stout connects rural, remote, tribal, and developing communities with scientists who can help them meet their clean energy goals.
April 19, 2022
The electric distribution grid is changing at a rapid rate, with distributed energy resources (DERs) such as rooftop solar arrays, energy storage, and electric vehicles arriving on the grid in fast-growing numbers. However, it is not always clear how much additional DER capacity a community's grid can accommodate.
April 18, 2022
As researchers develop new technologies for space applications, careful thought and rigorous testing must be performed to be certain the technology can function for an extended period in the operating environment.
April 15, 2022
Bat Appreciation Day is April 17, and researchers at NREL are working hard to create solutions that protect bats and other wildlife while ensuring sustainable deployment of wind energy.
April 14, 2022
Already a pioneer in applied building simulations, NREL expanded its partnerships to the city level, utilizing its ResStock™ tool and place-based data to help develop a roadmap for residential energy efficiency in Chicago through the Chicago Advanced Building Construction project.
April 14, 2022
NREL customizes competitions for DOE technology offices—solar, water, buildings, geothermal, and others—to meet industry needs. American-Made is a pillar of DOE's activities, incentivizing U.S. entrepreneurs to strengthen American leadership in energy innovation and domestic manufacturing.
April 14, 2022
NREL's new wave tank could help accelerate the development of commercially-viable marine energy technologies.
April 13, 2022
Energy storage will likely play a critical role in a low-carbon, flexible, and resilient future grid, the Storage Futures Study (SFS) concludes.
April 7, 2022
NREL researchers are revolutionizing clean energy mobility beyond light-duty electric vehicles by building advanced power electronics systems that control the flow of electricity to propel large and advanced electric machines, including those used in planes, trains, and heavy-duty transportation.
April 7, 2022
NREL Senior Scientist Mou Paul has been selected as the recipient of two prestigious awards—the 2021 Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Division Fellow Award and the 2021 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Industrial Progress Award.
April 7, 2022
The inaugural Hydropower Collegiate Competition and third annual Marine Energy Collegiate Competition calls on the next generation workforce to help reach a clean energy future.
April 6, 2022
As part of the Manufacturing Masterminds Q&A profile series, Parthiv Kurup shares how his analyses are streamlining manufacturing processes to reduce the sector's energy consumption while reducing costs.
April 6, 2022
In partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the U.S. Department of Energy's Water Power Technologies Office has launched the Hydropower Operations Optimization (H2Os) Prize to support a reliable, resilient grid. The Phase 1 submission window closes on May 20, 2022.
April 5, 2022
2022 marks the 20th anniversary of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, an international collegiate competition that has helped popularize renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies, while training the clean energy workforce of tomorrow.
April 4, 2022
Rising temperatures and sea levels. More frequent and severe hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and droughts. Deteriorating air and water quality. These trends can be traced back to climate change—with cities facing disproportionate risks due to rapid population growth.
April 4, 2022
Some have called 2023 the "year of the electric vehicle (EV)," noting the dozens of new battery-powered models set to come available in the United States across all vehicle classes.
April 1, 2022
The recently released 2021 annual reports for the Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF), the Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES) research platform, and Advanced Computing offer a snapshot of the impact of NREL research: highlights from the diverse projects, publications, patents, partnerships, and technical breakthroughs realized in the last year.
March 31, 2022
NREL Senior Research Fellow Bob McCormick was recently recognized with one of the highest honors by the American Chemical Society, known as the Henry H. Storch Award in Energy Chemistry for his research on alternative and low-carbon fuels, including the chemistry of fuel-engine interactions.
March 31, 2022
A newly revamped software offers marine energy developers a way to analyze how well their technology might perform in various ocean and river sites.
March 31, 2022
Scientists from NREL's Catalytic Carbon Transformation and Scale-Up Center have sought to reduce barriers to early-stage catalyst cost estimation by developing CatCost, a free and publicly available cost estimation tool that aims to equip researchers with the information they need to make informed R&D decisions.
March 30, 2022
A new collaboration between Amazon and NREL-led BOTTLE Consortium could be a major step toward developing solutions to global plastic pollution.
March 30, 2022
Robin Burton is the co-PI of the Puerto Rico Grid Resilience and Transitions to 100% Renewable Energy Study (PR100). The stakeholder-driven project will generate multiple pathways for Puerto Rico to meet its commitment to 100% renewable electricity by 2050.
March 28, 2022
NREL Hydropower Technical Lead Greg Stark reflects on how the conversation around hydropower is changing and NREL is honored to be part of it in 2022.
March 24, 2022
For Women's History Month 2022, the NREL marine energy and hydropower groups are taking a look at the work of six NREL women who are interested in renewable energy technologies, specifically water power technologies. Here are the second three.
March 24, 2022
Underserved populations in urban neighborhoods and remote rural communities, alike, often have few transportation options. While the underlying conditions differ, wherever mobility inequity surfaces it diminishes peoples' opportunities for success and quality of life.
March 24, 2022
Researchers at NREL are leading the development of new lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery designs specific to stationary storage requirements.
March 23, 2022
An analysis led by NREL is now underway to supply Puerto Rico with options for achieving a renewable, reliable, and equitable electric power system.
March 23, 2022
NREL Marine Energy Team Lead Mike Lawson believes 2022 will be defined by collaboration with current and future industry leaders.
March 17, 2022
For Women's History Month 2022, the NREL marine energy and hydropower groups are taking a look at six NREL women who are interested in renewable energy technologies, specifically water power technologies. Here are the first three.
March 15, 2022
Defending their title and defeating 16 teams from across the state, a Fossil Ridge High School team has become the winners of the 32nd annual Colorado Regional High School Science Bowl.
March 15, 2022
Six teams of marine energy innovators are advancing from the DESIGN to the BUILD Contest of the Ocean Observing Prize with their ocean-observing technologies.
March 14, 2022
In collaboration with UL, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is developing an Outline of Investigation for a cybersecurity certification standard for distributed energy resources (DERs) and inverter-based resource (IBR) devices.
March 7, 2022
NREL researchers recently tested a hydraulic and electric reverse osmosis wave energy converter off the coast of North Carolina ahead of Waves to Water Prize finalists' desalination prototype trials.
March 4, 2022
Fifty-five teams representing 38 universities are advancing as finalists in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2022 Design Challenge.
March 4, 2022
New modeling approach intersects equity metrics and renewable energy technical potential to prioritize communities that need these benefits the most.
March 3, 2022
Engineers have dreamed of programming organisms to sustainably produce ethylene, a chemical nicknamed "king of petrochemicals" for its importance in plastics. Now, one pathway to this petrochemical is nearing reality, via a photosynthetic bacterium that is genetically specialized to turn sunlight and carbon dioxide into ethylene.
March 1, 2022
As part of the Q&A profile series "Manufacturing Masterminds," Meredith Doyle discusses her perspectives on the future potential for plant-based plastics, equity issues surrounding plastics pollution, and more.
March 1, 2022
NREL has issued a request for proposals for the Competitiveness Improvement Project, which supports distributed wind energy.
Feb. 28, 2022
No U.S. cities have done anything like what Cohoes, New York, was proposing: a municipally-owned and operated floating solar installation—but there was no reason it would not work. The technology of floating solar is sound, and their reservoir could hold enough panels to power all Cohoes city-owned buildings and streetlights—erasing around $500,000 in annual electricity costs.
Feb. 24, 2022
When Americans turn on a faucet, they rely on public treatment systems to ensure the water is safe to drink. Recently, Mars Materials was granted an option for an exclusive license to use NREL's renewable acrylonitrile technology in producing polyacrylamide flocculants for commercial use in water treatment systems.
Feb. 24, 2022
The National Community Solar Partnership hosted its annual summit, featuring esteemed DOE leadership, state governors, and industry experts.
Feb. 24, 2022
When it comes to concentrating solar power (CSP) research, Mark Mehos has seen the industry growth and solar boom firsthand. CSP technologies—capturing sunlight to produce heat that drives thermoelectric generation systems—had their beginnings in the mid-1980s, at the dawn of his 35-year career at NREL.
Feb. 23, 2022
Petroleum, coal, and natural gas are not the only starting points for making fuels and chemicals. In fact, growing supplies of renewable electricity open exciting new doors for making identical products at potentially a fraction of the climate cost.
Feb. 22, 2022
Eight teams will receive direct funding and more than a year of technical support as they explore new forms of equitable solar adoption in residential and commercial-scale settings.
Feb. 18, 2022
Three NREL teams win prestigious REMADE awards to remake recycling, improve manufacturing, and build a circular economy.
Feb. 17, 2022
The transportation industry is on the cusp of rapid evolution, with vehicle electrification, automation, and ride sharing transforming the age-old paradigm of privately owned and operated gasoline vehicles.
Feb. 16, 2022
The Indian Health Service (IHS) serves 2.6 million American Indians and Alaska Natives annually on a mission to raise physical, mental, and spiritual health. One of the biggest hurdles is staffing.
Feb. 16, 2022
Like traffic signals controlling cars through the center of town, microorganisms use metabolic signals to control the flow of energy and nutrients.
Feb. 16, 2022
A new report from Blokable, the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2), and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) details actionable pathways to developing and building net zero energy (NZE) housing without increasing costs yet still reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. IN2 is managed by NREL's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center.
Feb. 15, 2022
Why aren't waves powering your home right now? The ocean is an inhospitable place for technology. Now, a new cost-effective, resilient wave energy design adapts to changing seas and could help power up the wave energy industry.
Feb. 14, 2022
As the predominant choice for high-powered personal electronics, electric vehicles, and grid-scale storage solutions, lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries continue to dominate the marketplace. To meet clean energy goals of the future, researchers must develop safe and sustainable recycling processes for these batteries.
Feb. 11, 2022
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) researchers will contribute their expertise in electrified transportation systems to help create a new federal office focused on strategically and equitably expanding electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure throughout the United States.
Feb. 10, 2022
We can currently link models and simulations across the national laboratory complex, but imagine connecting these models with equipment, devices, and scientists so they can work together as if side by side instead of thousands of miles apart.
Feb. 9, 2022
Concentrating solar power (CSP) has long held promise as a renewable energy technology. CSP uses mirrors, or heliostats, to harness the power of the sun by heating and storing an inexpensive medium such as sand, rocks, or molten salt for on-demand energy dispatch.
Feb. 8, 2022
According to national studies, women only account for 22% of the traditional energy sector. That compares to an overall average of 47% nationally in the workforce. One NREL geothermal researcher is determined to elevate the number of women in energy-related professions.
Feb. 8, 2022
The JUMP into STEM Final Event—held virtually Jan. 27 and 28, 2022—showcased holistic solutions from student teams covering three challenge areas: equal access to indoor air quality, resilience for all, and accelerated market adoption.
Feb. 8, 2022
On Jan. 11, 2022, U.S. senators and hydropower experts referenced NREL's hydropower research to argue for an expansion of the U.S. hydropower industry.
Feb. 7, 2022
The Solar Futures Study draws insights from across NREL's expertise and tools to deliver detailed analysis of solar energy's future in the United States.
Feb. 3, 2022
Winning thousands in cash prizes is just one of the many benefits that comes with being a finalist in an American-Made Challenges (AMC) Prize competition.
Feb. 2, 2022
Planning for an unexpected event is a significant challenge, but it is one that NREL's researchers in the Resilient Systems Design and Engineering Group within the Energy Security and Resilience Center are working to address. NREL researcher Jordan Cox describes NREL's innovative approach to analyzing system vulnerabilities, measuring risk, and keeping communities safe.
Feb. 2, 2022
REopt, a free, techno-economic decision support model, helps users optimize energy systems for buildings, campuses, communities, and microgrids. Once called REopt Lite, the REopt tool is dropping the "Lite" in 2022 to better reflect its true status as a heavy-hitting and comprehensive optimization tool.
Feb. 1, 2022
A pilot study demonstrates SolarAPP+ ability to expedite solar installs.
Jan. 31, 2022
Math, mentors, and Mother Nature all had a hand in leading Craig Turchi toward his new role as the manager of NREL's Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Program.
Jan. 27, 2022
Ten times stronger than steel, nearly half the weight of aluminum, far stiffer than fiberglass—carbon fiber carries a package of advantages, making it a preferred material for use in luxury sedans and Formula One racecars alike.
Jan. 25, 2022
The next frontier of mobility aims to ascend to new heights with on-demand air travel integrated with existing transit. This vision is backed by new research, which shows aerial mobility options are nearly ready for takeoff and poised to transform public transit in cities worldwide.
Jan. 25, 2022
Wave energy developers can bring the ocean to the laptop thanks to the Wave Energy Converter SIMulator (WEC-Sim), a tool built by researchers at NREL and Sandia National Laboratories.
Jan. 25, 2022
Women in Power System Transformation initiative seeks to increase women’s representation and leadership in global transition to clean energy through targeted academic and workforce training.
Jan. 24, 2022
Researchers are collecting the most comprehensive data on how winds move through wind plants to help design more efficient plants and reduce wind energy costs.
Jan. 18, 2022
In the last year, NREL researchers helped advance water power, which provides renewable energy from oceans and rivers and is critical to build a clean energy future.
Jan. 18, 2022
The REopt® web tool is a techno-economic decision support platform used by researchers to optimize energy systems for buildings, campuses, communities, microgrids, and more, helping users determine the optimal size and combination of energy systems to maximize cost savings while meeting resilience or energy performance goals.
Jan. 14, 2022
NREL uses advanced grid research environment for first-ever example of type-3 turbines using grid-forming controls.
Jan. 14, 2022
Since 2019, the American Chemical Society (ACS) has published an annual series, titled "Women Scientists at the Forefront of Energy Research," to celebrate the accomplishments of women in the energy science field.
Jan. 13, 2022
The community of Louisville, Kentucky, is partnering with NREL to achieve a goal of 100% clean electricity for municipal government operations by 2030.
Jan. 13, 2022
A new competition from the U.S. Department of Energy's Bioenergy Technologies Office encourages students to imagine and develop innovative technology solutions using algae as a potent and flexible energy resource.
Jan. 12, 2022
The latest phase of the Storage Futures Study finds the grid operates more efficiently with high levels of energy storage across all studied system configurations and grid mixes.
Jan. 11, 2022
In NREL's Insight Center, models come to life, illuminating pathways to a clean energy future.
Jan. 10, 2022
Over the past year, NREL researchers have pioneered innovative, interdisciplinary, and integrated research and development for technology advancements in electrochemical, molecular, thermal, and mechanical energy storage systems.
Jan. 10, 2022
A team at NREL completed a literature review on the potential value of electric vehicle (EV) managed charging. Findings provide a complete look at how EVs and the grid could work together as the electric and transportation sectors become intertwined.
Jan. 10, 2022
A new geothermal heat pump module enables the REopt web tool to evaluate individual facility energy, cost, and emissions impacts of converting conventional heating and cooling systems to ground-source heat pumps.
Jan. 3, 2022
High wind loads increase structural design costs of concentrating solar power collector structures, such as heliostats and parabolic troughs.
