Commercial and Industrial Partnerships

NREL works with partners in the manufacturing, chemical, and power industries to decarbonize products and processes, including building and transportation electrification.

Manufacturing

Two people standing over a table, one handling a large object encased in plastic.

NREL partnership projects find the most energy-efficient and sustainable solutions for manufacturing products and processes. Partner with NREL to:

  • Support low-carbon energy research, invest in renewables, and apply standardized energy-efficiency protocols
  • Advance research associated with bio-based materials in textiles and consumer goods as well as upcycling strategies for today's plastics
  • Improve power electronic devices and reliability for stable grid connection of variable loads
  • Optimize manufacturing supply/value chains through detailed cost and sensitivity analyses around all phases of a product's life cycle.

Chemicals

A person holds a digital instrument over objects on a table that holds vials containing different materials.

NREL and its partners reduce organizations' carbon footprints through ongoing carbon conversion and utilization research and plastics upcycling. Work with NREL to:

  • Advance research in plastics upcycling, bio-based products, and waste valorization
  • Address plastic pollution by joining Bio-Optimized Technologies to Keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment (BOTTLE™) plastics upcycling consortium
  • Develop a biorefining process to produce sustainable aviation fuel compatible with jet engines and capable of supporting net-zero-carbon flight
  • Develop energy-transition strategies for traditional energy companies to incorporate alternative energy sources that meet emission goals.

Power

A group of people gather around a power grid.

Partners work with NREL on renewable power generation, innovations in electricity transmission and distribution, energy load management, and enablers such as storage technologies, including hydrogen. Work alongside NREL on:

  • Building and transportation electrification, including emerging technology assessments for utilities
  • Integrated utility system modeling capabilities to support utilities with low-carbon electricity strategies
  • Strategy development and planning for land-based and offshore wind, including wind-to-hydrogen production.

Learn more about how to work with us through NREL's research program areas.

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