Project Planning
Once baseline energy use is established and the options for reaching energy and environmental goals have been considered, NREL helps with strategic planning to facilitate successful implementation of clean energy deployment projects. Types of strategic planning include:
- Agency-wide strategic implementation
- Regional field-level strategic planning
- Campus-wide master planning
- Sustainable design guides for facilities.
Strategic Planning Process
NREL follows an established strategic planning process that includes:
Developing a vision and set of values that form the foundation of the project and its mission.
Establishing goals and priorities that establish a framework for achieving the overall mission.
Preparing a plan and setting priorities. Learn about the steps involved in developing community strategic energy plans in Community Greening: How to Develop a Strategic Energy Plan (PDF 944 KB). Download Adobe Reader. This model can be adapted to virtually any clean energy project or initiative.
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Implementing the plan. NREL helps implement energy projects and initiatives through in-field technical assistance that helps solve specific technical problems encountered in wind, solar, bioenergy, geothermal, building energy efficiency and transportation technology deployment. We also help develop and implement broader system solutions to improving energy efficiency, reducing energy use, and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.
Project Screening
A key element of project planning is screening for renewable energy opportunities. Geographic information systems (GIS) are used to screen over large areas. This analysis incorporates facility locations, resource data (such as solar or wind), utility prices, financial incentives, and various environmental factors. At the facility level, NREL has developed several software tools that can be used to screen for opportunities to maximize cost- and energy-saving opportunities. See NREL's Dynamic Maps, GIS Data, Analysis Tools Web site for more information on project screening.
More Information
For additional guidance to support successful implementation of clean energy deployment projects, see:
- NREL's publications databases.
- The U.S. Department of Energy's Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) publications database, which includes examples of strategic planning developed by the NREL FEMP team.
