News Archives - 2009

October 21, 2009

Solar Technology Acceleration Center is Powering Up

Members of the Solar Technology Acceleration Center (SolarTAC) and supporters convened in Aurora, Colo., today, to mark a milestone in “Powering Up” one of the world's largest solar test and demonstration facilities. Since announcing the initial launch of SolarTAC one year ago, the site infrastructure development has progressed to the point where members can now break ground for their planned solar technology implementation and testing. Today's occasion also included the announcement that the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) have both signed letters of intent to join SolarTAC.

October 8, 2009

NREL Concentrating Solar Power Team Receives Two Awards Under DOE's National Laboratory Call for Research and Development Projects

On October 8, Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Steven Chu announced that the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will receive funding for two proposals submitted to the DOE Solar EnergyTechnologies Program in June 2009: (1) Advanced Thermal Energy Storage and Solar-Field Test and Evaluation Facilities ($4.4 million) and (2)Nanomaterials for Thermal Energy Storage in Concentrating Solar Power Plants ($1 million). These awards complement ongoing NREL research and development in support of CSP. Over the coming months, NREL will reach out to CSP stakeholders to refine the plans for the facilities to meet the near- and long-term needs of the CSP industry.

August 4, 2009

Award-Winning Reflector to Cut Solar Cost

NREL's partnership with SkyFuel yields a more cost-effective parabolic trough technology.

July 22, 2009

NREL Research Garners Three Prestigious R&D 100 Awards

An ultra-accelerated weathering system, a parabolic trough solar concentrating collector, and a microbattery -- all developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) -- were honored today as top 100 innovations for 2009 by R&D Magazine.

July 9, 2009

DOE/BLM Announce Availability of Solar Energy Study Area Maps

The Department of Energy and the Bureau of Land Management announced the availability of maps that identify 24 tracts of BLM-administered land for in-depth study for solar development. A public comment period ends July 30, 2009.

April 13, 2009

World's Second-Largest Solar Thermal Power Plant to Be Built in Florida

By mid 2010, Florida Power and Light (FPL) will construct the Martin Next Generation Solar Energy Center, a 75-megawatt plant that will sit on 500 acres near Indiantown, Florida, adjacent to FPL's existing combined-cycle power plant. It will be the world's second largest concentrating solar power plant.

April 13, 2009

NREL's JEDI Model Demonstrates Benefits for Nevada's Energy Development

Vote Solar released "The Sun Rises on Nevada," its in-depth analysis of employment, economic, tax, and environmental benefits, which demonstrated the potential gains for Nevada to develop solar energy. Vote Solar used the Job and Economic Development Impact (JEDI) model developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for concentrating solar power plants.

March 12, 2009

NREL Successfully Transfers VSHOT Technology to Solar Industry

NREL provides the most efficient optical characterization testing method--the Video Scanning Hartmann Optical Test--for solar concentrators.

February 17, 2009

Chuck Kutscher Receives Excellence Award in Renewable Energy from Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter recently honored NREL's Chuck Kutscher with the Governor's Excellence in Renewable Energy Award. Kutscher has dedicated 30 years to NREL, is a tireless advocate of renewable energy as a climate change solution, and is a writer, a teacher and a leader in the solar industry.