Executive Energy Leadership Academy

NREL's Executive Energy Leadership Academy, or Energy Execs, provides industry and community leaders an opportunity to learn about advanced energy technologies to guide their organizations in energy-related decisions and planning.

A group of people stand beside a structure, with construction equipment and the mountains in the background.

NREL's Flatirons Campus near Boulder, Colorado, is home to the National Wind Technology Center.

View of a two-story facility, with workers and equipment on the bottom floor and visitors in hard hats on the top floor.

2022 Energy Execs program participants tour the Integrated Biorefinery Research Facility on NREL's Golden, Colorado, campus.

Sixteen people smile and pose on a grassy field in front a set of solar panels.

The 2022 Energy Execs class tours Jack's Solar Garden in Longmont, Colorado.

A person with their back to the camera stands among electrical equipment outdoors while speaking to a group.

Mark Kutchenreiter, research technician, hosts a tour of the Solar Industrial Mesa Test Area at NREL's Golden, Colorado, campus.

A person holds up a framed piece of blue glass while three others look on.

Lance Wheeler, materials science researcher, provides a switchable photovoltaic windows demonstration for the 2022 Energy Execs class.

A group of people in hard hats view specimens in bottles and an architectural rendering on a table.

2022 Energy Execs program participants get a first-hand look at a variety of feedstocks in the Integrated Biorefinery Research Facility on NREL's Golden, Colorado, campus.

Energy Execs Program

The Energy Execs program is designed for leaders interested in exploring renewable energy and energy-efficiency technologies, applications, and issues. Participants travel to NREL's main campus in Golden, Colorado, for four multi-day sessions held from June through September.

The 2024 Energy Execs application will open in late 2023.

Learn more about Energy Execs by viewing the sample syllabus and our frequently asked questions, or email us at eexecs@nrel.gov.

What You'll Learn

The program provides an in-depth look at solar and wind power, bioenergy, hydrogen and transportation, energy-efficient building technologies, and energy systems integration. Course content includes information on performance characteristics of the technologies, economics, and analytical tools.

You'll gain access to:

Briefings by world-renowned researchers and engineers
Tours of state-of-the-art research laboratories
Visits to renewable energy installations.

Program Outcomes

Upon completing the program, participants will demonstrate what they've learned through a group project relating to the course content.

Program Dates

The 2023 Energy Execs program will be held June 21–23, July 19–21, Aug. 23–25, and Sept. 20–22 (local COVID-19 restrictions permitting). There is no cost to participate in the program, although those who are accepted are responsible for their own travel and lodging expenses.

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In Their Own Words

Observations from previous Energy Execs program participants on the impact of this experience:

This summit was nothing short of an exceptional opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge on advanced renewable energy technologies like wind power, bioenergy, energy systems integration and learn how to apply these innovations in the field at scale—showing how we turn out commitments into tangible and impactful action. Developing innovations at the speed and scale required to meet our decarbonization goals is no easy feat, but by learning about equity-centered renewable energy technology solutions, tools available to those in the clean energy space, and what's coming next from the leaders at NREL, I'm more confident than ever that we can succeed."
— Claire Behar, chief commercial officer, Hy Stor Energy (Class of 2022)

The NREL Execs program opened my eyes to myriad opportunities for energy advancement underway. Because of the intensive training, I was able to absorb the possibilities of the energy future. It is bright with the work of NREL and their partners! Meeting others from across the country who are working within the intersectionality of the energy industry gave me hope for a country that is less reliant on fossil fuels. Because of this program, I am able to incorporate cost-saving energy principles for home builds in cold climates."
— Mindy O'Neall, executive director, NREL's Alaska Campus in Fairbanks (Class of 2022)

NREL Energy Execs is a wonderful opportunity to learn about cutting-edge clean energy technology from leading researchers and technical experts. The program is designed to expand your knowledge, but also challenge your assumptions, so come ready to learn from your peers and hear different approaches and perspectives for a more complete and rewarding learning experience."
— Justin Leveque, section chief, Research and Emerging Issues, Colorado Public Utilities Commission (Class of 2022)

This program gave me the push I needed to get more excited about the technology and more motivated to explore what is possible. And that will only serve to improve outcomes, of that I am certain."
— Michael Peterson, Renewable Natural Gas Supply Development lead, Shell (Class of 2022)

NREL Energy Execs provides a fulfilling opportunity to interact with the lab's talented researchers, partnership developers, and leadership team. Our cohort of participants was a good size, and the program curriculum was paced appropriately, such that each session included time to discuss informed questions, learn from each other, and reflect on the topics from month to month."
— Andy Berger, vice president, Environmental Compliance and Policy/ESG, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association Inc. (Class of 2021)

Energy Execs Graduates

Since 2007, more than 350 decision makers from 39 U.S. states have participated in Energy Execs. See the list of Energy Execs alumni sorted by program and year.

U.S. map with numbers corresponding to the number of NREL Energy Execs alumni in each state: Washington (2); Oregon (1); California (14); Idaho (2); Nevada (2); Arizona (6); Utah (1); Colorado (208); New Mexico (4); Kansas (1); Oklahoma (3); Texas (9); Minnesota (9); Iowa (1); Missouri (1); Arkansas (1); Louisiana (1); Wisconsin (7); Illinois (5); Mississippi (1); Georgia (2); Florida (4); Michigan (5); Indiana (2); Ohio (7); West Virginia (1); New York (6); Pennsylvania (4); New Hampshire (1); Massachusetts (1); New Jersey (1); Connecticut (1); Delaware (1); Maryland (4); Washington, D.C. (18); Virginia (9); North Carolina (5); Tennessee (2); and other countries - Colombia, Lagos, and Philippines (3).

Are you an Energy Execs alumnus? Send your updated contact information to us at eexecsalumni@nrel.gov.