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.
NREL's Flatirons Campus near Boulder, Colorado, is home to the National Wind Technology Center.
2022 Energy Execs program participants tour the Integrated Biorefinery Research Facility on NREL's Golden, Colorado, campus.
The 2022 Energy Execs class tours Jack's Solar Garden in Longmont, Colorado.
Mark Kutchenreiter, research technician, hosts a tour of the Solar Industrial Mesa Test Area at NREL's Golden, Colorado, campus.
Lance Wheeler, materials science researcher, provides a switchable photovoltaic windows demonstration for the 2022 Energy Execs class.
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.
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 June–September.
While there is no cost to participate in the program, participants are responsible for their own travel and lodging expenses.
Learn more about Energy Execs by viewing the sample syllabus or emailing us at eexecs@nrel.gov.
Applications for the 2025 program will open in fall.
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.
Eligibility and Requirements
Successful applicants must:
- Apply to the program using the link provided on this page each fall. NREL typically notifies applicants of their final status in mid-March.
- Commit to attending all sessions (dates below) in person at NREL’s South Table Mountain campus in Golden, Colorado, and their organization must signify this commitment in its recommendation letter. Participants who miss sessions will be excluded from completing the program.
- Meet NREL's site access requirements, per U.S. Department of Energy regulations.
Program Dates and Location
The 2024 Energy Execs program will be held on the following dates:
- June 12–14
- July 17–19
- Aug. 21–23
- Sept. 18–20.
Session times are:
- Wednesdays and Thursdays: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Friday: 8 a.m.–noon.
We recommend arriving the Tuesday before the first session and departing on Friday after the last session has concluded.
Find information about transportation and lodging near NREL's South Table Mountain campus.
In Their Own Words
Observations from previous Energy Execs program participants on the impact of this experience:
Given my extensive engagement with a diverse contingent of clean energy stakeholders,
the unprecedented exposure to NREL's research depth and introduction to its vast array
of publicly available software tools and databases, Energy Execs came through for
me big time. I was particularly impressed with the responsiveness of the esteemed
NREL engineers and researchers to whom I reached out for additional support."
— Craig Wright, Senior Buildings Performance Analyst at IBIS (Class of 2023)
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)
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.
| State/Territory | Number of Participants |
|---|---|
| Washington | 2 |
| Oregon | 1 |
| California | 17 |
| Idaho | 2 |
| Nevada | 4 |
| Arizona | 6 |
| Utah | 1 |
| Colorado | 216 |
| New Mexico | 4 |
| Kansas | 1 |
| Oklahoma | 3 |
| Texas | 10 |
| Minnesota | 9 |
| Iowa | 1 |
| Missouri | 1 |
| Arkansas | 1 |
| Louisiana | 1 |
| Wisconsin | 8 |
| Illinois | 5 |
| Mississippi | 1 |
| Indiana | 2 |
| Michigan | 6 |
| Ohio | 8 |
| New York | 6 |
| New Hampshire | 1 |
| Massachusetts | 3 |
| Connecticut | 1 |
| New Jersey | 1 |
| Pennsylvania | 4 |
| Delaware | 1 |
| Maryland | 3 |
| West Virginia | 1 |
| Virginia | 9 |
| Washington, D.C. | 19 |
| North Carolina | 5 |
| Tennessee | 2 |
| Georgia | 2 |
| Florida | 4 |
| Alaska | 7 |
| International: Colombia, Lagos, and Phillippines | 3 |
Are you an Energy Execs alumnus? Send your updated contact information to us at eexecsalumni@nrel.gov.
Contact
If you have any questions about Energy Execs, contact eexecs@nrel.gov.
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