June 2025
News Release: NREL Announces 2025 Executive Energy Leadership Cohort
NREL has selected 19 leaders to participate in its 2025 Executive Energy Leadership program.
Beneath the Surface: Why Bri Friedman Embraces Failure
This NREL engineer is working with the laboratory’s marine energy team to develop a device called the small underwater research flap wave energy converter—or SURF-WEC, for short.
May 2025
NREL and Crysalis Biosciences Collaborate To Scale Up Domestic Biomanufacturing Technologies
Based on research initially funded by DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office, NREL granted Crysalis commercial licenses to three novel biological technologies to produce bio-based chemicals and fuels.
Updated Risk Management Framework Supports Success of Marine Energy Devices
NREL’s Marine Energy Technology Development Risk Management Framework gives marine energy researchers and developers a comprehensive process to break down their approach and any variables that may impede or accelerate their success.
Early-Career Spotlight: Michelle Herrera
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Michelle Herrera has long known what she wanted to do when she grew up.
HERO’s Mission: An Elevator Part Could Bolster Marine Energy Technologies
NREL's wave-powered desalination research is charting new waters by improving the robustness, reliability, and deployability of the hydraulic and electric reverse osmosis wave energy converter—or HERO WEC.
15 Years and Counting: A Unique Solution for Transportation Data Sharing
This year, the Transportation Secure Data Center turns 15 years old, continuing to increase the availability and usability of travel and transit surveys and studies from municipalities, transit agencies, and other entities that want to share their results while protecting participant privacy.
Winners of Solar District Cup Class of 2024–2025 Announced
Eighteen teams earn division winner titles for solar and solar-plus-storage design proposals.
NREL Partners With Chilkat Indian Village To Improve Housing in Klukwan, Alaska
A team of NREL researchers and Tribal staff are tackling the problems as part of a $1 million award through the U.S. Housing and Urban Development's Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes.
Microgrids Could Enhance Grid Resilience
In this installment of NREL's Tell Me Something Grid series, Rory McIlmoil, a researcher in NREL's Grid Planning and Analysis Center, shares how microgrids could unlock greater grid resilience in the wake of natural disasters like Hurricane Helene.
NREL Researcher Craig Turchi Brings Small Business Experience to Big Concentrating Solar Projects
Turchi returned to NREL with a savvy outlook on concentrating solar power (CSP) systems analysis and innovation after serving as the principal investigator for a technology startup.
Can Quantum Computers Handle Energy's Hardest Problems?
Working with local quantum companies, an NREL team is developing benchmarks for quantum computers on the problems that are important to energy science, enabling NREL and industry to prioritize practical utility for the next generation of quantum software and hardware.
April 2025
NREL-Led Research Effort Adds Salt, Boosts Performance of Perovskites
Using an ionic salt to replace the fullerene layer in perovskite solar cells boosted their performance, efficiency, and durability, according to a global research effort led by scientists at NREL.
Record Attendance at 30th Annual NREL Industry Growth Forum as Innovation Soars
History was made this year at the NREL Industry Growth Forum, which reached a record high number for attendance with more than 1,000 people.
Manufacturing Masterminds Q&A With Matt Ringer
In the latest Manufacturing Masterminds Q&A, Matt Ringer shares how he ended up in a people-centered role despite his shy childhood and why he joined NREL despite knowing nothing about the laboratory and its mission.
Smart Electrical Panel Startup SPANs NREL’s Accelerator Programs
SPAN is the only startup company to go through two of NREL's startup assistance programs: the Shell GameChanger Accelerator Powered by NREL (GCxN) and the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2).
With a Technology License From MIT and NREL in Hand, Comstock Fuels Aims To Produce Jet Fuel From Lignin
The synthetic aviation fuel technology being codeveloped by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and NREL yields aromatic-rich SAF by deconstructing lignin in plants and hydrodeoxygenating the resulting molecules to jet-range blendstocks.
Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project Opens Applications To Support Coastal, Remote, and Island Communities
Many coastal, remote, and island communities need more affordable, reliable, and secure energy systems but lack the resources to change the status quo.
Modular Construction Enables Efficient and Affordable Housing
Recently, Shanti Pless stood on a windswept hillside and listed some of the issues that come with leaky envelopes.
News Release: 2025 NREL Industry Growth Forum Celebrates 30 Years, Unlocks Value for Attendees
The 2025 NREL Industry Growth Forum celebrated its 30th anniversary by awarding six top innovators of emerging technologies on March 26–28, 2025.
Last Updated May 28, 2025