January 2016
News Release: NREL Theorizes Defects Could Improve Solar Cells
Scientists at the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are studying what may seem paradoxical - certain defects in silicon solar cells may actually improve their performance.
News Release: Renewable Energy used in State Renewable Portfolio Standards Yielded Sizable Benefits and Other Impacts in 2013
A new study by researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) estimates that $2.2 billion in benefits came from reduced greenhouse gas emissions and $5.2 billion from reductions in other air pollution, in mid-range estimates, for state renewable portfolio standard (RPS) policies operating in 2013. RPS policies require utilities or other electricity providers to meet a minimum portion of their load with eligible forms of renewable electricity.
News Release: NREL and CSEM Jointly Set New Efficiency Record with Dual-Junction Solar Cell
Scientists at the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and at the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM) have jointly set a new world record for converting non-concentrated (1-sun) sunlight into electricity using a dual-junction III-V/Si solar cell.
NREL's Cybersecurity Initiative Aims to Wall Off the Smart Grid from Hackers
NREL is working with two-way power grid communications technologies, which can act like an independent "electricity-only Internet."
December 2015
News Release: NREL Research Advances Hydrogen Production Efforts
Researchers at the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have made advances toward affordable photoelectrochemical (PEC) production of hydrogen.
Inventive Thinkers at NREL Reach Record Number
Researchers register ideas on everything from wave power to methane use.
NREL Records Progress Toward Understanding of Nanotubes
Scientists at the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have made progress towards answering a fundamental question about single-walled carbon nanotubes: do absorbed photons create only neutral excitations (excitons) or are some free charges created also?
Helping Electric-Drive Vehicle Power Electronics Keep Their Cool
Conventional thermal interface materials can pose a significant bottleneck to heat removal from power electronics packages. High-performance thermal interface materials are a critical enabler to compact, high-performance, low-cost power electronics components for transportation and other applications.
NREL Reveals Benefits of O2 Contact with Defects in 2D Semiconductors
Researchers at the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have explained the unusual behavior that stems from oxygen molecules interacting with defects in two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors.
News Release: A Metabolic Pathway in Cyanobacteria Could Yield Better Biofuels and Bioproducts from Photosynthesis
Scientists from the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have discovered that a metabolic pathway previously only suggested to be functional in photosynthetic organisms is actually a major pathway and can enable efficient conversion of carbon dioxide to organic compounds.
NREL's Min Zhang Keeps Her "Bugs" Happy, Leading to Biofuel Breakthroughs
NREL researcher's partnership with a sugar-eating bacterium has enabled her to make breakthroughs in biofuels.
News Release: 2014 Data Book Shows Increased Use of Renewable Electricity
The 2014 Renewable Energy Data Book shows that U.S. renewable electricity grew to 15.5 percent of total installed capacity and 13.5 percent of total electricity generation. Published annually by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) on behalf of the Energy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the Data Book illustrates United States and global energy statistics, including renewable electricity generation, renewable energy development, clean energy investments, and technology-specific data and trends.
From the EERE Blog: Colorado Joins the Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Race
The Energy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) recently posted a blog about how the state of Colorado is quickly gaining momentum in the hydrogen and fuel cell technologies race.
News Release: NREL Research Advances Understanding of Photoelectrodes
Scientists at the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have developed a new probe that could lead to a better photoelectrochemical cell.
November 2015
Industry Growth Forum Fosters Cleantech Companies
Innovations showcased as entrepreneurs network, pitch for funding.
News Release: NREL Estimates Economically Viable U.S. Renewable Generation
Analysts at the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are providing, for the first time, a method for measuring the economic potential of renewable energy across the United States.
New Geothermal Lab Manager Joins NREL
Henry (Bud) Johnston joined NREL on October 12 as the new Laboratory Program Manager for the Geothermal Technologies Program.
NREL Efforts Push Hydrogen Vehicles Further Along
New fast-filling fuel station dedicated as part of National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day.
NREL Research Honored With R&D 100 Awards
A technology developed at the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has been honored by R&D Magazine as a winner of a coveted R&D 100 award as well as an Editor's Choice award.
News Release: NREL Research Honored With R&D 100 Awards
A technology developed at the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has been honored by R&D Magazine as a winner of a coveted R&D 100 award as well as an Editor’s Choice award.
Last Updated May 28, 2025