June 2015
News Release: NREL Partnerships to Help the Grid Accommodate More Renewable Energy
The Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) announces five new partnerships that will award up to $6.5 million in federal funds to technical teams throughout the country. The cost-shared projects with industry, universities, and other stakeholders will address the challenge of enabling the nation’s electric grid to handle increasing amounts of renewable energy.
NREL and Partners Review Integration Studies, Show Wind and Solar Can Support Proposed EPA Goal of 30% Carbon Dioxide Emissions Reduction
Report summarizes relevant studies that show wind and solar power plants can improve power system operations, reliability, and stability while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 30% or more—helping inform the public discussion surrounding the cost and reliability impacts of complying with the EPA’s proposed target.
NREL Staff Recognized by DOE for Outstanding Achievements
At the 2015 Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation Meeting, the U.S. Department of Energy's Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program honored four National Renewable Energy Laboratory staff for their outstanding achievements.
Geothermal Energy Association Honors Two NRELians with Top Recognition
Dan Getman and Jordan Macknick were recognized by the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) during its National Geothermal Summit on June 3, 2015, in Reno, Nevada.
News Release: NREL, Clemson University Collaborate on Wind Energy Testing Facilities
Two of our nation’s most advanced wind energy research and test facilities have joined forces to help the wind energy industry improve the performance of wind turbine drivetrains and better understand how the turbines can integrate more effectively with the electrical grid.
Kuwait Visitors Interested in NREL Solar and Geothermal Efforts
During a visit on June 4, representatives of the Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) learned about NREL projects involving water desalination and enhanced oil recovery.
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Mentors Honored as Outstanding
Three NREL hydrogen and fuel cell researchers were among seven outstanding mentors from NREL's Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) program who were announced at the spring SULI program poster session on May 14, 2015. The Outstanding Mentor Award recognizes researchers and scientists who have been exceptional mentors for interns in the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science's SULI program.
News Release: NREL’s Economic Impact Tops $872 Million
The economic impact of the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) was $872.3 million nationwide in fiscal year 2014, according to a study by the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business.
NREL Cyanobacteria Ramps Up Photosynthesis—and New Challenges
In a recent project, an NREL research team, led by Jianping Yu, improved ethylene productivity so that up to 10% of photosynthetically fixed carbons become ethylene—with one unexpected, yet welcome, surprise. While cellular metabolism was expected to change, possibly inhibiting growth due to significant and continuous loss of carbon, growth seems to be unaffected.
May 2015
Rain or Shine, Students Keep Their Race Cars Going
Teams from 17 Colorado middle schools competed in annual solar- and battery-powered model car race.
African Delegation Exchanges Knowledge with Top Geothermal Experts
Tapping into 14,000 megawatts of geothermal potential in eastern Africa is the focus one new collaboration at NREL.
News Release: Winners for NREL’s 25th Solar and Lithium Ion Car Races
Sixty-three teams from 17 Colorado middle schools gathered at Dakota Ridge High School in Littleton today for the 25th Annual Junior Solar Sprint and Lithium Ion Battery car competitions. The day’s event drew nearly 200 students eager to show and race the solar- and lithium ion-battery powered vehicles they designed and built. The trophy for fastest solar powered model car was given to students from Stargate School (Thornton), “SG Solar 2.” The trophy for fastest lithium-ion powered model car was given to students from Bell Middle School (Golden), “BMS 2 Battery.”
News Release: NREL Supports China PV Investment and Financing Alliance to Open Capital for Solar Deployment
The Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the China PV Investment and Finance Alliance (CPVFA) have formed a collaboration with the goal of opening wide-scale and diverse sources of investment for solar photovoltaic (PV) asset development in China.
EPRI and NREL Develop Standard Messaging to Facilitate DER Communication and Control
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and NREL have developed and tested a standard messaging platform for distributed energy resources (DER)--solar panels, wind turbines, microgrids, and battery storage--that use smart inverters to connect to the grid.
Webinar May 12: Overview of Station Analysis Tools Developed in Support of H2USA
This webinar will provide a basic introduction to two new analysis tools, the Hydrogen Refueling Station Analysis Model (HRSAM) and the Hydrogen Financial Analysis Scenario Tool (H2FAST). These tools were developed by Argonne National Laboratory and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, respectively, to address key technical and financial barriers to hydrogen fueling infrastructure deployment.
News Release: NREL Staff Recognized for Top Innovations as Lab Celebrates Record Patent Year
Today during its annual Innovation and Technology Transfer Awards ceremony, the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recognized the professionals behind the lab’s greatest innovations from the past year. NREL also celebrated the 43 U.S. patents issued in fiscal year 2014 (FY14), which is the largest number in lab history—nearly three times more than the previous year.
Boise State University Wins Collegiate Wind Competition 2015
Seven teams of students from across the country gathered at the National Wind Technology Center for a fierce blade-to-blade wind turbine rematch. At the Department of Energy Collegiate Wind Competition 2015 Engineering Contest, teams of undergraduates tested original designs of model wind turbines in an on-site wind tunnel and presented their technical designs to wind technology experts.
Report Targets Data on Avian Issues at Solar Energy Facilities
Understanding how birds are affected by utility-scale solar facilities is the focus of a new NREL report that was completed in partnership with Argonne National Laboratory.
News Release: INL and NREL Demonstrate Power Grid Simulation at a Distance
The Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Idaho National Laboratory (INL) have successfully demonstrated the capability to connect grid simulations at their two labs for real time interaction via the Internet. This new inter-lab capability enables the modeling of power grids in greater detail by allowing software and equipment anywhere in the world to establish a real-time connection to the unique facilities and capabilities available within the DOE national laboratory complex.
April 2015
News Release: NREL Announces Participants for Executive Energy Leadership Program
The Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has selected 21 leaders to participate in its 2015 Executive Energy Leadership program (Energy Execs), which empowers executives to integrate clean energy solutions in their communities.
Last Updated May 28, 2025