July 2023
Saving the Planet, One Internship at a Time
Throughout the summer, more than 400 interns will work at NREL, in person and virtually, making it the laboratory's largest cohort.
Ukraine Fights To Build More Resilient, Renewable Energy System in Midst of War
NREL is providing tools and technical support to help Ukraine realize a resilient, decentralized, renewable Energy Grid.
Research Awards To Improve Water Desalination Methods
New funding awards from the National Alliance for Water Innovation will help NREL researchers improve the energy efficiency of U.S. desalination and water reuse technologies.
Nine Remote and Island Communities To Improve Energy Resilience Through Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project
While the islands of Alaska may differ from the Hawaiian archipelago, they share common energy obstacles, such as limited energy infrastructure, high costs of imported energy, and vulnerability to natural disasters.
Photovoltaic Device Innovation Poised for Global Impact on the Future Energy System
Recent decades of research and development have produced highly sophisticated solar cells that generated more than 1,000 terawatt-hours of electrical energy globally in 2022.
SolarAPP+ Prize Brings Automated Solar Permitting to Two New States
Four communities received funding to support adoption of permitting solution that speeds residential solar adoption.
Distinguished Researcher Justin Johnson Is Attuned to Nature and Global Change
NREL Distinguished Researcher Justin Johnson is attuned to his natural surroundings—and his scientific career path reflects that awareness.
Distinguished Researcher Matt Keyser Recycles Lionfish and Li-Ion Batteries
NREL Distinguished Researcher Matt Keyser values recycling and upcycling—whether with used lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries or the invasive lionfish he spears while scuba diving.
Lower Energy Costs, Healthier Air: How Energy CLASS Prize Winners Are Transforming Their School
Twenty-five local education agencies were awarded $100,000 at the close of the first phase of the American-Made Energy CLASS Prize. Teams will now receive training and personalized coaching to implement health and efficiency upgrades in their schools.
NREL Puts Sound Waves to Test in Making Solar Cells Cheaper
Sound waves could play a part in making III-V solar cells more affordable for earth-bound applications, according to newly published research led by scientists at NREL.
Full Speed Ahead: Modeling a Faster Future for Lithium-Ion Batteries
From race car drivers to battery engineers, human nature drives us to push the boundaries of speed, performance, and efficiency in pursuit of excellence. Researchers are applying this determination and focus to optimize lithium-ion batteries for faster electric vehicle charging.
Former Tax Fraud Investigator Manajit Sengupta Thinks Big as a Distinguished Researcher
Distinguished Researcher Manajit Sengupta leads Solar Measurement and Modeling at NREL, and his group maintains expertise in solar and atmospheric resource measurement, modeling, and forecasting for renewable energy applications.
Quantum Computers Can Now Interface With Power Grid Equipment
The power system is so complex that even supercomputers struggle to efficiently solve certain optimization problems. But quantum computers might fare better, and now researchers can explore that prospect thanks to a software interface between quantum computers and grid equipment.
News Release: Bifacial Perovskite Solar Cells Point to Higher Efficiency
A bifacial perovskite solar cell, which allows sunlight to reach both sides of the device, holds the potential to produce higher energy yields at lower overall costs, according to scientists at NREL.
Distinguished Researcher Birdie Carpenter Sets Sail After Naval Career
Alberta (Birdie) Carpenter, one of seven newly named NREL Distinguished Researchers, enjoys science but also embraces unexpected opportunities.
New Prize To Propel Wind Turbine Materials Recycling
The newly launched Wind Turbine Materials Recycling Prize, a $5.1 million competition administered by NREL, aims to help the country develop a cost-effective and sustainable domestic recycling industry for two high-impact categories of wind turbine materials to create a circular U.S. wind energy economy.
Q&A With Samantha Reese: The Fix-It Engineer Who Digs Up Data To Fix the Planet
In this Manufacturing Masterminds Q&A, Sam Reese shares how she ended up traveling around the world and how she is sharing her fix-it mindset with her kids.
Floating Photovoltaics Emerge as a Promising Solution for Southeast Asia's Clean Energy Future
The USAID-NREL Partnership's Advanced Energy Partnership for Asia pioneered a first-of-its-kind floating photovoltaic assessment for Southeast Asia, accompanied by a publicly available data set in the Renewable Energy (RE) Data Explorer.
Small But Mighty: Electric Bicycles Can Bridge the Gap in Access to Transportation
As electric bicycle sales continue to outpace electric car sales, programs across the nation are turning to NREL's Open Platform for Agile Trip Heuristics (NREL OpenPATH) tool to inform incentive programs for electric bicycles.
June 2023
Department of Energy's ZEDD Program Recognizes Institutions Preparing the Next Generation's Zero-Energy Workforce
DOE's Zero Energy Design Designation (ZEDD) recognizes college programs that are committed to zero-energy education. There's still time to apply for the 2023 ZEDD cohort.
Last Updated May 28, 2025