November 2021
Janna Martinek Works Behind the Scenes To Solve Some of NREL's Most Complex Problems
Since joining NREL in 2012, Janna Martinek has developed a reputation across the laboratory as a leader in numerical modeling and related engineering. She is also known as someone who can handle any problem that is thrown her way—no matter how complex.
Interlaboratory Consortium Broadens Technical Support Opportunities for South Asia
USAID and three Department of Energy national laboratories partner to advance clean and sustainable energy in South Asia.
New Reports From NREL Document Continuing PV and PV-Plus-Storage Cost Declines
NREL has released its annual cost breakdown of installed solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery storage systems. U.S. Solar Photovoltaic System and Energy Storage Cost Benchmark: Q1 2021 details installed costs for PV systems as of the first quarter of 2021.
American-Made Solar Prize Round 4 Winners Move Quickly From Ideas to Prototypes
On Sept. 16, DOE announced the winners of the fourth round of the Solar Prize. AeroShield Materials from Boston, Massachusetts, and the r&d lab from Petaluma, California, each received $500,000 to continue developing and commercializing their products and an additional $75,000 in vouchers redeemable for technical support.
Two Teams Named Grand-Prize Winners in Water Resource Recovery Prize
Phase 2 finalists of the Water Resource Recovery Prize receive honorable mention for proposing innovative solutions to lower the cost of water treatment by extracting valuable resources.
An Evolving Dictionary for an Evolving Grid: Defining Long-Duration Energy Storage
A new thought piece by NREL analysts describes the challenges of defining long-duration energy storage to reflect both duration and application.
Leader in Building Energy Modeling Research Reflects on Impact of NREL Career
Like many others, Luigi Gentile Polese was drawn to NREL by its mission and values. With a passion for energy and the environment, this innovator did not see an ambiguous job posting as a deterrent.
News Release: NREL's Kate Anderson Honored for Clean Energy Leadership
The U.S. Clean Energy Education & Empowerment (C3E) program has honored Kate Anderson of NREL for her leadership and achievement in the field of renewable energy.
News Release: NREL Supports Department of Energy Launch of the New Net Zero World Initiative at COP26 To Accelerate Global Energy System Decarbonization
Countries committed to raising their climate ambitions will work across U.S. government and DOE's national laboratories to create and implement highly tailored, actionable, technology roadmaps and investment strategies for key countries that will put global net zero within reach.
News Release: NREL Researchers Point Toward Energy Efficiency for Achieving 100% Renewable Grid
Incorporating energy efficiency measures can reduce the amount of storage needed to power the nation's buildings entirely with renewable energy, according to analysis conducted by researchers at NREL.
NREL Tool Provides Cybersecurity and Savings for Hydropower Plants
A new NREL and Argonne National Laboratory tool named the Cybersecurity Value-at-Risk Framework provides hydropower operators complete and customized assessments of their cybersecurity risks and demonstrates how different investments will help improve overall resilience.
NREL Explores Innovative Manufacturing Approach for Next-Generation Wind Turbine Blades
Wind turbine blades might look elegant, even ballet-like, as they glide through the air. But, much like ballet, achieving that simple grace requires complex, advanced engineering. NREL researchers are revolutionizing wind turbine blade manufacturing by combining recyclable thermoplastics and additive manufacturing.
October 2021
Q&A With Jon White: Achieving Security by Design
NREL's Cybersecurity Program Director Jon White shares his own path into the field and the laboratory's strategy for deploying technologies that stay one step ahead of adversaries.
New Hydropower Report Identifies Opportunities To Reform the Licensing Process
A national laboratories report, titled "An Examination of the Hydropower Licensing and Federal Authorization Process," identifies what factors can add time, cost, or risk when earning a hydropower license so decisionmakers can streamline the process and create carbon-free energy.
American-Made Challenges Announces Launch of Solar Forecasting Prize, Puts up $375K in Winnings
New prize seeks to accelerate the development of solar forecasting capabilities.
News Release: New Data Set Quantifies How and When Energy Is Used Across All Major U.S. Building Types and Climate Regions
The data set released by NREL researchers, in collaboration with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory, is critical for utility planners, regulators, state energy offices, researchers, and building owners to understand ways to best manage energy use.
Researchers Discover Another Way To Sequester Lead in Perovskite Solar Cells
Scientists at NREL and Northern Illinois University have successfully prevented lead from escaping damaged perovskite solar cells. The research effort is their latest work in addressing concerns about potential lead toxicity.
Large-Scale Experiments Demonstrate Advanced Controls for Autonomous Energy Systems
In a breakthrough for the autonomous energy systems research program, NREL has demonstrated new methods for optimizing more than 1 million distributed energy resources with autonomous controls. The updated approach cuts the computation time by more than tenfold, enabling real-time distribution system optimization for economics and stability in high-renewable power systems.
Electric Vehicle Charging at Retail Locations Offers Convenience, Building Integration Opportunities
A new study from NREL compares load profiles from potential EV charging stations against those of big-box retail grocery stores to assess how the electricity demands of specific sites may change by adding EV charging.
NREL Celebrates 45 Years of Energy Burden Relief for Low-Income Families in Weatherization Program
A favorite sweater, an open window, or a simple press of a button are all it takes for some of us to enjoy the perfect temperature in our homes. But many low-income households are battling their thermostat and struggling with their electric bill—paying a high price for energy-inefficient homes they have no control over.
Last Updated May 28, 2025