October 2021
New NREL Partnership Is Nothing To Bawk At
NREL is partnering with the USDA-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) to design, build, and evaluate energy use models to increase energy efficiency in broiler houses.
Modeling a Future for Sustainable Energy Storage
As manager of the Mobility Infrastructure and Impacts Analysis (MIIA) group, NREL's Maggie Mann will be the first to tell you that electric vehicles (EVs) alone are not a perfect solution to achieve sustainability within the transportation industry.
Where the East Meets the West: Interconnections Seam Study Shows Value in Joining U.S. Transmission Grids
A novel multi-model analysis led by NREL explores the benefits and costs of uniting two of the world’s largest power systems.
Looking at Geothermal Energy Through an International Lens
From Iceland to Alaska to France, NREL geoscientist Amanda Kolker has studied geothermal energy all around the world. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in geology, Kolker went to study volcano and glacier interactions in Iceland but was quickly distracted by Iceland's vast geothermal energy systems.
News Release: NREL, Mines Insight Could Lead to Better Silicon Solar Panels
Researchers at NREL and Colorado School of Mines are applying a new technique to identify defects in silicon solar cells that cause a drop in efficiency. The lessons learned at the atomic level could lead to improvements in the way manufacturers strengthen their products against what is known as light-induced degradation.
Researchers Engineer Microorganisms To Tackle PET Plastic Pollution
To help combat the plastic waste problem, NREL and its collaborators have developed a method to upcycle polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into performance-advantaged nylon, a precursor to other valuable products such as waterproof clothing, stick-free cookware coatings, and heat-resistant machine parts.
Country Roads, Take Me Home—in an Electric Car
Rural areas are working to connect in new ways, through improved digital and cell phone networks, as well as alternative forms of transportation. Researchers from NREL are joining small towns across America to expand affordable, convenient, and energy-efficient transportation choices.
New Software Puts Rail Freight on Express Track to Net-Zero Emissions
Researchers at NREL are collaborating with leading industry and research partners on a new modeling framework that can be used to analyze and plan net-zero-emission and hybrid freight train systems: Advanced Locomotive Technology and Rail Infrastructure Optimization System (ALTRIOS) software.
NREL Process for Renewable Butyric Acid Good for Environment, Cheaper Biofuels
Scientists at NREL developed a fully integrated process to produce a promising precursor for diesel and jet fuel from lignocellulosic biomass, and for less expense than the selling price of the same material from petroleum.
CABLE Conductor Manufacturing Prize Announces Stage 1 Winners
Ten teams competing in the CABLE Conductor Manufacturing Prize were selected as Stage 1 winners. Competitors are helping re-wire the future of electricity—developing concepts for affordable and manufacturable conductivity-enhanced, next-generation materials.
Nano-Sized Materials Point to Big Breakthroughs
A poppy seed from your morning bagel is about 1,000 times larger than a bacterial cell. That small cell is about 1,000 times larger than the chemical structures NREL researchers are creating and studying to transform how we use energy.
Electric Hydrogen Partnership Hopes To Repeat Success With Renewable Hydrogen Technology
An upcoming partnership with company Electric Hydrogen will draw on deep experience in developing breakthrough renewable technologies; this time, they are targeting robust and cost-effective electrolyzers for clean hydrogen.
Celebrating Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day 2021: Highlights From NREL's Research
October 8—10/08—is Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day! This year NREL is celebrating this symbolic date, chosen to represent the atomic weight of hydrogen (1.008), by highlighting innovative hydrogen and fuel cell research across the laboratory.
Industry Proves To Be a Promising Prospect for Future Grid Flexibility
New study by the Joint Institute for Strategic Energy Analysis finds industrial manufacturing could profitably help stabilize the grid with large-scale batteries.
Introducing the Clean Energy Cybersecurity Accelerator
An exciting new initiative has been created by DOE and NREL to catalyze the development of cybersecurity solutions for the nation's clean energy grid of the future. The Clean Energy Cybersecurity Accelerator brings together federal infrastructure and expertise, asset owners in the energy sector, and technology innovators in a way that has not yet been done before.
Compact Medium-Voltage Converters To Enable Advanced Grid Architectures and Operations
An NREL-led project is working on a new type of grid device that could segment sections of the grid, providing advanced control for flexibility and resilience for our power systems.
Nine Reasons To Partner With NREL’s CoMET Facility
The Composites Manufacturing Education and Technology Facility can help partners build better materials for wind and marine energy, transportation, and energy-efficient buildings.
September 2021
A Change in the Wind: Collegiate Wind Competition Will Use a New Team Participation Process for 2023 Event
In March 2022, the Collegiate Wind Competition organizers will implement a new application process and timeline for the 2023 competition. This new process is intended to broaden the reach and impact of the CWC.
News Release: NREL Pinpoints Method for Moving Larger Wind Turbine Blades Across Country
Researchers at NREL have determined how to transport massive wind turbine blades to parts of the country at a lower cost than segmented blades, but the solution will require some flexibility on the part of industry.
Q&A With Bob Allen: Cooking Up the Right Ingredients for a Circular Economy
This is the first in series of articles profiling NREL researchers whose work is helping build a circular economy to extend the lifespan of materials, components, and products, while reducing waste, conserving resources, and boosting efficiency. NREL Senior Research Fellow Bob Allen shared his thoughts on how innovations in upcycling sustainable polymers and composites can contribute to the circular economy.
Last Updated May 1, 2025