April 2021
News Release: Scientists at NREL Report New Synapse-Like Phototransistor
Researchers at NREL developed a breakthrough in energy-efficient phototransistors. Such devices could eventually help computers process visual information more like the human brain and be used as sensors in things like self-driving vehicles.
Pilot Program Sheds Light on E-Bike Use Patterns, Energy-Efficiency Benefits
NREL partnered with the Colorado Energy Office to assess the travel-behavior impacts of providing low-income essential workers with e-bikes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysis shows e-bikes are an effective, energy-saving alternative to other travel modes.
News Release: NREL Employees Pledge Record-Breaking Donations To Support Local Communities
In an annual giving campaign held virtually for the first time ever, employees of NREL along with its managing contractor, the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, pledged a record $616,000 to support local charities in Denver, Washington D.C., and Fairbanks, Alaska, all of which are home to NREL offices.
International Power System Leaders Signal Commitment to Decarbonization Solutions During Launch Event
System operator CEOs and energy leaders from around the world discussed paths to net-zero-emissions during the launch event for the Global Power System Transformation Consortium.
Rethinking Hydropower for Energy and Environmental Sustainability
NREL is working with Natel Energy to investigate the revenue and downstream flow trade-offs for a hypothetical series of small, cascading hydropower installations.
Novel Modeling Tool Seeks Insight into Eagle Flight at Wind Plants
NREL scientists in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey and Western EcoSystems Inc. are developing a state-of-the-art computational framework for modeling golden eagle behavior near wind farms.
News Release: Proving Their Resilience, Five Cleantech Innovators Receive Awards at 2021 NREL Industry Growth Forum
Today, NREL recognized five top cleantech innovators as it wrapped up the 26th year of its NREL Industry Growth Forum (IGF). This year's IGF was the second all-virtual event and was a celebration of the enduring strength of cleantech innovators and the ecosystem that supports them.
NREL Research Illuminates Optimistic Future for Vehicle Electrification
With decreasing purchase prices, charging improvements, cleaner electricity, and consumer and industry support, the future of EVs has never been brighter.
Researchers Rev Up Innovative Machine Learning Strategies to Reclaim Energy, Time, and Money Lost in Traffic Jams
Inching forward in bumper-to-bumper traffic, drivers bemoan the years of their lives sacrificed in bad commutes.
Department of Energy Funding Boosts US-MAP Research into Perovskites
New funding for perovskites is considered a significant step toward metal halide perovskite PV commercialization.
News Release: New Consortium of Power System Operators and Technical Institutes Commits to Decarbonization Efforts Ahead of President Biden's Leaders' Climate Summit
Global effort announced by the U.S. secretary of energy, U.K. BEIS Department secretary of state, and CEOs of power system operators and organizations from around the world focuses on research, innovation, knowledge exchange, and technical assistance to achieve net-zero-emissions power systems.
Earth Anticipates a Circular Economy for Energy Materials
One of the three key pillars of NREL's vision for the next decade is developing a circular economy for energy materials. This critical objective focuses on reducing waste and preserving resources through the design and manufacture of materials and products with reuse, recycling, and upcycling in mind from the start.
News Release: Devising Wave-Powered Warning Systems: NREL Announces Winners of Ocean Observing Prize DESIGN Contest, Launch of BUILD Contest
NREL is proud to announce the seven winners of the DESIGN Contest, the first of three contests in the Ocean Observing Prize’s DEVELOP Competition, which aims to help protect coastal communities from dangerous storms by conceiving the development of autonomous, wave-powered hurricane monitoring systems.
Thinking Inside the Blade: NREL Takes Novel Approach to 3D-Printed Water Power Prototypes
NREL's Advanced Manufacturing team is applying what they have learned from 3D-printing of wind blade molds to create additively manufactured tidal turbine prototypes.
Google Taps NREL Expertise To Incorporate Energy Optimization into Google Maps Route Guidance
To take a bite out of transportation energy use and emissions and combat climate change, NREL is partnering with Google to develop more eco-friendly routing in Google Maps.
Ten Innovative Teams Emerge Victorious in Round 4 of the American-Made Solar Prize
On April 9, 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy announced 10 finalist teams that are moving forward in the American-Made Solar Prize Round 4 competition.
NREL Announces Winners of the Groundbreaking Hydro Prize
Two winning teams claimed top honors in the Groundbreaking Hydro Prize with their creative concepts to help support hydropower's continued trajectory of growth.
Offshore Wind Data Release Propels Wind Prospecting
Using state-of-the-art modeling tools and sophisticated resource assessment technologies, the Wind Resource Characterization team at NREL makes available new offshore wind data sets through Wind Prospector—a geospatial tool using data from the WIND Toolkit that visualizes data, analyzes the potential for wind energy, and provides wind developers, consultants, and researchers access to updated wind data sets.
Energy I-Corps Just Keeps Growing
"We've put all this investment into energy technologies, and now we want to guide those innovations from the lab into the marketplace," said Shelly Curtiss, Energy-I-Corps program manager, on the program's rapid growth.
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and NREL: Allies in Energy Efficiency, Systems Integration, and Resilience
For Miramar's latest energy management mission, on-the-ground champions and energy experts partnered to build a new efficient, resilient, and cost-effective data center.
Last Updated May 28, 2025