November 2019
New Master's Program Prepares Students to Energize the World
A new master's program in Next-Generation Power and Energy Systems offered by the University of Colorado and featuring instructors from NREL helps students learn about grid modernization-related challenges, such as renewable energy source integration, cybersecurity, and the potential of autonomous energy grids.
NREL’s ‘Living Laboratory’ Provides Steppingstones to Real-World Impact
The number of electric vehicles (EVs) hitting the road is increasing, and with that comes a significant challenge: developing and deploying low-cost solutions for public EV charging infrastructure. Partners such as PowerFlex are using NREL's "living laboratory" to find solutions to this and other big energy challenges.
Former NREL Director Charlie Gay Retires from DOE Solar Program
Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) Director Charlie Gay, an internationally recognized pioneer in photovoltaics (PV), retired from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on Nov. 1.
October 2019
News Release: NREL Selected for Series of Offshore Wind Turbine Research Projects
NREL was named prime contractor for three projects within ARPA-E's Aerodynamic Turbines Lighter and Afloat with Nautical Technologies and Integrated Servo-control (ATLANTIS) program.
Creating Resources for Resilience with Cable Broadband Data in New NREL Project
A new project funded by DOE's Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response aims to visualize grid events and train computers to classify them in near real time.
ARPA-E Wind Wins: NREL to Produce Public Datasets that Advance Floating Wind Turbine Design
Next-gen floating wind systems will use controls to make them more efficient, lighter weight, and lower cost, but first industry needs a foundation built on validated design tools to explore novel controls-integrated design approaches. NREL is generating the first public data set to include advanced turbine and platform control using a 1:60-scale testing setup, which will provide data to validate the modeling tools incorporating control co-design characteristics.
Bryan Pivovar: Champion for H2@Scale
Bryan Pivovar began researching hydrogen when the field was wide open, but now the new NREL senior research fellow sees the next decade belonging to hydrogen energy.
R&D 100 Awards Honor Two NREL Innovations
The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) today won two R&D 100 Awards from R&D World magazine.
A New Way to Measure Mobility Potential of Cities
The Mobility Energy Productivity (MEP) metric comprehensively quantifies the efficiency of transportation systems while taking time, affordability, and energy use into consideration.
Potential of a Fast-Growing Algae Strain Revealed Through NREL Research
Researchers said the strain thrives at high temperature and in saltwater, while rapidly converting carbon dioxide into renewable biomass.
Modeling Modernity: NREL Proposes Key Revisions to the IEEE Reliability Test System
Outlined in their article in IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, NREL researchers and colleagues proposed an update to the IEEE Reliability Test System (RTS) to bring it into the 21st century.
Matt Beard: New Senior Research Fellow Helps Make Quantum Leap in Solar Energy
Newly appointed NREL Senior Research Fellow Matt Beard is pursuing new concepts that can impact many types of different energy technologies.
NREL Celebrates National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day October 8
This week the National Renewable Energy Laboratory joins others across the United States to celebrate the fifth National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day on October 8--10.08--a date chosen to represent the atomic weight of hydrogen (1.008).
News Release: NREL Names FAST Competition Grand Prize Winners
The FAST Prize competition sought ideas to reduce the time to commission pumped-storage hydropower.
From Refugee to Researcher
NREL Senior Scientist Huyen Dinh has overcome the upheaval of being a refugee to becoming a leader in hydrogen research.
NREL Staff Discuss Their Research at AWEA Offshore
NREL researchers will attend the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) Offshore WINDPOWER Conference alongside staff from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO). The event takes place Oct. 21-23, 2019, in Boston and provides attendees an opportunity to engage in panels, presentations, and discussions about the status and future of offshore wind in the United States.
User Feedback Key to Supply Chain Modeling Tool Development
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has developed the Materials Flows through Industry (MFI) modeling tool, which applies a mine-to-materials analysis to a wide range of manufacturing scenarios, identifying and analyzing opportunities to reduce the energy and carbon intensities of the U.S. manufacturing sector.
CoMET Brings Together Collaboration in Composite Materials Manufacturing Research
Something about a 200-ft blade, heavier than an elephant, and spinning over 100 miles an hour, seems improbable--a triumph of manufacturing that often leaves onlookers in wonder. At NREL however, wonder is mixed with an ambition to improve. Beneath the towering test turbines at the National Wind Technology Center, NREL hosts a collaborative research environment for the growing composite manufacturing industry to build its skills and push its frontiers.
Researcher Champions Scientific Diversity
Ismael Mendoza leverages his experience and passion to attract a new generation of Hispanics to scientific research.
Last Updated May 28, 2025