October 2017
News Release: NREL Evaluates National Charging Infrastructure Needs for Growing Fleet of Plug-In Electric Vehicles
A new study from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) quantifies how much charging infrastructure would be needed in the United States to support various market growth scenarios for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs).
NREL Workshop at the Solar Decathlon Investigates Net-Zero Master Planning
Attend NREL's "The Making of a Smart City" workshop at the Solar Decathlon from 2-3 p.m. on Monday, October 9, 2017, in the Wells Fargo Education Tent.
Study Estimates Consumer Demand for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Colorado
As the number of electric vehicles in Colorado continues to rise, the demand for publicly accessible charging stations increases as well. In partnership with the Regional Air Quality Council and the Colorado Department of Transportation, NREL conducted a study to help the state predict consumer demand for charging stations.
New REopt Lite Tool Allows Building Owners to Optimize PV and Battery System Sizes
The REopt Lite web tool helps building owners evaluate the economics of grid-connected solar photovoltaics (PV) and battery storage at commercial sites.
News Release: NREL, Johns Hopkins SAIS Develop Method to Quantify Life Cycle Land Use of Electricity from Natural Gas
A case study of the Barnett Shale region in Texas, where hydraulic fracturing was first implemented, for the first time provides quantifiable information on the life cycle land use of generating electricity from natural gas based on physical measurements instead of using assumptions and averages that were previously used for evaluation.
September 2017
NREL Joins Collaboration to Study Enhanced Geothermal Systems
NREL is partnering with seven other national labs and six universities to better characterize the performance of enhanced geothermal systems.
NREL to Helm Laboratory Consortium Focused on Vehicle Connectivity and Automation
Self-driving cars are the future of transportation, but little is known about their impact on energy demands. NREL's Chris Gearhart is leading a multi-lab initiative to maximize the combined potential of innovations in connectivity, automation, multi-modal systems, behavioral science, urban science, vehicles, and infrastructure.
NREL Selected to Spearhead $3.5 Million DOE Project to Advance Algal Biofuels and Bioproducts
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced the selection of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to lead a new project, for up to $3.5 million, with the goal of reducing the production costs of algae-based biofuels and bioproducts through improvements in algal biomass yields.
NREL Charts the Emergence of Corporate Procurement of Utility-Scale PV
Corporations and other institutions have contracted for more than 2,300 megawatts of off-site solar, using power purchase agreements (PPAs), green tariffs, or bilateral deals with utilities.
NREL, EasyMile Collaboration to Usher in New Wave of Autonomous Vehicle R&D
In an important step toward furthering intelligent, efficient, and autonomous electric vehicles, NREL plans to partner on research and development efforts with EasyMile, a French smart mobility solutions company with offices in Denver, Colorado, and Singapore.
News Release: NREL Investigates Coatings Needed for Concentrating Solar Power
Keeping storage tank corrosion rates to a minimum considered vital for use of molten salts
News Release: Enzyme's Worth to Biofuels Shown in Latest NREL Research
An enzyme discovered at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) proves adept at breaking down cellulose fibers regardless of whether their crystalline structure is simple or highly complex. No other enzyme has shown that ability.
Wind and Wave Energy Pioneer Finds Freedom in Research
Research Fellow Bob Thresher likes to venture into the unknown, a quality that spurred his pioneering career at NREL.
News Release: NREL Report Shows Utility-Scale Solar PV System Cost Fell Nearly 30% Last Year
The installed cost of solar power fell to record lows in the first quarter of 2017 because of the continuing decline in photovoltaic (PV) module and inverter prices, higher module efficiency, and lower labor costs, according to an analysis by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
A New Theory on Crystal Symmetry May Lead to Advanced Applications
Angelo Mascarenhas and Brian Fluegel, scientists at the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), have published a theory for crystal lattices with a tensor periodicity that may inspire a new generation of techniques for growing materials with properties that can be exploited for electronic, photonic, and optical energy-storage applications.
Colorado State Patrol Vehicles to Utilize NREL Parking Garage
The Colorado State Patrol (CSP) began parking vehicles on the fifth floor of the NREL Parking Garage under an agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy.
August 2017
NREL-Developed CUBE Helps Solve Army's Refueling Challenge
Device takes in power from PV panels, diesel generators, battery and puts all to use
International Experts to Share Technical Progress and Solutions at 2017 International PV Soiling Workshop
The workshop will be October 23-25, 2017, at the Dubai World Trade Center. Three days of technical presentations will cover topics such as soiling losses in harsh climates, modeling and predicting soiling losses, procedures and equipment for measuring soiling losses, robotic cleaning machines, antisoiling coatings, and International Electrotechnical Commission standards in connection to photovoltaic soiling.
News Release: NREL, Swiss Scientists Power Past Solar Efficiency Records
Collaboration between researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM), and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) shows the high potential of silicon-based multijunction solar cells.
News Release: NREL Updates Baseline Cost and Performance Data for Electricity Generation Technologies
The Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has released the 2017 Annual Technology Baseline (ATB), updating a key source of reliable electricity generation technology cost and performance data used to support and inform electric sector analysis in the United States.
Last Updated May 28, 2025