Feature Stories
The following feature stories take an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at how NREL is advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.
October 2021
Oct. 19, 2021
NREL Enables Affordable Housing by Expanding Beyond Energy Efficiency
NREL has historically worked on buildings' energy efficiency, which lowers operational energy costs—electricity and natural gas usage, for example. Now, it is expanding on some of its net-zero buildings experience to look more closely at construction processes, advanced materials, and novel business practices related to energy equity.
Oct. 13, 2021
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.
Oct. 8, 2021
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.
September 2021
Sept. 28, 2021
Advanced Thermal Management Design Boosts Performance of Silicon Carbide Inverters for Heavy-Duty Vehicles
A state-of-the-art thermal management system developed by NREL in collaboration with John Deere promises to significantly increase the power density of silicon carbide (SiC) inverters within heavy-duty EV applications.
Sept. 21, 2021
Creating Consensus in Grid Modernization
With its cutting-edge research capabilities and technical leadership, NREL has a history of developing essential standards that strengthen energy systems around the world.
Sept. 15, 2021
President Biden Makes Historic Visit to NREL's Flatirons Campus
President Joe Biden visited NREL's Flatirons Campus to speak with NREL leadership and to learn about the laboratory's research facilities, capabilities, and critical initiatives housed on the Flatirons Campus. During the visit, the president spoke to a livestream audience about his plans on infrastructure, environmental justice, and how to tackle the climate crisis.
Sept. 8, 2021
Billion Dollar Breakthrough: The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator Reaches New Milestone
The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2), managed by NREL, has reached a milestone: Its portfolio of startup companies has raised more than $1.1 billion in external funding since joining IN2. This translates to the companies raising $95 for every dollar invested in them by the Wells Fargo Foundation.
August 2021
Aug. 31, 2021
Breakthrough Methods Help Integrate Renewable Hydrogen With Waste Carbon Dioxide To Produce Clean Fuels, Chemicals, and More
Wind, solar, and battery storage appear to be a winning combination for clean electricity systems, but to make the leap to a sustainable energy system, another ingredient is necessary—low-carbon fuels.
Aug. 27, 2021
Space Mission Tests NREL Perovskite Solar Cells
The latest collaboration between NREL and NASA will evaluate the potential use of perovskite solar cells in space and assess the durability of materials used in those cells.
Aug. 4, 2021
GEM Fellowship Brings Diverse Top-Tier Talent to NREL
NREL's 2021 class of GEM fellows is the largest in the laboratory's history with the program.
July 2021
July 26, 2021
Emerson Acquisition of 7AC Propels NREL HVAC Technology to Market
In November 2020, multinational powerhouse Emerson acquired a startup company, 7AC. It was a big deal in the world of cleantech startups—a fairy-tale ending for a startup company whose technology had made it to the HVAC commercial market.
July 15, 2021
NREL, First Solar Celebrate Nearly 30 Years of Collaboration on Cadmium Telluride Solar Cell Research
NREL and First Solar Inc. have been collaboratively breaking ground on thin film solar technology for more than two decades, helping NREL fulfill its goal as a DOE national laboratory of commercializing technology through partnerships, and contributing to First Solar's success in development, manufacturing, and operation of photovoltaic (PV) power plants with technology that still bucks industry trends.
June 2021
June 17, 2021
Are Hybrid Systems Truly the Future of the Grid? NREL's Magic 8-Ball Says: "Concentrate and Ask Again."
Recent analyses suggest a need for coordinated dialogue and consistent modeling to understand the value of hybrid renewable energy systems.
June 16, 2021
CCHRC Marks One Year as NREL's Subarctic Laboratory
In June 2020, NREL expanded from its sunny campus in the foothills of Golden, Colorado, to the frozen tundra of Fairbanks, Alaska, by adding the Cold Climate Housing Research Center to its team. The inaugural year saw several notable collaborations, including a project to create affordable prefabricated housing, advice on improvements to military housing, and construction of demonstration homes in marginalized communities.
June 9, 2021
Partnerships Amplify Velocity of Offshore Wind Innovation
With support from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, NREL’s 150 wind energy researchers are teaming up with over 45 organizations to make offshore wind energy a reality.
June 3, 2021
NREL Inventiveness Sets New Record for Patent Activity
NREL was granted 40 U.S. patents during fiscal 2020, a bump from the 32 issued during the prior fiscal year.
May 2021
May 27, 2021
Industry Growth Forum Creates Impact in Virtual Setting for Second Straight Year
Even in its 26th year, amidst a pandemic, the NREL Industry Growth Forum--the premiere cleantech commercialization-acceleration event that aligns promising, preselected startups with venture capitalists looking for their next great investment--set new records.
May 19, 2021
What We Know—and Do Not Know—About Achieving a National-Scale 100% Renewable Electric Grid
Published in the journal Joule, "The Challenges of Achieving a 100% Renewable Electricity System in the United States" offers important insights into the technical and economic challenges that would need to be overcome to achieve 100% renewable electric power across the United States.
April 2021
April 20, 2021
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.
April 6, 2021
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.
April 1, 2021
Scientists Studying Solar Try Solving a Dusty Problem
The accumulation of dust, soot, or other particulates causes a drop in the efficiency of solar panels, which translates to a decline in the amount of power produced and lost income for their operators.
March 2021
March 24, 2021
Pioneering NREL Analysis Empowers Los Angeles in Its Pursuit of 100% Renewables
Results from the Los Angeles 100% Renewable Energy Study (LA100) show meeting LA's goal of reliable, 100% renewable electricity by 2045—or even 2035—is achievable and will entail rapid deployment of wind, solar, and storage technologies. The study paves the way for other jurisdictions to reach their own clean energy goals, equitably and economically.
March 16, 2021
'What Moves People?' Drives NREL Mobility Behavioral Scientist To Find Answers
Understanding what factors influence people's choices—specifically energy and mobility—choices can inform policy, technology rollout, and ultimately influence individuals to make cleaner choices.
March 9, 2021
CoMET Aids Researchers and Partners in Reaching the Stars—and the Market
Next-gen facilities produce next-gen technologies. Learn more about the collaborative CoMET workspace and innovations to come out of it.
March 9, 2021
Even in Frigid Temperatures, Air-Source Heat Pumps Keep Homes Warm From Alaska Coast to U.S. Mass Market
The air-source heat pump that Tom Marsik installed in his house eight years ago was rare for Alaska. Air-source heat pumps take heat from the outside air, run it through a refrigeration cycle to step up the temperature (just like your fridge, but in reverse), and deliver it to a building.
