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July 2021
New Financial Analysis Tool for Long-Duration Energy Storage In Deeply Decarbonized Grids
Researchers at NREL have developed a rigorous new Storage Financial Analysis Scenario Tool (StoreFAST) model to evaluate the levelized cost of energy (LCOE), also known as the levelized cost of storage (LCOS).
Competitors From Industry Tapped for Drinking Water Challenge
Waves to Water Prize competitors are using their industry expertise to help advance marine energy technologies that could harness the power of ocean waves to produce clean drinking water.
Scientists To Develop CO₂-Free Fermentation Technology Amid Surging Demand for Low-Carbon Biofuel
After receiving a nearly $3 million award from the DOE's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), an NREL-led project will integrate electrochemistry with sugar fermentation to produce lipids used to make biofuels, while avoiding the release of CO₂ into the atmosphere.
Lower Battery Costs, High Value of Backup Power Drive Distributed Storage Deployment
There is economic potential for 490 gigawatts per hour of behind-the-meter battery storage in the United States by 2050, or 300 times today's installed capacity. But only a small fraction could be adopted by customers, according to the latest phase of NREL's Storage Futures Study.
'Fort Renewable' Shows Benefits of Batteries and Microgrids for Military and Beyond
Early-stage companies used microgrid validations at NREL to size-up commercial systems, and the results have high-impact lessons for the larger grid.
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.
News Release: NREL Chooses Mortenson To Complete RAIL Facility
The 15,700-square-foot Research and Innovation Laboratory (RAIL) will provide multipurpose lab space for cross-disciplinary research at the intersection of chemistry, materials science, bioscience, and engineering in support of a breadth of energy efficiency and renewable energy research areas.
Using Direct Lithium Extraction To Secure U.S. Supplies
NREL is driving innovation in geothermal lithium extraction through research, expertise, and prize incentives.
Multiyear NREL Study Uses Digital Twin of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport To Inform Long-Term Investments at Major Transportation Hubs
Now in the third year of the Athena project, the team has published a series of three journal articles sharing key results on shuttle bus route optimization and expanded parking choices to improve energy use and reduce operational costs at airports.
NREL Open-Source Modeling Framework Cracks the Code of Simulating Low-Inertia Energy Systems
The United States has 37 gigawatts (GW) of utility-scale solar capacity—enough to power over 4,070,000,000 LED lights—with an impressive additional 112 GW of capacity currently under development.
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Last Updated May 5, 2025