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January 2022
Happy Hours: Energy Storage Could Support the Grid Every Hour of the Day, All Year Long
The latest phase of the Storage Futures Study finds the grid operates more efficiently with high levels of energy storage across all studied system configurations and grid mixes.
Aligning Utilities and Electric Vehicles, for the Greater Grid
A team at NREL completed a literature review on the potential value of electric vehicle (EV) managed charging. Findings provide a complete look at how EVs and the grid could work together as the electric and transportation sectors become intertwined.
A Year in Review: Advancing Energy Storage and Conversion Research
Over the past year, NREL researchers have pioneered innovative, interdisciplinary, and integrated research and development for technology advancements in electrochemical, molecular, thermal, and mechanical energy storage systems.
December 2021
In a Circular Economy, Hard Drives Could Have Multiple Lives in the Future
U.S. data storage technologies, like hard-disk drives (HDDs), contain imported rare-Earth elements in their magnets. As the demand for data storage increases, the supply of critical materials will become more limited.
Riccardo Bracho Advises Energy Transitions in Countries Worldwide, Including His Native Mexico
After two decades working in finance, NREL analyst Riccardo Bracho pivoted to an energy career. Today he leads analysis of international power sector transformations.
Extreme Weather, Rapid Innovation, and Rock-Bottom Prices: NREL Researchers Offer Guidance for Solar Systems To Last
Scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory have laid out a cost-effective five-point plan to improve the reliability of solar panels in light of extreme weather, rapid innovation, and extremely competitive prices.
November 2021
Navigating Our Ever-Changing Electric Sector: The 2021 Standard Scenarios Outlook Is Here
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's 2021 Standard Scenarios Outlook is now available. The Standard Scenarios are a suite of annually released future scenarios for U.S. power sector evolution through 2050.
Q&A With Alberta ("Birdie") Carpenter: How To Untangle Carbon From the Vast Web of Manufacturing and Supply Chains
In the first Q&A profile in a new series, Manufacturing Masterminds, Birdie Carpenter shares how she is working to reduce industrial energy use, carbon emissions, plastic waste, and more.
An Evolving Dictionary for an Evolving Grid: Defining Long-Duration Energy Storage
A new thought piece by NREL analysts describes the challenges of defining long-duration energy storage to reflect both duration and application.
October 2021
News Release: R&D 100 Awards Honor Two NREL Innovations
R&D World magazine today presented NREL with two of its annual R&D 100 Awards for research innovations.
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Last Updated May 5, 2025