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December 2017

Dec. 15, 2017

Maria Ghirardi: Medical Studies Planted the Seed for Her Bioenergy Research

Maria Ghirardi was initially drawn to medicine, but switched to bioenergy, a field where she’s been a pioneer for decades.

Dec. 11, 2017

News Release: NREL Research Finds a Sweet Spot for Engineering Better Cellulose-Degrading Enzymes

Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have gained new insights into how glycosylation--the natural attachment of sugars to proteins--affects a key cellulase enzyme.

Dec. 7, 2017

News Release: NREL Develops Novel Method to Produce Renewable Acrylonitrile

A new study from the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) establishes a novel catalytic method to produce renewable acrylonitrile using 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP), which can be biologically produced from sugars. This hybrid biological-catalytic process offers an alternative to the conventional petrochemical production method and achieves unprecedented acrylonitrile yields.

Dec. 1, 2017

NREL Provides First-of-its-Kind Guidance Promoting Safety Standards for Natural Gas Vehicle Maintenance Facilities

The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) offers guidance for compressed natural gas vehicle maintenance facilities with a new handbook and webinar that outline safety factors and standards.

November 2017

Nov. 29, 2017

Sensor Research Targets Smart Home Technology Using Radio-Frequency Identification

University of Colorado Professor and NREL Scientist Gregor Henze is leading one of 15 new projects as part of DOE's ARPA-E Saving Energy Nationwide in Structures with Occupancy Recognition (SENSOR) Program. SENSOR intents to develop a new class of sensor systems that can significantly increase energy savings by reducing demand for heating and cooling in residential and commercial buildings.

Nov. 28, 2017

Telematics Systems Can Help Fleets Promote Safety, Save Money

In a recently released report, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) identified best practices and lessons learned in deploying fleet telematics at a federal agency. The report provides an overview of telematics capabilities, lessons learned from telematics deployed in the Marine Corps fleet, and recommendations for fleet managers to maximize value from telematics.

Nov. 27, 2017

News Release: NREL Develops Switchable Solar Window

Thermochromic windows capable of converting sunlight into electricity at a high efficiency have been developed by scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

Nov. 22, 2017

News Release: Scientific Society AAAS Honors NREL's Tumas as Fellow

William Tumas, an associate laboratory director for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), has been elected a fellow by the Council of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Nov. 21, 2017

First Full-Scale Evaluation of Gearbox Failure Generates Industry Interest

A new article by NREL researchers summarizes the first full-scale assessment of operating conditions that may generate white etching cracks in the bearings of wind turbine gearboxes--one of the most common causes of gearbox failure.

Nov. 21, 2017

NREL Shares Insights for Alternative Fuel and Infrastructure Transportation Project Success

As cities and states continue to explore mobility options, new fuel and vehicle adoption will play a large part in fulfilling that vision. Two new guides from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) provide insights for informing clean transportation project management practices and implementing these types of projects successfully.


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Last Updated May 5, 2025