News and Feature Stories
The following news stories take an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at how NREL is advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.
Subscribe
Stay connected with the latest news and research breakthroughs from NREL.
December 2023
Dec. 6, 2023
NREL Will Lead Two $19M Research Centers To Spur Decarbonization Efforts as Part of DOE's Energy Earthshots Initiative
The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science has announced $264 million in funding for 29 projects to develop clean-energy solutions that will pave the way to achieving a net-zero-carbon economy by 2050.
Dec. 5, 2023
Why the New GCxN Cohort Is Just the Start
This fall, Shell and NREL agreed to extend the GCxN program for another five years, providing another 30 startup companies with access to $250,000 in nondilutive funding to conduct technical assistance projects.
Dec. 5, 2023
A Sustainable Solution To Increase Clean Energy Deployment
In a Nature Energy article, NREL researchers discuss contracts for difference, which ensure renewable energy projects, like offshore wind farms, receive a fixed price for the energy they generate and can pay back their high initial investment costs, lowering the barrier for new projects to help expand clean energy deployment.
Dec. 5, 2023
NREL Interns of 2023 Share Appreciation for Their Mentors
While at NREL, interns work on diverse projects and specialties, but they all have one thing in common: They rely on a mentor to get the most out of their internships.
Dec. 5, 2023
NREL Celebrates Staff Awards for FY 2021, FY 2022
NREL celebrated individual and team achievements in Fiscal Year 2021 and Fiscal Year 2022 at its annual Staff Awards.
Dec. 4, 2023
Q&A With Scott Struck: From Frogs to Jerry Cans to Urban Drool
Scott Struck studies cyclical water supplies that keep humans and ecosystems happy and healthy. In the latest Manufacturing Masterminds Q&A, Struck explains how various water sources could help bolster dwindling water supplies across the country and around the world.
Dec. 1, 2023
NREL Merges Data Collection and Analysis Tools To Evaluate Emerging Transportation Modes
NREL has brought together two pivotal tools to garner real-world data to answer questions and enable in-depth evaluation of emerging transportation modes such as e-bikes.
Dec. 1, 2023
Curious About a Climate Career? Don't Forget Water Power.
The U.S. Department of Energy's Water Power Technologies Office and water power researchers from NREL just published two new career maps for hydropower and marine energy.
November 2023
Nov. 30, 2023
NREL Helps Train the Future Carbon Management Workforce
NREL is a proud champion of workforce development opportunities that improve U.S. decarbonization goals while working toward an equitable and clean energy future.
Nov. 30, 2023
Researchers Calculate Path to Greener Computing
While enabling innovative technological advancements, the worldwide growth in advanced computing has created a looming energy crisis.
Nov. 28, 2023
Earn 30 Continuing Education Units by Joining Solar Decathlon Professionals Winter Cohort!
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® is partnering with the U.S. Green Building Council to host the next Solar Decathlon Professionals Program (SD Pro) cohort!
Nov. 28, 2023
Newly Identified Algal Strains Rich in Phosphorous Could Improve Wastewater Treatment
Several algal strains with high capacities for phosphorus accumulation have the potential to boost phosphorus recovery in wastewater treatment systems along with recovering harmful or valuable metals.
Nov. 28, 2023
NREL-Led Effort Addresses Problem of Plastic in Rivers
WaterPACT involves collecting samples of plastics in waterways, gathering data about the size and scope of the problem, and eventually coming up with a solution.
Nov. 27, 2023
We Can Do Better Than Make It, Use It, Throw It Away
The Re-X Before Recycling Prize seeks innovations to unlock new or expanded supply chains that can reintegrate end-of-use products into a circular economy.
Nov. 20, 2023
NREL Notice of Intent Invites US Manufacturers To Develop and Commercialize Distributed Wind Energy Technology
NREL has issued a Competitiveness Improvement Project notice of intent and will host a workshop in advance of a 2024 funding solicitation for U.S. manufacturers of small- and medium-sized wind turbine technology.
Nov. 17, 2023
Transportation Annual Technology Baseline Expands To Include New Technologies
In its first-ever update, the Transportation Annual Technology Baseline (ATB) now offers its users expanded cost and performance data to inform transportation sector analysis nationwide.
Nov. 17, 2023
How Tyche Informs Strategic Energy Investments
Decision makers who want to know the impact of potential R&D investments on their energy technology goals now have a new tool: the Technology Characterization and Evaluation (Tyche) software.
Nov. 16, 2023
Accelerating Power at Sea for a Thriving Blue Economy
New prize challenges competitors to propose innovative marine energy concepts to accelerate renewable offshore energy—enabling the future blue economy.
Nov. 16, 2023
NREL Partners To Identify Strategies for a More Equitable Clean Energy Transition in Los Angeles
NREL partners on LA100 Equity Strategies project to identify pathways for underserved LA communities to reap benefits of transition to 100% clean energy.
Nov. 16, 2023
News Release: NREL's Community-Driven Analysis Identifies Strategies To Improve Equity in LA's Clean Energy Transition
After two years of robust modeling and gathering input from over 100 community members, 14 community-based organizations, and 31 additional stakeholder organizations in Los Angeles, NREL has synthesized its findings into equitable clean energy transition strategies for the city.
Nov. 16, 2023
US Department of Energy Announces Heliostat Prize Semifinalists
Nine semifinalists have been selected to move on to design phase of the American-Made Heliostat Prize.
Nov. 15, 2023
Fall 2023 Geothermal Collegiate Competition Kicks Off With 33 Teams
Thirty-three teams from 25 U.S. collegiate institutions are competing in the U.S. Department of Energy Fall 2023 Geothermal Collegiate Competition, designing real-world geothermal solutions for a chance at $32,000 in prize funding.
Nov. 15, 2023
NREL Study Investigates EV Fast-Charging Infrastructure Needed To Enable Travel to National Parks
From the Grand Canyon to the majestic Tetons, national parks in the western United States draw more than 80 million visitors a year. Most of these visitors rely on their personal vehicles or rentals to get them there.
Nov. 15, 2023
Coming Soon to a Grid Near You: Clean Energy (Batteries Not Included)
NREL's far-reaching research on batteries helps ensure their safety, longevity, and sustainability through reuse and recycling, minimizing the environmental impact of recycling processes, and investigating how to scale up recycling from benchtop testing to industrial scenarios.
Nov. 15, 2023
Seven From NREL Make Return Appearance on Highly Cited Researchers List
Seven researchers from NREL and one college professor affiliated with the U.S. Department of Energy facility are included on this year's Highly Cited Researchers list.
Share