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.
September 2018
September 21, 2018
NREL R&D Funding Will Fuel New CSP Research
With seven new projects, NREL will elevate research in concentrating solar power (CSP). The projects are funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) through a National Laboratory call for proposals.
September 19, 2018
Beyond the Grid: How Microgrids Can Help Sub-Saharan Africa Achieve Universal Energy Access
NREL supports the Power Africa Beyond the Grid Program by helping to build an environment that could enable bankable, microgrid investments. NREL recently published two reports in support of this effort.
September 18, 2018
Editorial Positions with Journals Strengthen NREL Connections
Two NREL researchers from NREL's Transportation and Hydrogen Systems Center, Robert McCormick and Sreekant Narumanchi, have recently received editorial appointments from leading journals in their fields.
September 17, 2018
Geothermal Technologies Could Push Energy Storage Beyond Batteries
Three new projects at will tap geothermal energy to advance new energy storage applications as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Grid Modernization Initiative.
September 12, 2018
NREL Analysts Take a First Look at the Florida Duck Curve, and How Flexibility Could Help
New analysis examines how solar deployment may impact grid operations in Florida, an understudied but important market.
September 6, 2018
NREL Interns Energize the Laboratory
NREL Summer Interns unbox their potential to explore their passions in renewable energy.
August 2018
August 31, 2018
Q&A with Kristen Ardani: From Research to Rooftops
As the Program Lead for Solar Data, Analysis, and Tools in the Integrated Applications Center, Kristen Ardani is making widespread solar deployment a reality.
August 31, 2018
Competition in Colombia Sparks Renewable Energy Expansion
Colombia will host its first renewable energy auction in 2019, hoping to boost its renewable portfolio and buffer its hydro-dominated energy sector against debilitating drought seasons. Learn how NREL expertise is helping the Colombian government transform its energy sector.
August 31, 2018
A Hidden GEM of NREL
NREL is preparing the next generation of innovative researchers through an invaluable partnership with The National GEM Consortium.
August 28, 2018
NREL's Eric Payne Wins Technology Transfer Professional of the Year Award
From 2012 to 2018, NREL witnessed a 68% increase in invention submissions, an 89% increase in the total number of intellectual property agreements, and a 24% increase in overall license revenue. These achievements would not be possible without an exceptional licensing team in the Technology Transfer Office, and notably, an outstanding team lead. The Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) Mid-Continent Region has chosen Senior Licensing Executive Eric Payne to receive the 2018 Technology Transfer Professional of the Year Award.
August 23, 2018
U.S. Offshore Wind Technology Market Accelerates in 2017
New state-level commitments, advances in permitting and energy offtake processes, and strategic research investments buoyed the U.S. offshore wind market in 2017. The offshore wind project development pipeline in the United States includes 25,464 megawatts (MW) of planned generating capacity as of June 2018, with projects representing 2,000 MW expected to commence commercial operation by 2023.
August 23, 2018
Data Center Water-Savings Win Wins
NREL and partners honored with Federal Energy and Water Management Award for resourceful data center cooling.
August 23, 2018
Industry Leaders Tackle Urban Design and Mobility Challenges at NREL’s Second Partner Forum
NREL transforms energy through partnerships. That's why the laboratory recently opened its doors for a two-day forum, designed to strengthen existing partnerships and create new ones.
August 16, 2018
Webinar August 22: Development of Real-Time Characterization Tools and Associated Efforts to Assist Membrane Electrode Assembly Manufacturing Scale-Up
In this DOE Fuel Cell Technologies Office webinar, Michael Ulsh of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory will present an overview of early-stage research and development related to manufacturing of fuel cell membrane electrode assembly materials.
August 16, 2018
Beta Version of MFI Tool Available for Testing
NREL's MFI tool can model a wide range of manufacturing scenarios. Members of industry, academia, other members of the research community, and the general public are encouraged to beta test the newest version of the tool.
August 15, 2018
Energy Secretary Perry Digs into Research at NREL, Emphasizes Importance of Partnerships
In addition to the cool science he saw, public-private partnerships played a recurring role in Perry's remarks.
August 15, 2018
NREL Acquires Powerful New High-Performance Computing System
Eagle will be 3.5 times more powerful than current system dedicated to energy research
August 13, 2018
Sustainable Mobility: The Transportation World Beyond Tomorrow is Here Today
NREL's sustainable mobility research is moving beyond vehicles and roads, investigating the best way to get people and goods where they need to go with maximum convenience, efficiency, and affordability, while minimizing traffic congestion.
August 13, 2018
NREL Research Shows HOV Lanes and Purchase Rebates Are Effective Incentives for Plug-In Electric Vehicle Purchase
What does it take to persuade people who are considering the purchase of an electric vehicle to actually buy one? That burning question spurred analysts from NREL to find out.
August 10, 2018
Software Saves Energy, Costs, and More
NREL's foresee is a home energy management system that relies on user preferences to automate connected appliances and electronics in unprecedented ways.
August 9, 2018
Research Center to Explore New Class of Semiconductor
The unique material properties of hybrid organic/inorganic semiconductors could unlock new energy technologies. The goal of the new Center for Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Semiconductors for Energy (CHOISE) is to better understand and control the emergent phenomena of spin, charge, and light/matter interactions in these materials.
August 7, 2018
NREL Joins Partners and Peers for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Information Sharing and Review
NREL researchers recently participated in a vast amount of knowledge sharing about the growing hydrogen and fuel cell market and the early-stage research and development (R&D) that supports it.
August 3, 2018
Sreekant Narumanchi First NREL Researcher to Win an ASME K-16/EPPD Clock Award
Each year the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) elects a winner for the K-16/ Electronic and Photonic Packaging Division (EPPD) Clock Award. Advanced Power Electronics and Electric Machines (APEEM) Team Leader Sreekant Narumanchi of the Transportation and Hydrogen Systems Center (THSC) is receiving this honor for 2018.
July 2018
July 31, 2018
International Partnership Revolutionizes Cross-Continental Travel with Alternative Fuels
Drivers relying on alternative fuels throughout the United States and Canada, especially those near the border, can now travel with more confidence than ever with the updated Alternative Fueling Station Locator. NREL and Natural Resources Canada combined their stations data to revolutionize this powerful U.S. Department of Energy tool, paving the way for drivers who rely on electricity, ethanol, biodiesel, natural gas, propane, and hydrogen to travel between the two countries seamlessly.
July 26, 2018
Envisioning Net-Zero Emission Energy Systems
NREL researchers contribute to a major journal article describing pathways to net-zero emissions for particularly difficult-to-decarbonize economic sectors.