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.
October 2010
Oct. 11, 2010
New Schools in New Orleans, Sunnier, Greener
Five years after Hurricane Katrina wrecked the city's classrooms, New Orleans is taking advantage of the opportunity to build green schools that could save millions on energy bills. NREL is lending a helping hand.
Oct. 7, 2010
DOE Releases Comprehensive Report on Offshore Wind Power in the United States
U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today the release of a report from the Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which comprehensively analyzes the key factors impacting the deployment of offshore wind power in the United States.
September 2010
Sept. 29, 2010
Solar System Tops Off Efficient NREL Building
A rooftop solar electric system on NREL's new office building embodies the ideals of energy efficiency and renewable energy advocated by the Lab.
Sept. 28, 2010
NREL Releases BioEnergy Atlas – a Comprehensive Biomass Mapping Application
BioEnergy Atlas, a Web portal that provides access to two bioenergy analysis and mapping tools, was released today by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The visualization screening tools, BioPower and BioFuels Atlas, allow users to layer related bioenergy data onto a single map to gather information on biomass feedstocks, biopower and biofuels potential, production and distribution. BioEnergy Atlas is an improvement over current tools in that it enables more timely and accurate analysis of the potential of given sites to be successful biomass producers.
Sept. 28, 2010
Explosion in Installed Wind Capacity Brings Big Benefits
Dave Loomis, Illinois State University Professor of Economics and Center for Renewable Energy Director, in an interview says, "We've grown to this point [more than 1800 megawatts of installed wind power capacity]so rapidly because there was unconstrained transmission resources available, but we're starting to bump up against resource constraints on the transmission grid. And so to really unlock more of that potential, we need more transmission to be built in pockets where it's really windy and we can connect those really windy areas with high demand areas such as Chicago."
Sept. 27, 2010
Interview with ISO-NE as it Undertakes In-Depth Study of Integrating Wind Power into the Grid
In 2008, as Independent System Operator — New England Inc. (ISO-NE) considered adding thousands of megawatts of wind power to the region's electric grid, they turned to John Norden. With more than 27 years of experience in the region's electric systems and market operations, John was tasked with understanding the challenges posed by adding growing amounts of variable wind generation to the system. The U.S. Department of Energy Wind Powering America project's New England Wind Forum spoke with John as ISO-NE undertakes an in-depth study of integrating wind power into the grid.
Sept. 27, 2010
NREL Handbook Enables CSP Development
Today's concentrating solar power (CSP) systems can require substantial upfront investment for project development and construction. Projected cash flow analysis requires accurate knowledge of current and projected solar radiation at individual project sites. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has just made the task easier by publishing a handbook that tells how to collect, interpret, and use solar resource data during all stages of development. Project developers, engineering procurement construction firms, utility companies, energy suppliers, financial investors, and other participants in CSP plant development should find this new handbook a valuable resource.
Sept. 23, 2010
NREL's 23rd Industry Growth Forum Attracts Clean Energy Investors
Thirty-four clean energy companies will present their business cases to a panel of investors and industry experts in Denver Oct. 19-21 as the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) hosts the 23rd NREL Industry Growth Forum.
Sept. 22, 2010
NREL Bridging the Gap for Entrepreneurs and VCs
Cleantech ventures are sharpening their business plans, polishing their presentations for NREL's 23rd Industry Growth Forum.
Sept. 20, 2010
California Approves 1,000-Megawatt CSP Plant
The California Energy Commission has approved the world's largest commercial-scale, concentrated solar thermal electric generating facility. Composed of four 242-megawatt solar plants that are sited near the Arizona border on land owned by the Bureau of Land Management, the facility is expected to provide jobs and advance California's energy and climate goals.
Sept. 20, 2010
NREL and Partners to Provide up to $13.5 Million to Support Natural Gas Engine and Vehicle Development
Together, the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the California Energy Commission (CEC), and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) will invest up to $13.5 million to support the development of natural gas engines and vehicles.
Sept. 14, 2010
Improved Labs Energize Biomass Research
Innovative research laboratories get a facelift and infusion of new equipment to help researchers make environment friendly, economic biofuels.
Sept. 13, 2010
NREL Breakthrough Could Spawn Cheaper, More Efficient Solar Cells
A special etching process developed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) makes silicon wafers darker, and thus able to absorb almost all of the solar spectra that reach the surface. This innovation is expected to lead to solar cells that cost less and are more efficient than the ones used on rooftops and in solar arrays today.
Sept. 10, 2010
NREL Releases Estimate of National Offshore Wind Energy Potential
The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) announces the release of a new report that assesses the electricity generating potential of offshore wind resources in the United States.
Sept. 3, 2010
NREL Staffer Helping to Design Geothermal Power Course at University of Nevada - Reno
NREL Geothermal team member and Colorado School of Mines (CSM) engineering professor, Masami Nakagawa, will be designing an eight-week intensive accredited course with other geothermal energy experts.
Sept. 2, 2010
Cheaper, Better Solar Cell Is Full of Holes
Award-winning etching technique puts a trillion holes in a silicon wafer making it blacker and better able to absorb nearly all the colors of sunlight.
Sept. 2, 2010
IKEA Geothermal System Could be Model for Others
NREL has teamed up with IKEA, the Swedish home furnishings retailer, to showcase and study the advantages of a geothermal heating and cooling system.
Sept. 1, 2010
Scientist Named an American Chemical Society Fellow
Dr. Helena Chum, research fellow at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), was recently named a 2010 Fellow by the American Chemical Society (ACS).
August 2010
Aug. 23, 2010
NREL Seeks Design Tools for Better Car Batteries
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is seeking proposals to create computer models to help build and improve electric drive vehicle (EDV) batteries.
Aug. 19, 2010
IKEA Geothermal System Could Inform Others
Home furnishings retailer to tap into Earth's steady temperature; NREL to collect data, monitor system with an eye toward helping save energy and money.
Aug. 10, 2010
NREL Engineer Named ASHRAE Vice President
Sheila J. Hayter, a senior research supervisor for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), was recently named a vice president for the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).
Aug. 5, 2010
Renewable Energy at Work in War Zones
Participant in NREL's executive leadership class aims to bring solar and wind energy to Afghan farms; researchers advise military on powering bases.
Aug. 3, 2010
NREL Seeks Proposals for Photovoltaic Technology Incubator Program
The U. S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is seeking project proposals as part of recently announced DOE funding to accelerate commercialization of solar energy technologies
Aug. 2, 2010
Alumna of NREL's Teaching Program honored by White House
A high school physics teacher who spent three summers studying hydrogen fuel cells at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has been named one of the math and science teachers of the year by a White House panel.
July 2010
July 30, 2010
NREL Solar Technology Will Warm Air at 'Home'
Transpired solar collector technology developed at NREL boosts the efficiency of the new Research Support Facility on the Lab's campus.
