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.

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July 2014

July 17, 2014

Industry, Investors Count on NREL's Modeling Tools

NREL's algorithms and models predict performance and financial risk of renewable energy systems.

July 11, 2014

News Release: NREL Research Earns Two Prestigious R&D 100 Awards

A growth system that can produce thin solar cells quickly and at low cost, and an ultra-efficient supercomputer platform – both developed or advanced by the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and its partners – have been named among this year’s most significant innovations by R&D Magazine.

July 2, 2014

Transportation RD&D Recognized with DOE Awards

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recognized four members of NREL’s Transportation and Hydrogen Systems Center team with awards at last week’s 2014 Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation Meetings. The annual meetings provide researchers leading projects funded by the Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program and the Vehicle Technologies Office with an opportunity to share accomplishments with representatives from DOE, industry, and other labs.

June 2014

June 27, 2014

Energy Department Awards NREL Staff for Outstanding Achievement

At the 2014 Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation Meeting, the U.S. Department of Energy's Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program honored three National Renewable Energy Laboratory staff for their outstanding achievements.

June 26, 2014

NREL Supercomputer Tackles Grid Challenges

As "big data" plays an increasing role in the renewable energy industry, NREL's Peregrine supercomputer is ready to take flight.

June 25, 2014

News Release: NREL and General Motors Announce R&D Partnership to Reduce Cost of Automotive Fuel Cells

The Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and General Motors (GM) are partnering on a multiyear, multimillion dollar joint effort to accelerate the reduction of automotive fuel cell stack costs through fuel cell material and manufacturing research and development (R&D).

June 11, 2014

NREL Bolsters Batteries with Nanotubes

Approach boosts performance, safety, and durability for lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles, soon to be a $14 billion market.

June 10, 2014

News Release: NREL Recommended for Prestigious Safety and Environmental Certifications

The Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has been recommended for recertification to three significant international standards demonstrating the laboratory’s commitment to the environment, safety, and quality excellence. The management system certifications include: ISO 14001:2004 (environment); OHSAS 18001:2007 (health and safety), and ISO 9001:2008 (quality, limited scope).

June 9, 2014

Campus Showcases High-Performance Buildings

NREL buildings demonstrate the effective execution of energy-efficient design and operation.

June 9, 2014

News Release: NREL Finds Up to 6-cent per Kilowatt-Hour Extra Value with Concentrated Solar Power

Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) projects would add additional value of 5 or 6 cents per kilowatt hour to utility-scale solar energy in California where 33 percent renewables will be mandated in six years, a new report by the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory has found.

June 6, 2014

A Survey of State-Level Cost and Benefit Estimates of Renewable Portfolio Standards

In this webinar, analysts from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory discuss findings in their recent paper, which surveys and summarizes cost and benefit estimates of state-level RPS and examines the methods used to create these estimates.

June 3, 2014

News Release: NREL to Host Photovoltaics Presentation at 2014 Solar Day

The Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory will host several events at the 2014 Denver Solar Day on Sunday, June 8. The free expo is expected to attract more than 2,000 photovoltaics (PV) installers, PV buyers, students, utility officials and members of the public.

June 2, 2014

Technology Transfer Capabilities in the News

NREL's technology transfer capabilities, and the laboratory's own Bill Farris, were highlighted in a recent Chief Executive publication.

May 2014

May 30, 2014

News Release: Report Reviews Estimates of Costs and Benefits of Compliance with Renewable Portfolio Standards to Date

A new report, prepared by analysts from the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), reviews estimates of the costs and benefits of compliance with Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) in the United States and explores how costs and benefits may evolve over time.

May 30, 2014

Model Car Races Put Creativity on the Line

Middle school students' design and engineering skills tested on the racetrack.

May 28, 2014

Climate Change Shifts Focus for Energy System

NREL's Energy Systems Integration Facility is the hub for testing devices that can power through outages.

May 23, 2014

Webinar May 27: NREL's Fuel Cell Contaminants Database

The Fuel Cell Technologies Office will present a webinar on NREL’s online data tool for fuel cell system-derived contaminants. NREL has led a multi-year project studying the effect of system-derived contaminants on the performance and durability of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells.

May 22, 2014

NREL Offers up to $6.5 Million for INTEGRATE Projects at the ESIF

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has announced up to $6.5 million in funding for high-impact research, development, and demonstration in the Energy Systems Integration Facility.

May 17, 2014

News Release: Winners for NREL’s 24th Solar and Lithium Ion Car Races

Indy-500-style checkered flags, high-tech neoprene rubber tracks, and of course, sponsor decals graced the site of today’s Junior Solar Sprint and Lithium Ion Battery car competitions for Colorado’s middle schoolers. Nearly 300 students on 74 teams from 21 Colorado schools converged on Dakota Ridge High School to vie for a spot in the final races using solar and lithium ion battery powered vehicles they designed and built themselves.

May 12, 2014

News Release: NREL Announces Participants in National Executive Education Program

The Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has selected 17 leaders to participate in its 2014 Executive Energy Leadership program (Energy Execs), which empowers executives to integrate clean energy solutions in their communities.

May 12, 2014

In Largest U.S. Wind Power Markets, Curtailment Declines even as Wind Power Picks Up

This report examines U.S. curtailment practices regarding wind and solar generation, with a particular emphasis on utilities in the western states.

May 12, 2014

NREL Hosts Race to Zero-Energy Homes

Twenty-eight teams from U.S. and Canadian universities convene at NREL for student design competition.

May 9, 2014

News Release: NREL Staff Recognized for Top Innovations

The Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory recently recognized the professionals behind the lab’s greatest innovations from the past year during its annual Innovation and Technology Transfer Awards ceremony. The event also celebrated NREL’s commercialization and partnering successes, recognizing the researchers and engineers—including three honorees in the new Rising Stars Award category—who made it happen.

May 7, 2014

News Release: NREL Assembles Industry Group to Explore Solar Lending Potential

Increasingly, banks, credit unions, and other lenders are beginning to offer loan products to homeowners and businesses for the installation of rooftop solar systems. However, barriers to accessing this growing market still remain. The Energy Department’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently convened the Banking on Solar working group to engage lenders and other stakeholders to address these barriers.

May 1, 2014

Collegiate Wind Competition Turbines Go Blade-to-Blade in Wind Tunnel Tests at WINDPOWER

Ten small wind turbines will go blade-to-blade in wind tunnel tests at the inaugural U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Collegiate Wind Competition that runs concurrently with the AWEA 2014 WINDPOWER Conference, May 6–7, 2014, at the Mandalay Bay Conference Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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