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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November 2022
Nov. 1, 2022
U.S. Department of Energy Awards NREL $4.8M To Accelerate National Affordable Housing Upgrade Effort
An NREL project is among seven selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to help fast-track affordable housing solutions for disadvantaged communities.
Nov. 1, 2022
Pioneer in Energy Efficient Buildings Bestowed Lifetime Achievement Award
At the start of Otto Van Geet's career, most research laboratories spent energy freely for science. Thirty years later, laboratories are more likely to be monuments of futuristic sustainability, and that progress is thanks in large part to Otto's creative work in designing efficient buildings.
October 2022
Oct. 31, 2022
It's Go Time for Low-Cost, Net-Zero Affordable Housing
The U.S. construction industry is facing a housing supply deficit on the order of millions—and growing—at a time when climate targets mean that every unit needs be built as efficiently, sustainably, and affordably as possible.
Oct. 31, 2022
News Release: Efficiency and Stability Best-Practices Proposed for Solar Water-Splitting To Make Hydrogen
Scientists from NREL and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory are providing researchers with a guide to how to best measure the efficiency of producing hydrogen directly from solar power.
Oct. 28, 2022
Long-Lived? Highly Recyclable? Priorities for Solar Panels in a Circular Economy
To meet its 2050 decarbonization goals, the United States will need to install up to 20 times more solar photovoltaic (PV) modules than are installed today.
Oct. 27, 2022
NREL, Mines Researchers Show Advances in Development of III-V Solar Cells for Use on Earth
Two recently published papers spell out advances in the field of photovoltaics made from III-V materials. The improvements to the III-V solar cells will help the technology find a terrestrial home. III-V cells—although efficient—carry such a high price tag it only makes economic sense to use them on satellites and Mars rovers.
Oct. 27, 2022
IN² Demonstration: The Possibilities of a Plug-and-Play Kitchen
For its latest NREL-based cohort, the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN²) formed an all-demonstration group, where each participant would create a demonstration of their technologies as part of the program. Among the first to have its demonstration project underway is San Francisco-based Kit Switch.
Oct. 26, 2022
Marquee NREL Partnership With Hewlett Packard Enterprise Continues To Build on Years of Groundbreaking Innovation
Eleven years ago, the buds of what would become one of NREL's most impactful and successful partnerships began to bloom. NREL commissioned a new data center in the new Energy Systems Integration Facility, designed to house a new supercomputer--and push NREL into the leading edge of high-performance computing.
Oct. 25, 2022
Why the World Needs Manufacturing Masterminds
Read a summary of the six manufacturing experts profiled throughout the year as part of NREL's Manufacturing Masterminds Q&A profile series.
Oct. 25, 2022
NREL, Kern Community College District Collaborate on Launch of First-of-Its-Kind California Renewable Energy Laboratory
NREL Director Martin Keller stood alongside Kern Community College District Chancellor Sonya Christian to formally announce that the state of California has awarded KCCD $50 million to create a renewable energy hub, called the California Renewable Energy Laboratory, and $200K of that has come to NREL to help get CREL off the ground.
Oct. 24, 2022
World Economic Forum Names NREL's Arent a Distinguished Fellow
The World Economic Forum, an independent global organization based in Switzerland that is dedicated to improving the state of the world, has welcomed Doug Arent as a Distinguished Fellow. Arent's year-long appointment will see him working on two platforms: WEF's Clean Power and Electrification program and the Energy, Materials, and Infrastructure team.
Oct. 24, 2022
Increased Spacing of Solar Panels Comes With Benefits
Moving rows of solar panels further apart can increase efficiency and improve economics in certain instances by allowing greater airflow to whisk away some heat, according to a new analysis.
Oct. 24, 2022
News Release: NREL Elevates Three to Prestigious Senior Research Fellow Roles
Among the more than 3,000 people who work at NREL, only 15 are current senior research fellows. Along with the current research fellows, Paul Denholm, Vahan Gevorgian, and Joey Luther will advise NREL executive management on the strategic direction of science and technology research.
Oct. 20, 2022
NREL Celebrates 10th Annual National Bioenergy Day
To commemorate Bioenergy Day, NREL is reflecting on recent partnerships, technical advancements, and research breakthroughs in making sustainable aviation fuel from biomass, capturing and recycling carbon from the atmosphere, enabling circular economies for materials, sending research projects into space, and more.
Oct. 19, 2022
A Vision for the Future: Flexible Data Sharing Could Accelerate Battery Breakthroughs
In response to daunting climate challenges, battery researchers are mobilizing to increase collaboration and data sharing. Top battery researchers across the globe—including at NREL—are joining an ambitious movement to spur technology development through a shared Battery Data Genome.
Oct. 18, 2022
More Than One Pathway to Energy Resilience
NREL has supported communities with rebuilding and recovery of energy systems for over a decade, assisting before and after disasters and discovering firsthand how communities can invest in effective, affordable, and equitable resilience.
Oct. 18, 2022
One Week Left! Join the Solar Decathlon 2023 Design Challenge
One week remains for collegiate teams to register for the next U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon cycle!
Oct. 18, 2022
Growth in Offshore Wind Energy Offers Huge Opportunity To Create U.S. Jobs
Experts at NREL have published a new report documenting the first national-level evaluation of the U.S. offshore wind energy industry's workforce gaps and opportunities, what might be needed to grow a domestic workforce, what educational opportunities are needed to train that workforce, and what actions can be taken.
Oct. 17, 2022
New Tool Helps Researchers Make the Most of Wave Power
The new Small WEC Analysis tool—an online, publicly available graphical user interface recently co-developed by NREL researchers—provides baseline information about the performance of different types of wave energy converters in various ocean settings.
Oct. 14, 2022
Winners of Geothermal Manufacturing Prize Dig Deep--and Take Home $500K
After successful presentations at Geo! Demo Day, the concluding event of the American-Made Geothermal Manufacturing Prize, two teams were named winners and awarded $500,000 each.
Oct. 13, 2022
JUMP Into STEM Celebrates 5 Years of Enriching Building Science Education
The future of buildings—constructing new ones and transforming existing ones—will serve as a cornerstone of a decarbonized society.
Oct. 13, 2022
News Release: BOTTLE Project Outlines New Strategy for Valorization of Mixed Plastic Waste
Combining chemical and biological processes is a promising new strategy for the valorization of mixed plastic waste, according to researchers with the Bio-Optimized Technologies to keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment (BOTTLE) Consortium.
Oct. 13, 2022
NREL Mentors Rock!
Mentors play an integral role to the success of interns and postdocs. Honoring mentors at the end of each summer is an NREL tradition. Since 2013, mentees have submitted Outstanding Mentor nominations to highlight the support received from their mentors.
Oct. 12, 2022
First U.S. Industry-Led Offshore Wind Energy Guidance Document Approved
A recently approved U.S. offshore wind energy guidance document developed by industry with NREL leadership could become one of the primary resources for offshore wind energy development, leading to shorter regulatory timelines and increased worker safety.
Oct. 11, 2022
Participating Teams Revealed for Full-Year Solar District Cup Class of 2022-2023
As part of continuing efforts to address energy industry workforce needs, the DOE-sponsored Solar District Cup Collegiate Design Competition empowers students to embrace the challenge and bring their most innovative solutions to real-world applications.
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