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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April 2022
April 29, 2022
Solar Desalination Prize Round 2 Semifinalists Announced
The U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Desalination Prize Round 2 has named six semifinalist teams with innovative solar-thermal desalination system concepts.
April 29, 2022
Electric Vehicle Manufacturers Mobilize Behind Charging Cybersecurity at NREL
In early April, members of the electric vehicle industry gathered at NREL to evaluate enhanced cybersecurity for the connections between electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.
April 29, 2022
NREL's Cyber Range Offers Eagle-Eye View of Federal Energy Asset Security
To help federal energy managers assess, monitor, and manage cybersecurity, NREL's Distributed Energy Resource Cybersecurity Framework (DER-CF) offers a comprehensive, web-based assessment tool focusing on cyber governance or policies, technical management, and physical security.
April 28, 2022
NREL Builds Out National Capability To De-Risk Big Changes in Grid Infrastructure
As the electrical grid makes a historic transition to renewable and distributed energy, even its organizing principles are in flux.
April 28, 2022
News Release: NREL Calculates Lost Value of Landfilled Plastic in U.S.
Scientists at NREL calculated the energy value of landfilled plastic waste in 2019 was enough to supply 5% of the power used by the country's transportation sector, or 5.5% by the industrial sector.
April 26, 2022
NREL Water Power Successes Featured in WPTO Accomplishments Report
Twenty-one of NREL's water power successes earn the spotlight in the U.S. Department of Energy Water Power Technologies Office 2020-2021 Accomplishments Report.
April 25, 2022
New FLORIS Release Significantly Increases Computation Speeds
The release of Version 3.0 of the FLOw Redirection and Induction in Steady State (FLORIS) wind farm controls software offers significant improvements to maximize wind energy facility productivity and profits.
April 25, 2022
Taking Conductivity to the Next Level: CABLE Conductor Manufacturing Prize Opens Stage 2
Stage 2 of the CABLE Conductor Manufacturing Prize is now open to all interested in producing a sample of novel conductivity-enhanced materials for evaluation to help upgrade and expand aging electric, transportation, and industrial infrastructures in the United States.
April 22, 2022
Working Out the Details of a Circular Solar Economy
As solar grows rapidly as an energy source, the number of photovoltaic (PV) modules that are manufactured and installed each year will continue to expand.
April 22, 2022
NREL Tool Aims To Predict Interactions Between Soaring Eagles and Wind Turbines
A new software developed at NREL with support from the U.S. Department of Energy Wind Energy Technologies Office endeavors to predict the most likely long-distance flight paths of individual golden eagles as they ride updrafts in the wind.
April 22, 2022
How Can We Invest in Our Planet?
This year's Earth Day theme is "Invest in Our Planet." NREL is—already has been, in fact—investing in clean energy, like water power, which helps preserve the planet.
April 22, 2022
AlgaePrize Student Finalists Announced
The U.S. Department of Energy's Bioenergy Technologies Office announced 15 student teams advancing as finalists in the 2022-2023 AlgaePrize competition. Finalist teams receive $5,000 to conduct their proposed research projects over the next 16 months and will present the results next year at NREL.
April 22, 2022
NREL Explores the Dynamic Nature of Wind Deployment and Land Use
Meeting U.S. decarbonization goals is expected to require rapid deployment of additional wind energy. As more wind is deployed, social and ecological considerations of the surrounding landscape are becoming increasingly important--but research on the land use impacts of wind deployment has been limited.
April 21, 2022
NREL Scientist Melissa Gish Named a Trailblazer by the American Chemical Society
NREL Scientist Melissa Gish has been selected as a member of the American Chemical Society's Trailblazers list—a prestigious recognition that is presented annually in the American Chemical Society's news magazine, Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN).
April 21, 2022
Industry Growth Forum Journeys
NREL's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (IEC) hosted its Industry Growth Forum (IGF) April 13-14, 2022, in Aurora, Colorado. The IGF is the premier event for cleantech entrepreneurs, investors, and experts from industry and the public sector to build relationships, showcase innovative technologies, and identify disruptive business solutions. Follow three of the 40 presenters through this story.
April 20, 2022
Beneath the Surface: From Priceless Art to Disintegrating Coastlines, Sherry Stout Builds Resiliency One Community at a Time
NREL's Cold Climate Housing Research Center's Sherry Stout connects rural, remote, tribal, and developing communities with scientists who can help them meet their clean energy goals.
April 19, 2022
NREL and IREC Identify Best Practices for Validating Hosting Capacity Analyses
The electric distribution grid is changing at a rapid rate, with distributed energy resources (DERs) such as rooftop solar arrays, energy storage, and electric vehicles arriving on the grid in fast-growing numbers. However, it is not always clear how much additional DER capacity a community's grid can accommodate.
April 18, 2022
Scientists Decide How To Prove Out Perovskite Panels for Space Power
As researchers develop new technologies for space applications, careful thought and rigorous testing must be performed to be certain the technology can function for an extended period in the operating environment.
April 15, 2022
This Bat Appreciation Day, NREL Shines Light (Literally) on Bat Interactions With Wind Energy
Bat Appreciation Day is April 17, and researchers at NREL are working hard to create solutions that protect bats and other wildlife while ensuring sustainable deployment of wind energy.
April 14, 2022
News Release: 2022 NREL Industry Growth Forum Awards Cleantech Innovators
NREL gave awards to five top cleantech innovators at the 2022 NREL Industry Growth Forum (IGF) on April 13-14, 2022.
April 14, 2022
Win-Win: Prize Competitions Drive U.S. Clean Energy Entrepreneurship
NREL customizes competitions for DOE technology offices—solar, water, buildings, geothermal, and others—to meet industry needs. American-Made is a pillar of DOE's activities, incentivizing U.S. entrepreneurs to strengthen American leadership in energy innovation and domestic manufacturing.
April 14, 2022
The Ocean Comes to Colorado
NREL's new wave tank could help accelerate the development of commercially-viable marine energy technologies.
April 13, 2022
Storage Futures Study: Key Learnings for the Coming Decades
Energy storage will likely play a critical role in a low-carbon, flexible, and resilient future grid, the Storage Futures Study (SFS) concludes.
April 8, 2022
News Release: Waves to Water Prize Announces Grand Prize Winner and Celebrates the DRINK Finale
Today, the U.S. Department of Energy's Water Power Technologies Office and NREL, East Carolina University's Coastal Studies Institute, and prize competitors celebrated the finale of the Waves to Water Prize--a competition designed to accelerate the development of small, modular, wave-energy-powered desalination systems.
April 8, 2022
NREL Researchers Plot Energy Storage Under Our Feet
Computer modeling done by scientists at NREL and Colorado School of Mines confirmed the feasibility of using depleted oil and gas wells as a space for energy storage.
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