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News and Feature Stories
The following news stories take an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at how NREL is leading energy systems innovation and integration.
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December 2024
NREL Celebrates Another Year of Groundbreaking Research
These 20 stories highlight some of the laboratory's most impactful moments from 2024.
President Carter's Vision Helped Launch SERI and NREL
The staff of what is now NREL owes a considerable debt to former President Jimmy Carter. NREL was originally known as the Solar Energy Research Institute, founded in 1977 by the Carter administration.
JISEA and Colorado State University Plant Seeds of Sustainable Agriculture Through New Collaboration
JISEA Sustainable Agriculture Catalyzer convenes stakeholders to inform agricultural sustainability and resilience.
Community Solar and Beyond
Community solar—a solar energy deployment model that allows customers to buy or lease part of a larger shared solar photovoltaic (PV) system—is a growing area of PV development.
NREL's International Work Bridges Innovation and Development―With Benefits at Home and Abroad
NREL's partnerships with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State, and countries and organizations across the globe are accelerating social, technical, and economic development worldwide.
NREL Partners With Academic Institutions To Boost Fundamental Research Training and Capacity at US Universities
DOE Office of Science-funded programs connect NREL researchers with students and faculty from historically underrepresented institutions, expanding the pool of American universities training the next generation of scientists and building research capacity at these institutions.
NREL Collaboration Could Realize Significant Energy Savings for Farm Tractors
A collaboration between NREL and Purdue University to create an optimized hydraulic system for farm tractors could increase their hydraulic efficiency by 50%.
Partnerships Grow at Clip of One per Day To Fast-Track Advanced Energy Solutions
Bringing new technologies to market is not for the faint at heart. Slow down and you might lose development momentum.
How NREL's Brooks Tellekamp Explores the Next Generation of Materials for More Efficient LEDs and Power Electronics
Brooks Tellekamp found his way to science through his high school's computing infrastructure. He helped the school's information technology expert, a retired Honeywell engineer who had worked on NASA contracts, to address computing infrastructure needs.
Bethany Frew's Farm Upbringing Led to a Systems Approach and a Renewable Energy Harvest
Because of her curiosity and expertise, she was selected as one of NREL's 2024 Distinguished Members of Research Staff.
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Last Updated Aug. 20, 2025