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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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August 2023
News Release: NREL Analysis Reveals Benefits of Hydropower for Grid-Scale Energy Storage
Closed-loop pumped storage hydropower systems rank as having the lowest potential to add to the problem of global warming for energy storage when accounting for the full impacts of materials and construction, according to analysis conducted at NREL.
Photographers and Videographers Are Invited To Make a Splash With Their High-Impact Water Power Imagery
The Make a Splash Photo and Video Contest invites competitors to submit captivating photos and videos that showcase water power as a source renewable energy.
Researcher Julie Bessac Lands DOE Early Career Award After Landing at NREL
Less than six months after joining NREL, computational researcher Julie Bessac was chosen by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for funding under the DOE Office of Science's 2023 Early Career Research Program.
How Do We Inventory the Materials Needed To Build Wind and Solar Farms?
The new Renewable Energy Materials Properties Database, the development of which was led by NREL, compiles information on materials used in wind and solar power plants.
City of Cordova and U.S. Department of Energy Push Envelope of Microgrid Design
Cordova, Alaska, has historic collaboration from the U.S. Department of Energy that changed the city's electrical system into a model for resilient and modern technology.
NREL Launches Science and News Podcast
"Transforming Energy: The NREL Podcast" shares news about research at the laboratory and the ways NREL's work is impacting the clean energy space in biweekly, 15-minute episodes.
It Is Finally Here! New Water-Free Technology Can Imitate Ocean Waves
A new capability installed at NREL's Flatirons Campus can mimic ocean motions, including waves up to 8 feet high, and supports devices weighing about as much as a small RV.
Registration Opens for Fall 2023 Geothermal Collegiate Competition
The GCC invites teams from collegiate institutions to develop real-world geothermal solutions for communities while competing for $10,000 in cash prizes and gaining resume experience in the renewable energy industry.
For Distinguished Researcher Andrew Ferguson, Ideas and Golf Are Par for the Course
NREL Distinguished Researcher Andrew Ferguson had a chemistry kit as a boy but never imagined that it would lead to a science career—he preferred playing golf.
New Government Regulations Could Impact Hydropower
Learn more about how recent changes to federal and state regulations are impacting the Hydropower Regulatory and Permitting Information Desktop (RAPID) Toolkit.
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Last Updated April 28, 2025