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News and Feature Stories
The following news stories take an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at how NLR is leading energy systems innovation and integration.
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June 2024
Marine Energy and Hydropower Collegiate Competitions Name Winners—and Next Year's Hopefuls
The 2024 competitions came to a successful close while more than 30 teams gear up to participate in 2025.
How Two Rookie Engineers Expertly Designed a Tidal Energy Turbine
University of New Hampshire doctoral candidates are designing an axial-flow tidal turbine that will be collecting data at the mouth of the Piscataqua River in New England.
May 2024
Ice Breaker: Q&A With Director of NREL's Alaska Campus
Originally a mechanical engineer, Bruno Grunau now spends his days testifying before Congress, meeting regularly with the Alaska governor's office, and learning from Alaska's utilities, communities, and Indigenous people whose ancestors have lived here for thousands of years.
Resilience at the Edge: City of Eastport Considers Harnessing Tidal Power for Island Microgrid
The 1,300 people who call Eastport, Maine, home live in the easternmost point in the continental United States. The bridged island, connected to the mainland by a single causeway, faces powerful Atlantic Ocean winds and is susceptible to disruptive power outages. But it was not always that way.
Additive Manufacturing Could Turn the Tides for Marine Energy Technologies—Here Is How
Researchers have been exploring how additive manufacturing could complement marine energy technologies. Hint: the two are a promising pair.
Tidal Energy Is Coming to Alaska. But How Much?
Alaska's Cook Inlet contains huge amounts of untapped tidal energy. But little is known about how much economic value this powerful inlet could bring to Alaska—until now.
April 2024
Behind the Blades: How Cris Hein Helps Bats and Wind Turbines Share the Sky
Armed with a Ph.D. in bat studies, NREL's lead environmental scientist Cris Hein helps bats—and other wildlife—share the skies with wind turbines.
Competitions Provide Springboard for College Students To Make Waves in Water Power
Teams of postsecondary students are invited to join these challenging competitions that offer skills-building experience, a deep dive into clean energy technologies, and the chance to win cash prizes.
March 2024
Why You Might Love a Career in Marine Energy
Researchers across labs joined a Marine Energy Career Panel and agreed that their jobs are nothing if not varied.
Connecting the Dots: Putting Offshore Wind Energy to Work
NREL researchers contributed to a thorough analysis and action plan to guide the United States on the most effective ways to bring Atlantic offshore wind energy to communities on the East Coast.
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Last Updated Dec. 4, 2025