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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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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.
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.
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.
July 2023
Nine Remote and Island Communities To Improve Energy Resilience Through Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project
While the islands of Alaska may differ from the Hawaiian archipelago, they share common energy obstacles, such as limited energy infrastructure, high costs of imported energy, and vulnerability to natural disasters.
Floating Photovoltaics Emerge as a Promising Solution for Southeast Asia's Clean Energy Future
The USAID-NREL Partnership's Advanced Energy Partnership for Asia pioneered a first-of-its-kind floating photovoltaic assessment for Southeast Asia, accompanied by a publicly available data set in the Renewable Energy (RE) Data Explorer.
June 2023
Informing Energy Transitions: The 2023 Electricity Annual Technology Baseline
Informing energy transitions in the United States, NREL has released the 2023 Electricity Annual Technology Baseline (ATB), a realistic and timely set of technology cost and performance data (current and projected) for the electric sector.
Researchers Can Now Build Huge Hydropower Plants In the Lab
Today's hydropower plants could be even better—and more flexible—if researchers can find a better way to study these big, complex facilities. Learn how NREL researchers have designed a way to do exactly that.
Beneath the Surface: The 'Spark Squad' Behind the Spark Squad
Learn about the "spark squad" behind the Spark Squad comics, a series created to inspire today's kids to become tomorrow's clean energy champions.
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Last Updated Dec. 4, 2025