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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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September 2025
Cooler Buildings, Stronger Grid: A New Approach to Air Conditioning With Built-In Energy Storage
The Energy Storing Efficient Air Conditioner is a game-changing technology developed by NREL in collaboration with Blue Frontier Inc. that can lower a building’s electricity bills and help reduce demand on the grid.
Built for Brilliance: Zintl-Phase Quantum Dots Illuminate New Opportunities for Optoelectronics
NREL-synthesized BaCd₂P₂ quantum dots demonstrate promising performance with Earth-abundant materials.
August 2025
Breaking Rules but Not Waves: Plasmons in Correlated Materials
Researchers discovered that charge waves called plasmons can survive—and even thrive—in a “bad” metal, challenging long-held beliefs about conductivity and coherence in quantum materials.
AI Could Help Bridge Valley of Death for New Materials
More than 50 experts gathered at NREL to consider how incorporating AI into materials synthesis, characterization, and modeling could unlock new insights and speed new technologies to market.
Researchers Observe Evidence of Hyperbolic Exciton Polaritons
Promising new pathways for manipulating excitons and light can benefit optoelectronics.
Researchers Surf Magnon Wave To Control Particles in Next-Gen Electronics
A new study demonstrates how magnons, a type of wave found in magnetic systems, can manipulate interactions between excitons—uncharged “quasiparticles” that carry energy.
July 2025
Collaboration Between NREL and CubicPV Pushes Perovskite Minimodule Performance to New Heights
A collaborative effort between NREL and CubicPV has yielded a perovskite minimodule that belongs in the record books.
Beyond Flights: Airports Could Bolster Grid Security and Adaptability
Researchers at NREL are using the Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES) platform and other capabilities to analyze energy options for airports, utilities, and public regulators. In many cases, they find a win-win for on-site energy generation and storage.
June 2025
Island Community Explores Pathways To Strengthen Energy Reliability
There is no bridge to the island of Martha’s Vineyard from mainland Massachusetts: If you want to get there, you have to take a ferry or plane.
Solar Panels Give Edge to Tomatoes Grown Underneath
Researchers wanted to find out whether tomatoes would grow better using a specifically designed light filter that leverages a rapidly emerging photovoltaic cell technology that’s more flexible, lightweight, and inexpensive.
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Last Updated Aug. 20, 2025