News Releases

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Dec. 23, 2009

New NREL Web Site Helps Campuses Go Green

The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Cornell University have launched a Web site to help campus-based institutions develop clean energy and carbon-reduction strategies.

Dec. 22, 2009

NREL Evaluates UPS Hybrid-Electric Van Performance

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has collected and analyzed fuel economy, maintenance and other vehicle performance data from UPS's first generation hybrid diesel step delivery vans powered by an Eaton Corp. electric hybrid propulsion system. The diesel hybrid delivery vans improved the on-road fuel economy by 28.9 percent resulting in a 15 percent improvement in total cost per mile while maintaining similar reliability and operational performance as compared to conventional vehicles.

Dec. 17, 2009

Sandia's New Supercomputer Helps Energize NREL's Research

There's a new high-performance computer at U.S. Department of Energy's Sandia National Laboratories, and it stands on the shoulders of giants. Red Sky is located in the space where legendary system ASCI Red once stood, ready to assist the Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Sandia in solving the nation's pressing energy challenges. Red Sky is listed by Top 500 Supercomputer Sites as the 10th fastest computer in the world.

Dec. 10, 2009

DOE Launches New Website to Bring Energy Technology Information to the Public

Secretary Chu announced that the Department of Energy is launching Open Energy Information (www.openEI.org) - a new open-source web platform that will make DOE resources and open energy data widely available to the public. The data and tools housed on the free, editable and evolving wiki-platform will be used by government officials, the private sector, project developers, the international community, and others to help deploy clean energy technologies across the country and around the world. The website was launched as part of a broader effort at DOE, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and across the Obama Administration to promote the openness, transparency, and accessibility of the federal government.

Dec. 7, 2009

NREL Partners with MotorWeek to Highlight Alternative Fuel Use

More than 30 million annual television viewers will learn about alternative fuels and vehicles thanks to a partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Maryland Public Television.

Dec. 4, 2009

NREL Employees Pledges to Community Rise Significantly

Employees of the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) pledged 57% more to community organizations during its annual charitable giving campaign this holiday season.

Nov. 10, 2009

U.S. Department of Energy Celebrates New DOE 1.5 Research Wind Turbine

Officials from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today joined industry representatives and managers from DOE's National Laboratories to celebrate the latest tool to advance the Department's wind energy research: a state-of-the-art wind turbine installed at DOE's National Wind Technology Center (NWTC), at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, near Boulder. The turbine, which is the first large-scale wind turbine fully owned by DOE, will serve as a platform for research projects aimed at improving the performance of wind technology and lowering the costs of wind energy. Previously, only smaller wind turbines were installed at the NWTC.

Nov. 5, 2009

NREL's Clean Energy Forum Attracts National Investment Community

The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 22nd Clean Energy Industry Growth Forum this week attracted nearly 600 investors, entrepreneurs, scientists and policymakers to Denver.

Oct. 21, 2009

Solar Technology Acceleration Center is Powering Up

Members of the Solar Technology Acceleration Center (SolarTAC) and supporters convened in Aurora, Colo., today, to mark a milestone in “Powering Up” one of the world's largest solar test and demonstration facilities. Since announcing the initial launch of SolarTAC one year ago, the site infrastructure development has progressed to the point where members can now break ground for their planned solar technology implementation and testing. Today's occasion also included the announcement that the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) have both signed letters of intent to join SolarTAC.

Oct. 19, 2009

New Siemens Research Turbine Commissioned at NREL

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Siemens Energy Inc. today formally commissioned a new 2.3 megawatt Siemens wind turbine at NREL's National Wind Technology Center.

Oct. 13, 2009

Web Portal Makes Finding Ways to Drive Green Even Easier

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has released a convenient online directory of Web-based tools, database searches, cost calculators, and interactive maps—all related to alternative fuels and advanced vehicles. This comprehensive Web page helps users quickly navigate to the 23 tools, maps, and searches available on the Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center (AFDC) Web site for transportation technologies. Users can find the tools page on the AFDC under Information Resources at www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/applications.html.

Sept. 28, 2009

National Labs Work to Settle PHEV Fuel Economy Conundrum

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently joined forces with researchers from Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) to take the lead in developing and testing a new method for predicting the real-world fuel and electricity consumption of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). After examining data on the only PHEV currently available in large numbers, the NREL-developed method shows promise for reasonably predicting the PHEV's average fuel and electricity use.

Sept. 16, 2009

Federal Laboratory Consortium Highlights NREL Research

The Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer's (FLC) Mid-Continent Region recently recognized the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and its partners with two awards for excellence in technology transfer.

Sept. 15, 2009

Mobile Truck Stop Electrification Locator Now Available

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) expanded its suite of Web-based, fuel-efficiency tools by launching the Mobile Truck Stop Electrification Locator. This comprehensive mobile application helps truck drivers find public truck stops with idle reduction facilities using a cell phone, BlackBerry, or other mobile device.

July 30, 2009

NREL Names Director for National Center for Photovoltaics

Dr. Ryne P. Raffaelle has been named director of the National Center for Photovoltaics at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Raffaelle most recently has been Academic Director for the Golisano Institute for Sustainability and Director of the NanoPower Research Laboratory at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in New York.

July 27, 2009

CRSP and Colorado School of Mines REMRSEC Form Relationship

The Center for Revolutionary Solar Photoconversion (CRSP) and the Renewable Energy Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (REMRSEC) have announced an important affiliation that will add value to both centers and enhance their work on solar energy research.

July 22, 2009

NREL Research Garners Three Prestigious R&D 100 Awards

An ultra-accelerated weathering system, a parabolic trough solar concentrating collector, and a microbattery -- all developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) -- were honored today as top 100 innovations for 2009 by R&D Magazine.

June 17, 2009

NREL to Partner with RES Americas on Wind Balance-of-Plant Research

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Renewable Energy Systems Americas, Inc. (RES Americas) have announced a partnership to evaluate the design and performance of vital wind energy support systems.

June 11, 2009

Nozik wins UN science and technology prize for solar research

Senior Research Fellow Arthur J. Nozik of the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory has won the 2009 Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Organization (IREO) Award for Science and Technology. IREO is a new international organization related to the United Nations.

June 9, 2009

Customizable Interactive Map Shows U.S. Alternative Fuel Data

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) announced the launch of a comprehensive mapping tool to help industry and government planners implement alternative fuels and advanced vehicles. The new TransAtlas tool combines several different types of geographic data to identify areas with potential for developing advanced transportation projects. It is sponsored by DOE's Clean Cities initiative, which aims to reduce petroleum consumption in the transportation sector by promoting advanced vehicle technologies and alternative fuels. This interactive mapping tool is available by visiting www.afdc.energy.gov and clicking on the TransAtlas icon.

June 9, 2009

NREL Seeks Proposals, Announces Awards for Photovoltaic Technology Incubator Program

The U. S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is seeking project proposals as part of recently announced DOE funding to accelerate commercialization of solar energy technologies. NREL also is announced partnerships with 13 U.S. small solar businesses, which have the capability to enter the market by 2012.

June 4, 2009

CRSP Named to DOE Funded Energy Frontier Research Center

The Center for Revolutionary Solar Photoconversion (CRSP) will play an integral role in a new federally-funded effort to develop revolutionary solar cell designs at the nanoscale. The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is the lead organization of CRSP, and will partner with Los Alamos National Laboratory

May 28, 2009

NREL teams with Dutch Energy Research Center

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has signed a research collaboration agreement with the Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN). NREL and ECN will join forces on areas such as policy studies, energy analysis, wind energy and solar photovoltaic energy.

May 27, 2009

DOE to establish Energy Frontier Research Center at NREL

The U. S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will be home to a new multi-million-dollar Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC) established by the DOE Office of Science. NREL's Center for Inverse Design will pursue advanced scientific research on material discovery for energy.

May 21, 2009

NREL Picks 33 Community Leaders for Leadership Program

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has selected 33 Colorado community leaders to participate in its 2009 Executive Energy Leadership program, the state's premier leadership program focused on educating business and government leaders about clean energy solutions that can boost the local economy.

May 18, 2009

NREL Releases Analysis of Renewable Electricity Standards

The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory has completed a study comparing three proposed national renewable electricity standards, also known as renewable portfolio standards.

May 16, 2009

Seventy-eight Teams Race Innovative Solar and Hydrogen Model Cars

Seventy-eight teams from 29 Colorado middle schools participated in today's Junior Solar Sprint and Hydrogen Fuel Cell car competitions hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The student teams raced solar or hydrogen powered vehicles that they designed and built themselves.

May 14, 2009

NREL Names New Wind Center Director

Dr. Fort F. Felker has been named director of the National Wind Technology Center at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Felker, a co-founder of Winglet Technology LLC, and former director of engineering analysis and test at Kenetech Windpower, begins his new position May 18.

May 7, 2009

NREL Solar Cell Wins Federal Technology Transfer Prize

A new class of ultra-light, high-efficiency solar cells developed by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory has been awarded a national prize for the commercialization of federally funded research.

April 28, 2009

NREL Helps Greensburg, KS Launch GreenHome Partnership

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), in collaboration with the City Council of Greensburg, Kansas, and the Kansas Building Industry Association (KBIA), announce the launch of Greensburg GreenHome Residential Green Building Program.

April 13, 2009

NREL Highlights Utility Green Power Leaders

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) today released its annual assessment of leading utility green power programs. Under these voluntary programs, consumers can choose to help support additional electricity production from renewable resources such as wind and solar.

April 9, 2009

EDIN Announces New Projects in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Dominica, and across the Pacific

The International Partnership for Energy Development in Island Nations (EDIN) today announced three new pilot projects. The U.S. pilot project participant will be the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI); Iceland's pilot project will be working with Dominica; and New Zealand will work to assess geothermal potential for numerous Pacific Island Nations.

Feb. 18, 2009

NREL wins first Governor's Award for Research Impact in Renewable Energy

A non-profit coalition advocating for federal research in Colorado has honored the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory with one of its first Governor's Awards for Research Impact.

Feb. 4, 2009

Mobile Alternative Fueling Station Locator Now Available

Driving cross-country or even around town in an alternative fuel vehicle used to require drivers to do a little homework to find the nearest fueling station – but not anymore. Consumers on-the-go can now access the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Alternative Fueling Station Locator using their cell phone, BlackBerry, or other personal digital assistant (PDA).

Jan. 31, 2009

The Crucibles Science Club Wins Colorado Science Bowl

Students from The Crucibles Science Club in Denver won the Colorado High School Science Bowl today. In the final round of rapid-fire questions and answers, The Crucibles (team one) edged out Pueblo Centennial High School (team one). After battling through questions in physics, math, biology, astronomy, chemistry, computers and earth sciences, The Crucibles advance to the National Science Bowl in Washington D.C. (April 30 – May 5).

Jan. 29, 2009

High School Students Begin Battle for Trip to the National Science Bowl

Proving that they know more about science than some adults will be a cinch for approximately 160 Colorado high school students who will showcase their science and math knowledge at the Colorado Science Bowl.

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