Program News

Access news stories from NREL's research programs.

March 18, 2024

Behind the Blades: Amy Robertson Takes On the Complexities of Floating Offshore Wind

As a child immersed in the science of NASA, Amy Robertson was bound to end up an engineer—an aerospace engineer, to be exact. At NREL, she has traded in her love of the cosmos for the delightfully challenging dynamics of floating offshore wind energy.

March 18, 2024

Peer Learning Helps San Diego Center Community Voices in Clean Energy Plans

The San Diego Association of Governments has ambitious plans to make local progress toward California's goal of carbon neutrality by 2045.

March 13, 2024

NREL and MSU Denver Partnership Elevates Colorado High School Science Bowl to New Heights

Fossil Ridge High School emerged victorious in the 2024 Colorado High School Science Bowl, continuing its winning streak for the fourth year in a row by narrowly besting second-place finisher Stargate Charter High School.

March 13, 2024

New Report Shows It Is Time To Tap Into Hydropower Investment Opportunities

A new report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory explores investment opportunities in hydropower.

March 8, 2024

Beneath the Surface: Alec Schnabel Has the Power (and the Power Electronics) To Advance Wave Energy

Alec Schnabel is working to advance one especially powerful part of marine energy technologies: their electronic guts.

March 7, 2024

A Crystal Ball for Solar Modules

Historically, photovoltaic (PV) modules have demonstrated high reliability, making them a dependable and growing part of global decarbonization efforts.

March 7, 2024

New Resources Spotlight Distributed Wind Energy's Local Value

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has launched the new National Distributed Wind Network and complementary Distributed Wind Energy Resource Hub.

March 7, 2024

Can We Connect Renewable Energy Hubs With Electricity Consumption Hubs?

A new approach to grid planning could make it possible to power your home with the nation's best and lowest-cost wind and solar energy, no matter where you live.

March 7, 2024

Electric Aircrafts Will Need Powerful Ports

An important consideration for electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft is where they will charge and whether the existing power grid infrastructure can accommodate this demand.

March 7, 2024

From Instant Grits to Polymers: Scientist Kat Knauer Is Laser Focused on Plastics Pollution

As a polymer scientist and the chief technology officer of the NREL-led BOTTLE consortium, Knauer is responsible for helping solve one of the world's greatest challenges--plastic pollution.

March 5, 2024

NREL's Rail Optimization Software Is Putting Freight Electrification on the Fast Track

Combined, two first-in-the-world products—NREL's ALTRIOS rail optimization software and Parallel Systems' autonomous battery-electric rail vehicles—aim to help shift a portion of the freight currently carried by on-road trucks to rail, catalyzing decarbonization across the whole transportation sector.

March 4, 2024

Nextracker and NREL Partnership Inspires New Look at PV Tracker Industry Design Standards

Over the past year, NREL and industry partner Nextracker teamed up to advance the reliability of photovoltaic (PV) tracker technologies during severe weather events.

March 4, 2024

How Many Transformers Will US Distribution Grid Need by 2050?

New NREL research is providing first-of-its-kind modeling to help curb the current shortage of distribution transformers and ensure a reliable and resilient power grid.

March 1, 2024

40 Collegiate Teams Advance—Solar Decathlon 2024 Design Challenge

Forty teams from 37 collegiate institutions are advancing to the final stage of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® 2024 Design Challenge based on their cutting-edge, zero-energy building designs.

March 1, 2024

Communities in Hawaii and Alaska Exchange Ideas To Engage Residents in Energy Transitions

When the third cohort of Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project communities was announced in 2023, the inclusion of Molokai, Hawaii, caught the eye of Bri Gabel, a sustainability coordinator for the City and Borough of Sitka, Alaska.

Feb. 29, 2024

High Honors From DOE Point to Important Work by NREL Staff

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on Feb. 20 honored staffers from NREL for their work on five major projects with far-reaching implications.

Feb. 29, 2024

Renewable Energy Is Green, but We Can Make It Greener

The U.S. energy transition is gaining speed, accelerated by government renewable energy goals and billions of dollars through the Inflation Reduction Act. As we race toward a greener future, understanding the potential adverse effects of renewable energy technologies before they are deployed has never been more critical.

Feb. 29, 2024

Leap Into New Capabilities: REopt Offers Enhanced Energy Solutions

The REopt team at NREL has significantly enhanced the publicly available REopt web tool and its underlying open-source code, providing more powerful capabilities.

Feb. 29, 2024

Second Clean Energy Cybersecurity Accelerator Cohort Evaluates Solutions That Uncover Hidden Risks on Utility Networks

RunZero was selected as the first solution provider to participate in Cohort 2, through which their technology will be evaluated in the Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES) Cyber Range.

Feb. 29, 2024

On Its Journey To Make Clothing That Leaves No Trace, The North Face Taps the BOTTLE Consortium To Scale Biodegradable Polyester Alternative

Over the next 12 months, BOTTLE will scale the process to produce several pounds of PHA fiber, which The North Face will test and evaluate for use in its product lines.

Feb. 29, 2024

Biorefinery Model Points to Better Method at Producing Co-Products

A next-generation biorefinery model holds the potential to produce biofuels and chemicals through a process that researchers say has proven to be more efficient in converting plant biomass.

Feb. 28, 2024

From Organics to Fuels: Computational Models Can Accelerate and Scale Up Biomass Conversion

Pathways to sustainable biofuels are within view as computational models solve key challenges.

Feb. 28, 2024

10 Historically Black Colleges and Universities Awarded for Plans To Develop Clean-Energy-Focused Partnerships

Today, the U.S. Department of Energy announced the winners of the first phase of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Clean Energy Education Prize Partnerships Track.

Feb. 27, 2024

SLOPE Illustrates Opportunities in Philadelphia's Equitable Carbon Neutrality Quest

The city of Philadelphia has pledged carbon neutrality by 2050, and the State and Local Planning for Energy (SLOPE) Platform is illustrating opportunities to reach that goal equitably.

Feb. 27, 2024

New Virtual Training and How-To Resources Help Leaders Advance Renewable Energy Development

Tools help energy leaders learn essential skills in modeling power systems and provide a "how-to" guide on operating and maintaining battery energy storage systems.

Feb. 27, 2024

In California, NREL Helps Kern County Embrace Clean Energy in Partnership With Community Colleges

NREL is working with the Kern Community College District in a partnership that aims to bring more education and training opportunities for clean energy technologies into the communities.

Feb. 27, 2024

Cutting-Edge Grid Planning Tools Drive India's Distributed Energy Future

India is transforming its power system, with distributed energy resources playing a major role in the country’s decarbonization journey. NREL grid analysts Kapil Duwadi and Erik Pohl discuss their roles on a team working with India’s state utilities to manage rapid distributed energy resource growth with customized tools and solutions to ensure safe and reliable grid integration.

Feb. 27, 2024

NREL's Recyclable Carbon Fiber Composites Made Greener With Thermoforming

Senior polymer science researcher and group manager Nicholas Rorrer currently leads a team of NREL researchers working to replace the heavy, resource-intensive steel parts in vehicles with recyclable carbon fiber composites.

Feb. 26, 2024

NREL Requests Proposals From US Manufacturers of Small and Medium Wind Turbine Technology

The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory has issued a request for proposals under the Competitiveness Improvement Project to support commercialization and market expansion of small and medium wind turbine technology.

Feb. 26, 2024

NREL Research Maps Path to Clean Skies and Better Health

A noticeable change filled the air this summer—an actual change in air quality. Wildfires in Canada produced smoke-filled skies and wood-burnt, chemically scented air.

Feb. 21, 2024

Q&A With Kerry Rippy: Why You Should Be Optimistic About Industrial Carbon Emissions

In NREL's latest Manufacturing Masterminds Q&A, Kerry Rippy explains why she chose chemistry over literature, why carbon capture cannot be our only decarbonization solution, and how the mining industry could reduce emissions with the rocks it already digs up.

Feb. 20, 2024

Clean Bus Planning Awards Support Fleet Electrification With Custom Transition Plans

Transit and school bus fleets across the nation are working hard to incorporate clean transportation solutions that help communities meet decarbonization goals and improve local health outcomes.

Feb. 20, 2024

IN² Demonstration: Electrification—One Building at a Time

Through its IN2 demonstration, NREL is helping BlocPower assess how its technical capabilities can perform in the field.

Feb. 19, 2024

Behind the Blades: How Angel McCoy's Background in Meteorology Propels Offshore Wind Forward

Angel McCoy started her career as a meteorologist, which put her on the path that led to her current role at NREL supporting the regulatory process for offshore wind energy in the United States.

Feb. 19, 2024

Distributed Energy Resource Cybersecurity Framework Tool Shines in Solar Cybersecurity Assessment

The Distributed Energy Resource Cybersecurity Framework (DER-CF) emerges as a crucial tool in assessing and fortifying solar cybersecurity, offering a comprehensive platform for self-assessment and addressing vulnerabilities in behind-the-meter DER systems, with ongoing enhancements promising a more secure energy future.

Feb. 15, 2024

2023 Geothermal Collegiate Competition Winners Innovate To Meet Community Energy Needs

The winners of the U.S. Department of Energy 2023 Geothermal Collegiate Competition rose to the top by innovating to meet community energy needs through clean, renewable geothermal heating and cooling.

Feb. 13, 2024

NREL Collaborates on $15 Million Multilaboratory Efforts To Advance Commercialization of Carbon Dioxide Removal

DOE tapped NREL to support a new $15 million research effort to improve the measurement, reporting, and verification of carbon dioxide removal technologies, an industry with the potential to help mitigate climate change by addressing existing carbon emissions and removing them from the atmosphere.

Feb. 12, 2024

Making Solar Work for Everybody—How NREL Helps Envision a More Just Energy System

Solar energy can provide opportunities for renters to develop equity through community solar projects or create avenues for workforce development, lower utility bills, and increased energy resilience.

Feb. 9, 2024

New Webinar Series Will Showcase Real-World Projects Powered By NREL's Grid Planning and Analysis Tools

The new Powered By webinar series hosted by NREL's Grid Planning and Analysis Center (GPAC) can be your new go-to resource.

Feb. 8, 2024

NREL and Partners Receive Funding To Decipher Microbial Behavior in Bioreactors at Scale

A research team led by NREL recently received funding for their project that will study and model the behavior of microbes in bioreactors and reasons for potential failures at industrial scale.

Feb. 5, 2024

Martin Keller Named Lab Director of the Year by Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer

The Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) for Technology Transfer recently awarded NREL Director Martin Keller its 2024 Laboratory Director of the Year Award.

Feb. 5, 2024

IN² Demonstration: Startup Transforms Transformers for Electric Vehicle Charging Efficiency

For its demonstration with IN², CorePower is partnering with Eaton, a power management company, to test a transformer designed for an electric vehicle charging application, especially mass EV charging for things like vehicle fleets.

Feb. 1, 2024

Can Ocean Energy Power Carbon Removal?

In a new study, NREL researchers analyzed the benefits and drawbacks of promising marine carbon management techniques.

Feb. 1, 2024

15 Finalist Teams Announced for AlgaePrize 2023–2025 Competition

This year's AlgaePrize finalist teams include students from high schools, community colleges, and universities from 11 states across the United States and Puerto Rico.

Jan. 30, 2024

Announcing the Teams Racing to the Finish in the Solar District Cup

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar District Cup Collegiate Design Competition announced today that 60 teams from 53 schools are advancing as finalists in the Class of 2023–2024, including 17 teams from 17 schools that joined the competition for the one-semester division since December.

Jan. 29, 2024

Shashank Yellapantula Receives American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Fellow Designation

Shashank Yellapantula, senior staff scientist in NREL's Computational Science Center, was recognized as a 2024 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Associate Fellow.

Jan. 26, 2024

New Analysis Highlights Geothermal Heat Pumps as Key Opportunity in Switch to Clean Energy

A new analysis from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and NREL found that installing geothermal heat pumps in around 70% of U.S. buildings could save as much as 593 terawatt-hours of electricity generation annually.

Jan. 26, 2024

Top 10 Things To Know About Power Grid Reliability

In the latest installment of the Tell Me Something Grid series, NREL's Paul Denholm shares what you need to know about the reliability of the U.S. power grid and why renewable energy can keep the lights on.

Jan. 25, 2024

Copper Is King, But It Is Time for a Metal Meritocracy

Meet the four teams competing to create materials that can out-conduct pure copper in the $4.8 million Conductivity-enhanced materials for Affordable, Breakthrough Leapfrog Electric and thermal applications (CABLE) Conductor Manufacturing Prize.

Jan. 24, 2024

How Extreme Weather and System Aging Affect the US Photovoltaic Fleet

A massive data set of photovoltaic system performance quantifies the small but significant impacts of extreme weather and long-term degradation, with important lessons for the PV industry.

Jan. 22, 2024

Local Clean Energy Projects Get a Boost Through New SOLVE IT Prize

The new $5 million SOLVE IT Prize will support development of innovative local clean energy solutions with heavy community involvement.

Jan. 22, 2024

Behind the Blades: Why Genevieve Starke Gave Up on Her Childhood Dream Job

As a kid, Genevieve Starke dreamt of becoming a con artist. Naturally, the little girl from Pennsylvania decided to pivot her dream to a field where rule-following was a little more appreciated. She picked engineering.

Jan. 19, 2024

John Kisacikoglu Tapped To Lead IEEE's Transportation Systems Committee

Mithat John Kisacikoglu has been tapped to lead the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Transportation Systems Committee (TSC), which focuses on electrification of the entire transportation sector.

Jan. 18, 2024

20 Teams Win First Phase of Wind Turbine Materials Recycling Prize

DOE announced the Phase 1 winners of the Wind Turbine Materials Recycling Prize. This $5.1 million, two-phase competition aims to boost a sustainable U.S. recycling industry for two high-impact categories of wind turbine materials: fiber-reinforced composites and rare earth elements.

Jan. 18, 2024

Saying Goodbye to a Cold-Weather Workhorse

NREL recently bid farewell to a 100-kilowatt distributed wind turbine prototype on NREL's Flatirons Campus. The turbine's removal signals the beginning of new, expanded distributed wind research capabilities for the laboratory.

Jan. 18, 2024

Computational Mobility Scientist Honored With Colorado Governor's Award for High-Impact Research

In just three years as a researcher at NREL, K. Shankari successfully enabled communities to collect impactful multimodal data and went on detail to the U.S. Joint Office of Energy and Transportation to ensure the reliable buildout of a national electric vehicle charging network.

Jan. 16, 2024

Beneath the Surface: Nicole Mendoza Is a Supersonic Environmentalist

Nicole Mendoza is building extra-sustainable clean energy technologies, including kelp-like wave energy devices that mimic her beloved nature.

Jan. 16, 2024

The Yoga of Energy (Specifically, Ocean Energy)

A newly patented kind of energy generator could be woven into fabrics, building walls, or roads to form what their inventors call "metamaterials."

Jan. 12, 2024

MAKE IT Prize Helps Fuel US Clean Energy Boom

The United States is poised for a clean energy boom, with the new investments flowing from 2021's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act expected to unlock around $3 trillion in clean energy and energy efficiency investments.

Jan. 11, 2024

NREL Awards $1.8 Million in Second Round of Contracts To Support Development of Cheaper, More Efficient Cadmium Telluride Solar Cells

NREL has awarded $1.8 million to fund seven projects to support the Cadmium Telluride Accelerator Consortium.

Jan. 11, 2024

Materials Science Software Enables High-Fidelity Answers to Basic Principles Questions

To understand how things work, we must think small. Really small. Processes that affect how materials appear or behave happen at the atomic level. That is a key place for researchers to start, but such atomic-scale challenges are difficult because they require that researchers solve the underlying equations of quantum physics, which are computationally intensive and expensive.

Jan. 11, 2024

Solar Prize Round 7 Semifinalists Bring Bold, Bright Ideas to Competition

A new crop of semifinalists has been selected to move on to the Set! Contest in the American-Made Solar Prize Round 7.

Jan. 10, 2024

American-Made Prize Accelerates Community Solar Initiatives Across the US

Today, the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office announced 25 Phase 1 winning teams, each receiving a $50,000 cash prize and advancing to Phase 2 of the competition.

Jan. 9, 2024

NREL Releases the 2023 Standard Scenarios

The annual suite of electricity system scenarios shows there could be fewer emissions, more renewables, and clean energy tax credits continued through 2050.

Jan. 9, 2024

Hydropower Is Global. Should Hydropower Research Be, Too?

Dany Tome, a graduate student at the University of South-Eastern Norway, spent five weeks at NREL as part of a larger partnership between Norway and the United States. As part of his internship, Tome researched hydropower, one of the world's biggest sources of renewable energy.

Jan. 4, 2024

NREL To Showcase Research at Transportation Research Board Meeting

Transportation and mobility researchers will showcase their latest research at the 103rd Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Jan. 7–11, 2024 in Washington, D.C.

Jan. 3, 2024

NREL's Expert Contributions to Renowned Climate Change Assessment Strengthen Leaders' Ability To Make Informed Decisions

Three NREL researchers recently had the opportunity to contribute to the landmark Fifth National Climate Assessment, sharing NREL’s expertise and learning from other leaders at the table.

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