Research
Mechanical and Thermal Engineering Sciences

Mechanical and Thermal Engineering Sciences

The Mechanical and Thermal Engineering Sciences (MTES) directorate at NREL drives technological innovation in the areas of energy efficiency and renewable power.

We provide engineering and scientific expertise to a variety of federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Office of Science, and Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy as well university and industry partners. The directorate is led by Associate Laboratory Director John Farrell.

Advanced Manufacturing

Composite manufacturing technicians work on a wind turbine blade mold at the Composites Manufacturing Education and Technology facility (CoMET).

Identifying and developing advanced materials and processes that drive the impact of new energy technologies

Buildings

NREL researchers conduct research on a prototype at the HVAC Systems Laboratory

Increasing energy efficiencies in residential and commercial buildings that save money and add stability to the grid

NREL's Alaska Campus in Fairbanks

The Cold Climate Housing Research Center building in the snow at sunrise

Innovative buildings design, research, and deployment in extreme and rural environments

Concentrating Solar Power

Researchers work on high temperature corrosion evaluations for molten salts using 3 electrode arrangements

Advancing innovative technologies that capture sunlight and store heat to provide electricity on demand 24/7

Geothermal Energy

A researcher examines a heat sensor to make sure it's in working order.

Developing cost-competitive technologies to advance the use of geothermal energy

Water Power

Researchers stand next to large piece of machinery

Researching innovative marine and hydrokinetic and hydropower technologies

Wind Energy

Photo of a man and a woman wearing hard hats and standing next to wind turbine testing equipment.

Developing, validating, and manufacturing groundbreaking wind energy innovations

Mechanical and Thermal Engineering Sciences

Featured Project: ExaWind

To reduce the cost of wind energy, we must be able to predict the complex flow physics in wind farms. Through the ExaWind project, NREL is partnering with Sandia National Laboratories and scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Texas at Austin to develop new simulation capabilities to improve our understanding of the performance of whole wind plants. ExaWind is part of the Exascale Computing Project, a joint effort between the Department of Energy Office of Science and the National Nuclear Security Administration.