News and Feature Stories
The following news stories take an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at how NREL is advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.
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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.
Navigating Utility-Scale Energy Procurement Just Got Easier
NREL's new Procurement Analysis Tool helps energy buyers explore cost-effective, utility-scale electricity options tailored to their goals.
NREL Publishes Method for Recycling All Components in Carbon Fiber Composites
Deconstructing epoxy resins with hot acetic acid has the potential to provide a scalable and affordable solution for recycling a material used in a range of high-value consumer products, according to new research from the BOTTLE consortium.
NREL Welcomes 30 Participants To Join Energy to Communities Peer-Learning Cohorts on Utility Engagement and Load Growth
NREL is excited to announce the 30 local leaders that will join two new Energy to Communities (E2C) peer-learning cohorts covering electricity load growth and utility engagement.
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.
A Deeper Look at Hidden Damage: Nano-CT Imaging Maps Internal Battery Degradation
NREL researchers are exploring an alternative method in direct recycling, which aims to preserve and refurbish battery components for a more efficient and cost-effective process.
Powering Data: NREL Partner Forum Puts Everything on the Table
More than 300 participants gathered in Golden, Colorado, at the U.S. Department of Energy’s NREL to strategize powering data centers during the 2025 NREL Partner Forum.
Artificial Intelligence Models Improve Efficiency of Battery Diagnostics
NREL researchers have developed and demonstrated a groundbreaking physics-informed neural network (PINN) model that can predict battery health nearly 1,000 times faster than traditional models.
News Release: NREL Announces 2025 Executive Energy Leadership Cohort
NREL has selected 19 leaders to participate in its 2025 Executive Energy Leadership program.
Beneath the Surface: Why Bri Friedman Embraces Failure
This NREL engineer is working with the laboratory’s marine energy team to develop a device called the small underwater research flap wave energy converter—or SURF-WEC, for short.
May 2025
NREL and Crysalis Biosciences Collaborate To Scale Up Domestic Biomanufacturing Technologies
Based on research initially funded by DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office, NREL granted Crysalis commercial licenses to three novel biological technologies to produce bio-based chemicals and fuels.
Updated Risk Management Framework Supports Success of Marine Energy Devices
NREL’s Marine Energy Technology Development Risk Management Framework gives marine energy researchers and developers a comprehensive process to break down their approach and any variables that may impede or accelerate their success.
Early-Career Spotlight: Michelle Herrera
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Michelle Herrera has long known what she wanted to do when she grew up.
HERO’s Mission: An Elevator Part Could Bolster Marine Energy Technologies
NREL's wave-powered desalination research is charting new waters by improving the robustness, reliability, and deployability of the hydraulic and electric reverse osmosis wave energy converter—or HERO WEC.
15 Years and Counting: A Unique Solution for Transportation Data Sharing
This year, the Transportation Secure Data Center turns 15 years old, continuing to increase the availability and usability of travel and transit surveys and studies from municipalities, transit agencies, and other entities that want to share their results while protecting participant privacy.
Winners of Solar District Cup Class of 2024–2025 Announced
Eighteen teams earn division winner titles for solar and solar-plus-storage design proposals.
NREL Partners With Chilkat Indian Village To Improve Housing in Klukwan, Alaska
A team of NREL researchers and Tribal staff are tackling the problems as part of a $1 million award through the U.S. Housing and Urban Development's Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes.
Microgrids Could Enhance Grid Resilience
In this installment of NREL's Tell Me Something Grid series, Rory McIlmoil, a researcher in NREL's Grid Planning and Analysis Center, shares how microgrids could unlock greater grid resilience in the wake of natural disasters like Hurricane Helene.
NREL Researcher Craig Turchi Brings Small Business Experience to Big Concentrating Solar Projects
Turchi returned to NREL with a savvy outlook on concentrating solar power (CSP) systems analysis and innovation after serving as the principal investigator for a technology startup.
Can Quantum Computers Handle Energy's Hardest Problems?
Working with local quantum companies, an NREL team is developing benchmarks for quantum computers on the problems that are important to energy science, enabling NREL and industry to prioritize practical utility for the next generation of quantum software and hardware.
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Last Updated May 1, 2025