Technical Assistance Opportunities
NREL partners with U.S. states, local jurisdictions, communities, utilities, and Tribes to deliver data-driven support that strengthens local energy systems.
In addition to federal technical assistance programs, NREL offers customized technical support services.
NREL works with large and small organizations to develop research partnerships, license NREL technologies, support energy stakeholders, and accelerate energy innovation and systems integration. Read more about how to partner with us.
Browse U.S. federal programs and initiatives through which NREL provides technical assistance.
Filters:
| Program/Initiative | Description | Eligible Stakeholders | Project Stage(s) | metadata |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Energy to Communities | Provides expertise and tools to achieve energy goals through three distinct offerings: Expert Match, In-Depth Partnerships, and Peer-Learning Cohorts | Academic institutions, Community-based organizations, Electric utilities, Local jurisdictions, Tribes | Energy potential and options, Planning, Plan refinement, Technology deployment | E2C, DOE |
| Energy to Communities: Expert Match | Provides tailored, short-term (40-60 hours) support for a wide variety of eligible applicants to achieve local energy goals | Academic institutions, Community-based organizations, Electric utilities, Local jurisdictions, Tribes | Energy potential and options, Planning, Plan refinement, Technology deployment | E2C, DOE |
| Energy to Communities: In-Depth Partnerships | Offers long-term (3-year) commitment of community teams composed of local governments, community-based organizations, and utilities to achieve energy goals | Community-based organizations, Electric utilities, Local jurisdictions | Energy potential and options, Operations and maintenance, Planning, Plan refinement | E2C, DOE |
| Energy to Communities: Peer-Learning Cohorts | Facilitates 6-month collaborative cohorts to share and learn about specific energy themes | Community-based organizations, Electric utilities, Local jurisdictions, Tribes | Energy potential and options, Plan refinement, Technology deployment | E2C, DOE |
| Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (U.S. Department of Energy) | Offers short-term assistance (up to 20 hours) per formula funding grantee to develop an energy efficiency and conservation strategy | Local jurisdictions, States, Tribes | Energy potential and options, Planning | DOE |
| Community Microgrid Assistance Partnership | Assistance and support for microgrid planning, development, or improvements in remote underserved and/or Indigenous communities | Community-based organizations, Electric utilities, Industry, Local jurisdictions, Not-for-profit organizations, Tribes | Energy potential and options, Operations and maintenance, Planning, Plan refinement, Technology deployment | DOE |
| Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas Program | Offers competitive prizes and technical support to improve energy systems in rural or remote areas | Community-based organizations, Local jurisdictions, Not-for-profit organizations, Tribes | Planning | ERA, DOE |
| Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project | Strengthens energy resilience in island and remote communities with support of regional partners | Academic institutions, Community-based organizations, Electric utilities, Industry, Local jurisdictions, Not-for-profit organizations, Tribes | Energy potential and options | ETIPP, DOE |
| Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange (U.S. Department of Energy) | Enables a simpler, faster, and fairer interconnection of energy resources all while enhancing the reliability, resiliency, and security of our electric grid | Electric utilities, Local jurisdictions, States | Energy potential and options, Operations and maintenance, Planning, Plan refinement | I2x, DOE |
| Joint Office for Energy and Transportation Technical Assistance | Facilitates the adoption of electrified transportation by providing comprehensive technical assistance and resources | Community-based organizations, Local jurisdictions, States, Tribes | Planning, Technology deployment | DOE, DOT |
| National Community Solar Partnership (U.S. Department of Energy) | Supports coalition of stakeholders working to expand access to affordable community solar | Community-based organizations, Local jurisdictions, Not-for-profit organizations, States, Tribes | Technology deployment | NCSP, DOE |
| Renewable Energy Siting Through Technical Engagement and Planning (U.S. Department of Energy) | Expands the decision-making capacity and expertise of state and local governments around large-scale renewable energy planning, siting, and permitting | Local jurisdictions, States | Energy potential and options, Planning | DOE, RSTEP |
| Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs: Technical Assistance (U.S. Department of Energy) | Advances energy projects with federally recognized American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native communities | Tribes | Energy potential and options, Planning, Plan refinement | DOE |
| Tribal Nation Offshore Wind Transmission (U.S. Department of Energy) | Provides technical assistance, educational resources, expert match, and event participation assistance for planning and development of offshore wind transmission | Tribes | Energy potential and options, Operations and maintenance, Planning, Plan refinement, Technology deployment | DOE |
| Joint Office of Energy and Transportation: Tribal Nation Technical Assistance and Resources | Facilitates the adoption of electrified transportation by providing comprehensive technical assistance and resources | Tribes | Energy potential and options, Planning | DOE, DOT |
| Waste-to-Energy Technical Assistance | Addresses knowledge gaps, challenges, decision making considerations, planning, and project implementation strategies related to organic waste | Local jurisdictions, Tribes | Energy potential and options, Planning, Plan refinement, Technology deployment | WTE, DOE |
| Solar Energy Innovation Network | Targets new and unresolved barriers to solar adoption, especially in underserved communities. Supports teams of stakeholders as they develop transformative solutions for solar adoption | Academic institutions, Community-based organizations, Electric utilities, Industry, Local jurisdictions, Not-for-profit organizations, Tribes | Energy potential and options, Planning | SEIN, DOE |
| Standard Work Specifications | Provides guidance to ensure work performed during home energy upgrades is effective, durable, and safe | Industry, Not-for-profit organizations, States | Operations and maintenance, Technology deployment | SWS, weatherization |
| State Energy Office Direct Technical Assistance | Provides resources, training, research, and facilitation of community engagement for energy efficiency, reliability, and energy generation planning | States | Planning | NREL, Lawrence |
| State Technical Assistance Program (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) | Offers rapid turn-around technical support from subject matter experts at NREL and other national laboratories | Utilities, States | Energy potential and options, Operations and maintenance | Lawrence |
| Rural Energy for America Program | Brings renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvement grants to agricultural producers and rural small business owners | Agriculture producers, Rural small business owners | Operations and maintenance, Technology deployment | NREL |
| Utility and Grid Operator Technical Assistance | Provides utilities and grid operators with subject matter expertise and access to national lab facilities to support technical challenges relating to topics including load forecasting, operational architecture, technology configuration, integrated distribution planning, and transmission planning | Utility and grid operators including municipal utilities, cooperative utilities, investor-owned utilities, regional transmission organizations, independent system operators | Energy potential and options, Planning, Plan refinement, Technology deployment, Operations and maintenance | DOE |
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Last Updated Nov. 17, 2025