April 2026
Office of Science Awards Lukas Dahlin Early Career Research Honor
Lukas Dahlin becomes only the seventh researcher from NLR so recognized during the 15-year history of the program, which is limited to those within 10 years of having earned their doctoral degree.
March 2026
New Analysis Details How Air Traffic Control Towers Can Maintain Operations During Grid Outages
NLR tools, metrics, and a new guidebook can help the Federal Aviation Administration plan for reliability-increasing technologies.
Why Use Living Cells? NLR Is Making Chemicals With Enzymes Alone
Researchers address technical challenges for “cell-free” biomanufacturing—which could reduce costs of bio-based chemicals.
Accomplished Researcher Recognized by Major Industry Association for Leadership in Biofuels Research
NLR’s Robert McCormick won a Growth Energy TOBI Award recognizing his long history of technical achievements.
Turning Biomass Into Graphite Could Help Secure US Critical Mineral Supply
NLR researchers have developed two novel pathways using fast pyrolysis to create bio-based graphite. The process, which leverages waste materials, could bolster American graphite production and secure a critical supply chain for battery and steel manufacturing.
Colorado High Schoolers Shine in Annual STEM Competition
In Colorado’s 2026 Regional High School Science Bowl, Fossil Ridge High School reclaimed first place after a head-to-head competition comprising 28 teams.
Researchers Describe Protein Structure Microbes Use To Control Light Conversion
Insights on the protein complex “photosystem I” improve scientific understanding on how cyanobacteria convert light into energy.
Amped To Shape the Future of Water Power?
Enter DOE’s 2027 hydropower and marine energy collegiate competitions for a chance to make a splash and win some cash.
Could a New Kind of Power Supply Help Make Data Centers Grid-Friendly?
NLR and its partner, ON.energy, are working together to test how ON.energy’s uninterruptable power supply can store and manage energy to protect grids from data center spikes.
Genesis Mission's AI-Driven Research To Strengthen US Grid, Supply Chains, and Technological Leadership
NLR is leveraging years of expertise in AI research, wide-ranging data assets, and advanced experimental resources to contribute to building the Genesis Mission platform.
Beneath the Surface: Glorynel Ojeda Matos on Strengthening the Systems We Depend On
NLR researcher Glorynel Ojeda Matos focuses on practical solutions that help decision makers plan ahead to keep key systems running when it matters most.
In Alaska, a Data Center Inside a Power Plant, Inside a Microgrid
A hydropower microgrid in Cordova, Alaska, will now host a data center, furthering a project initiated by the U.S. Department of Energy to localize resources and reduce exposure to outages.
Researchers Use Light To Tune Electronic Properties in Ultrathin Materials
NLR researchers developed a scalable, light-based method that achieves the spatial precision and stability needed for commercial applications in multilogic devices, inverters, and optoelectronic devices.
REopt Expands Options To Help Energy Managers Cut Costs
NLR’s REopt Web Tool tells a more comprehensive story with the addition of air-source heat pump (ASHP) analysis capabilities and other user-friendly features that streamline efforts to optimize a building’s energy system.
Rising Above the Tide: Strategic Energy Planning on Tangier Island
Tangier Island is working with the Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project (ETIPP) to enhance energy reliability and generate energy-bill savings for the town and its residents.
February 2026
Could a New Kind of Data Center Give Back to the Grid?
Data center company Verrus recently partnered with experts at the National Laboratory of the Rockies to investigate whether their more grid-friendly data center design was ready for the real world.
Remote Control: Rural Alaska Communities Seek Nuanced Solutions to Energy System Challenges
As case studies in a report show, integrating local energy sources in remote Alaska communities can be successful with proper planning, workforce training, and control systems.
Evaluating Mixed Energy Resources To Meet Dynamic Power Demand of Data Centers
Researchers show how firm and fast-response power can serve large loads.
From Life Events to Travel Trends, DEMOS Tool Brings Demographic Realism to Transportation Modeling
Researchers at NLR developed DEMOS, a demographic microsimulator that fills a critical gap in transportation modeling by accounting for major life transitions that shape population dynamics and mobility patterns.
How To Crack the Wave Energy Code
MODAQ 2 offers marine energy developers the data they need—reliably collected in a scalable platform that is ready for the ocean.
Last Updated Jan. 22, 2026