July 2017
Webinar July 20: Using Machine Learning and Data Analysis to Improve Customer Acquisition and Marketing in Residential Solar
A free webinar on Thursday, July 20, 2017, from 1–2 p.m. ET, will share exciting new research by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Sandia National Laboratories, and Vanderbilt University on how data analytics, machine learning, and social science can improve marketing and customer acquisition processes for residential solar.
June 2017
NREL Staff Recognized by DOE for Outstanding Achievements at 2017 Annual Merit Review
The U.S. Department of Energy recently honored four NREL staff members for their outstanding achievements at the Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation Meeting.
PV Module Reliability Experts Gather for DuraMAT Workshop
On May 22 and 23, 2017, the Durable Module Materials Consortium convened a workshop at Stanford University to discuss photovoltaic module reliability.
News Release: NREL Announces Participants for 2017 Executive Energy Leadership Program
The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has selected 22 leaders to participate in its 2017 Executive Energy Leadership program (Energy Execs).
NREL Deploys Wave and Tidal Measurement Buoys
Researchers at the National Wind Technology Center at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently deployed two sets of buoys off the shores of Oregon and Maine, each equipped with a variety of high-accuracy sensors that can detect wave and tidal movement.
News Release: NREL-Led Research Effort Creates New Alloys, Phase Diagram
A multi-institutional team led by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) discovered a way to create new alloys that could form the basis of next-generation semiconductors.
NREL Co-Leading New Consortium to Overcome Catalysis Challenges for Biomass Applications
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is co-leading the Chemical Catalysis for Bioenergy Consortium (ChemCatBio), a new research and development consortium dedicated to identifying and overcoming catalysis challenges for biomass conversion processes.
NREL Brings Midmarket Solar PV Technical Assistance to 36 Universities and Colleges
NREL has offered no-cost technical assistance to American universities seeking to go solar. The program, in support of the U.S. Department of Energy's SunShot initiative, is designed to increase the deployment of mid-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems at universities, engage stakeholders to develop deployment solutions, and empower decision makers.
NREL's III-V Team Demonstrates Record Efficiency Dual-Junction Solar Cell
NREL scientists recently demonstrated a dual-junction solar cell with a record one-sun, certified efficiency of 32.6% (±1.4%), surpassing the previous record by a full percentage.
May 2017
News Release: NREL Names Juan Torres to Lead Energy Systems Integration
Juan Torres takes over June 5 as the new Associate Laboratory Director for Energy Systems Integration at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
Popular NREL-Developed Transportation Mobile App Launches on Android Platform
A new Android version of the Alternative Fueling Station Locator App was recently released. The NREL-developed mobile application for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program joins the original iPhone version, and allows users to select an alternative fuel—including electricity, natural gas, biodiesel, ethanol (E85), propane, and hydrogen—to find the 20 closest stations within a 30-mile radius.
News Release: Teams From Stargate, Manning Options Schools Victorious in NREL's 27th Solar and Lithium-Ion Car Races
Fifty-three teams from 18 Colorado middle schools gathered at the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden today for the 27th Annual Junior Solar Sprint and Lithium-Ion Battery Car Competitions.
Wind Energy's Next Generation Competes in the Collegiate Wind Competition
Last month, 10 college teams from around the country convened at the National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to participate in the U.S. Department of Energy Collegiate Wind Competition 2017 Technical Challenge. The participating teams included:
NREL Research Takes Off for International Space Station
Students at Chatfield High School are hoping their algal research yields energy in microgravity.
News Release: NREL's Quantum Dot Research Yields Greater Control
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have developed new designer quantum dot systems with greater control over beneficial properties for photoelectrochemical and photovoltaic solar applications.
NREL and iUnit Open the Door to Grid-Integrated, Multifamily Construction
On May 4, 2017, nearly 30 industry partners visited NREL's Energy Systems Integration Facility to see a modular studio prototype apartment created by Denver developer, iUnit.
NREL Partners with California Valley Transportation Authority on Electric Bus Grid Integration Project
NREL is partnering with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) in California on a new Advanced Transit Bus Vehicle Grid Integration (VGI) Project to develop and demonstrate VGI strategies and analytics to inform state-wide opportunities for transit agencies. The California Energy Commission is funding the $2 million project, which will span four years and includes a variety of partners.
NREL Biorefinery Air Pollutant Emissions Analysis Explores Mitigation Options
A new study by NREL's Biofuel Air Emissions Analysis team describes the team's modeling of non-greenhouse gas air pollutant emissions for two feasibility-level biorefinery designs: (1) a biochemical technology pathway focused on biological conversion of cellulosic sugars and (2) a thermochemical pathway focused on fast pyrolysis of whole biomass.
Industry Growth Forum Goes Swimmingly for Cleantech Innovators
NREL's Industry Growth Forum convenes venture capitalists, government representatives, and cleantech experts.
News Release: New Method of Microbial Energy Production Discovered
For all living things to succeed, they must reproduce and have the energy to do so. An organism's ability to extract energy from its surroundings--and to do it better than its competitors--is a key requirement of survival. Until recently it was thought that in all of biology, from microbes to humans, there were only two methods to generate and conserve the energy required for cellular metabolism and survival.
Last Updated Jan. 22, 2026