March 2019
Patent Protection Awarded to NREL's EcoSnap-AC Technology
The patented device eliminates leaking air that comes with a window-mounted unit, reduces noise, and operates with more efficiency.
NREL Analysts Help Student Teams Battle Real-Time Cyberattacks, Gain Skills
When a series of cyberattacks surged through the Denver Tech Center, NREL Cybersecurity Analysts Joshua Rivera, Adarsh Hasandka, and Anuj Sanghvi could just watch--and wait. That's because they were volunteers at the eighth Rocky Mountain Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition.
NREL Federal Energy Management Program Team Directly Supports $13.7B of Federal Facility Energy Efficiency Improvements
A special NREL Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) procurement team is responsible for directly supporting almost $14 billion worth of upgrades to federal energy infrastructure projects using unique contracting and financing mechanisms, ensuring federal facilities received the energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades they needed.
Building Community Through Competition: The 29th Annual Colorado High School Science Bowl
Since its inception, the Colorado High School Science Bowl has given students the opportunity to engage in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) enrichment beyond the classroom.
New Materials Could Lead to Recyclable Wind Blades
Advancements in wind energy have allowed the amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere to drop considerably, and all without raising the levelized cost of energy. However, disposing of the materials used to create these energy-efficient machines can be complicated and have unintended consequences. Thanks to researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), this could soon be a thing of the past.
News Release: Fort Collins High School Reigns Supreme at the 29th Colorado High School Science Bowl
This marks the third consecutive year students from Fort Collins High School won the Colorado competition.
NREL Unveils Look at Most Efficient Solar Modules
The initial Champion Module Efficiencies chart contains 73 data points, dating to 1988, and broken out into 19 different technologies.
News Release: NREL's Economic Impact Tops $1 Billion
The new study estimates NREL's impact on Colorado's economy at nearly $748 million.
News Release: Tenth Edition of Data Book Reveals Trends in U.S. and Global Renewable Energy Growth
This year's edition is the first to include data and trends for electric vehicles and energy storage technologies, in addition to data-centric charts for wind, solar, hydropower, and alternative fuels.
News Release: NREL Announces New Projects to Advance Medium- and Heavy-Duty Natural Gas Vehicle Technologies
The selected projects will focus on reducing the total cost of ownership of NGVs, increasing vehicle efficiency, decreasing local air pollution, and advancing technology development to increase the use of more affordable medium- and heavy-duty natural gas engines and vehicles.
REopt Lite Adds Custom Electricity Rates and an Integrated Critical Load Builder
Building owners and energy managers looking to evaluate renewable energy and storage economics for their site can use REopt™ Lite's custom utility rate tariff capabilities and an integrated critical load profile builder—new features that allow a more detailed energy analysis without leaving the tool.
February 2019
Competition Spurs Transformative Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Solutions
The U.S. Department of Energy recently launched the Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Prize, with NREL as prize administrator. The $5.5-million phased prize competition is designed to incentivize American innovators and businesses to develop and demonstrate processes that, when scaled, have the potential to profitably capture 90% of all discarded or spent lithium-ion batteries in the United States.
News Release: NREL Pioneers Cleaner Route to Upcycle Plastics into Superior Products
The NREL team chemically combined reclaimed polyethylene terephthalate plastic, in the form of single-use beverage bottles, with bio-based compounds to produce higher-value fiber-reinforced plastics that can be used in products from snowboards to vehicle parts to wind turbines.
NREL Urban Planners Translate Energy Technology into Market Success through Local, State, Federal, and Tribal Governments
Urban planners have not historically dealt in energy issues, yet clean energy is a growing focus around the world and urban planners' role in energy transitions is evolving as demand increases.
NREL to Host 12th Annual Beyond Lithium-Ion Symposium
The 12th Beyond Lithium Ion Symposium will focus on scalable energy storage beyond the current state-of-the-art for transportation and grid applications.
Q&A with Annabelle Pratt: Managing Energy at All Scales
Annabelle Pratt is a principal engineer for the Power Systems Engineering Center at NREL. Pratt specializes in microgrid and home energy management systems (HEMS), and her work has included the evaluation of microgrid controllers and advanced distribution management systems (ADMS). We sat down with Pratt to learn more about her work and the newest research in these areas.
News Release: NREL Industry Growth Forum Announces 2019 Presenting Start-Ups
The 30 companies were selected after a competitive application and review process from more than 150 applicants.
News Release: NREL Emerging Markets Day Announces 2019 Presenting Start-up Companies
On May 8, investors, start-up companies, and industry leaders from around the world will convene in Denver, Colo., for the third Emerging Markets Day, a forum to discuss the most promising cleantech solutions to the pressing energy challenges faced by emerging economies.
Little Uncertainty Remains at NREL, Thanks to Improvements in PV Performance Measurement
NREL achieves the world's most accurate method to measure PV performance, with an uncertainty rate of only 1.1%.
Bundling Strategies Offer Solutions to Microgrid Challenges
A new report examines novel approaches to microgrid financing and deployment in sub-Saharan Africa, where about 600 million people live without electricity.
Last Updated Jan. 22, 2026