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Feature News

The following feature stories take an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at how NREL is advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. You may subscribe to receive weekly news features by e-mail or via RSS feed. NREL Features RSS Feed (XML)

2009

July 2009

Photo of a test tube containing a light purple liquid.

Biofuels Studies to Benefit from Better Lab Test

In a step that is likely to make a loud noise in alternative energy, a pair of scientists at NREL has worked out a simpler, faster and far less costly way to measure manganese, the metal that helps green plants split water. The breakthrough could support the development of photosynthetic systems for producing biofuels.

June 2009

Photo of a man wearing a yellow polo shirt crossing his arms and looking at industrial machinery featuring long black rubber gloves that appear to be reaching out towards him.

Lawmakers Visit NREL for Clean Energy Solutions

Want a tough job? Try being a state legislator during a recession. Now add an energy crisis and climate change to the mix. Two dozen lawmakers from Washington state to Maryland visited NREL to learn about clean energy technologies and incentives as ways to retool their economies and protect the environment.

Photo of a man holding a meter up to lights running along the metal interior ceiling of a building.

NREL, Industry Work to Halve Building Energy Use

Partners from the private sector, the U.S. Department of Energy, and national labs including NREL are working together to drastically reduce energy consumption in commercial buildings. This week, NREL launched a new Web site dedicated to the collaborative research project dubbed "National Accounts."

Photo of two men wearing red overalls installing solar panels on the flat roof of a warehouse in Germany.

NREL Energy Analysts Dig into Feed-In Tariffs

Feed-in tariffs have helped to transform cloudy Germany into the world leader of installed solar power and photovoltaic manufacturing. In a trio of reports, NREL energy analysts say similar incentives could stimulate renewable energy development on this side of the Atlantic, too.

Photo of a man smiling at the end of a row of people, all of which are wearing the same shirt.

Vets and 'Gray Fields' Go Green with NREL

NREL recently hosted a very green graduation ceremony — the Veterans Green Jobs Academy saw its first class of graduates eagerly accept their diplomas before heading off to jobs in the new energy economy. A partnership with NREL to create a National Training Demonstration Center in Energy Efficiency was announced at the event, too.

May 2009

Drawing of two wings of the building surround a courtyard and are joined by a lobby.

Labyrinth to Store Energy in Basement for Later Use

There's a labyrinth in the basement of NREL's newest building. The maze wasn't designed to hem in a mythical beast or to confuse workers, but it is a trap — one that will capture the heat of the day or the cool of the night, hold onto it and then slowly release the thermal energy to help warm or cool the building.

Photo of students crouched at the top of straight black rubberized race tracks reacting with both excitement and disappointment as their hydrogen-powered model cars begin a race. Behind them stand several adults who are coaching the student racing teams and serving as race judges.

Solar, Hydrogen Model Cars Race Toward New Energy Future

Bright skies and creative designs combined for blistering speeds at the 2009 Junior Solar Sprint and Hydrogen Fuel Cell car competitions. The NREL-hosted event attracted 78 teams from 29 Colorado middle schools. For the 19th year, student teams raced solar or hydrogen powered vehicles that they designed and built themselves.

Photo of a woman, in a lab, holding a metal box with wires attached.

NREL Scientist Finds Time to Do it All

Senior Scientist Huyen Dinh has been with NREL a relatively short time but is tackling big projects involving millions of research dollars, worldwide collaboration with colleagues, and has welcomed a new member to her family. Motivated by her past, she takes multitasking to a whole new level.

Photo of a rectangular wooden plaque with writing on the facing surface. The top of the plaque bears a layer of bark from the tree from which it was made. The plaque reads, in part, City of Greensburg & Greensburg GreenTown First Annual Green Initiative City Award Outstanding Partner Award … Department of Energy/National Renewable Energy Laboratory "Encouragement, generosity, counsel"

Two Years Later, Greensburg is Officially Green — with NREL's Help

Two years after a tornado annihilated Greensburg, the Kansas farm town gives NREL the city's inaugural award for helping it realize its ambition to become America's model green community with wind power and efficient new buildings. "NREL has made our lives easier and better," said City Administrator Steve Hewitt.

Photo of a man in a business suit standing at a microphone answering media questions while another man in a business suit listens.

Recovery Act Money Invested at NREL

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu made his first visit to NREL as secretary an especially memorable one — announcing $110 million in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to accelerate construction of the Laboratory's campus, dramatically expanding NREL's capacity for renewable energy research and partnerships while showcasing some of the world's most energy efficient buildings.

April 2009

Photo of the inside of a car with bright lights shining through the windshield. A man wearing protective eye wear adjusts a human form made of metal and wires.

NREL and Ford Team Up to Develop 'Cool' Cars

NREL soon will be joining with Ford in a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) to study and develop high-efficiency thermoelectric climate systems for cars. NREL, which has been working for years to understand how cooling techniques affect fuel use and comfort, has developed unique tools to help the research.

Photo of six wind turbines in a row appearing golden in the early morning sun against a dark sky.

NREL Gearbox Study Aims to Grease Wind Power's Future

Wind turbines are designed to last 20 years. But gearboxes and other key components are wearing out sooner. Engineers at NREL's National Wind Technology Center are working with industry to discover why and retool the design process to improve reliability, reduce the cost and help the nation reach its clean energy potential.

Photo of a long bus with mountains and blue sky in the background.

NREL Helps Sort Green Transportation Options

With a variety of green transportation options to chose from, fleet managers hoping to preserve the environment along with a bottom line can be excused for sometimes being confused. Through the Alternative Fuels Data Center, NREL helps fleet managers successfully support their company's sustainability goals with a variety of online tools.

Photo of a woman wearing a white lab coat and safety glasses holding a flask containing a green liquid up to the light.

Algae-to-Fuel Research Enjoys Resurgence at NREL

After languishing for more than a decade, NREL's algae program is revitalized and expanding, as hundreds of companies try to commercialize processes to turn algae into fuel. Now researchers are focusing on a better understanding of algae biology and trying to separate myths from reality surrounding this promising source of "green crude."

March 2009

Photo of a doughnut-shaped vent near a volcano glowing yellow and dark red against a background of black rock.

NREL Assigns Renewables Experts to Hawaii, Alaska

Hawaii and Alaska have a few things in common: Their remote locations result in high energy prices, but they also have ample clean energy resources. And, NREL experts are working with government officials and utilities in both states to deploy renewable energy technologies and integrate these new systems into local grids.

Photo of rows of stone seats on a hill side with grasses and trees in the background.

Lab Preserves Nature, History

NREL's South Table Mountain campus teems with wildlife. Its dry landscape is home to more than 200 plant species. The site includes cultural gems that speak to the region's past. And, NREL is growing. But growth for the future won't mean changing the nature of the place or ignoring its history. NREL staff is keeping a watchful eye to ensure that construction has minimal impact on the environment.

Drawing of an office with low walled cubicles and people with sky line in the background.

NREL Tests Energy-Saving Office of the Future

New administrative offices for the U.S. Department of Energy's Golden Field Office and NREL will be in one of the world's most energy efficient buildings. Planners have set their sights on achieving a LEED Platinum rating; employees, however, are simply dubbing the building as the "office of the future."

Photo of corn being harvested by a machine. Some rows of corn are seen standing, while others have been knocked down. Mountains are in the background.

Partnerships Boost Research, Improve Technology

Sometimes the most efficient path to success is to find a partner to work with along the way. NREL uses CRADAs (Cooperative Research and Development Agreements) to help the best minds in industry and government team up to find solutions for alternative energy. A recent CRADA with DuPont sought solutions to make ethanol from corn stalks.

February 2009

Photo of a small new two story house painted yellow with white trim. The dry bare dirt front yard awaits landscaping.

NREL Helps New Orleans Go Green

New Orleans is going green as it rebuilds after Hurricane Katrina — with a big assist from the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory. New homes and public buildings are being designed with energy efficient features to reduce energy use while remaining comfortable in a muggy climate.

Photo of a turquoise-green Toyota fuel cell SUV displayed at an auto show cut in half length-wise to show visitors its advanced systems.

Controlling Heat Key to Hybrid Performance

Advanced hybrid-electric vehicles are poised to transform the auto market. But excess heat can sap hybrids' advantages. Researchers in NREL's Advanced Electronics Laboratory are exploring every layer of hybrid technology to reduce heat and dramatically improve performance and efficiency while reducing costs.

Photo of a man standing in front of large solar collector with mountains in the background.

Governor Honors Alternative Energy Advocate

Colorado's governor recently honored NREL's Chuck Kutscher with the Governor's Excellence in Renewable Energy Award. Kutscher has dedicated 30 years to NREL, is a tireless advocate of renewable energy as a climate change solution, and is a writer, a teacher and a leader in the solar industry.

Photo of three young men sitting at a table with their fingers on buttons controlling a buzzer. The teammates are costumed in a stovepipe hat, left, and armor, center, made from duct tape. The rightmost has a bright red banner across his chest.

Science Bowl is Fun with a Future

Science is fun! Just ask students across the country currently competing for a trip to the National Science Bowl. But there is a not-so-hidden agenda for Science Bowl sponsors: engage the next generation of scientists and engineers. "We truly enjoy science," one of the competitors says. "With science there are so many places you can go in life."

January 2009

Photo of a truck delivering a wind turbine blade. The yellow cab of the truck is around the bend, while the red trailer carrying the wind blade is still on the other side of the curve, in the foreground.

Bigger and Better: Lab Aims to Improve Giant Wind Turbines

It's going to be a big summer at NREL's National Wind Technology Center. The national laboratory is installing two giant turbines from GE and Siemens for performance testing that will continue for years. The research aims to make turbines taller, larger, less expensive, more reliable and more efficient.

Photo of a young man leaning on a railing in front of a brown building. Mountains are in the background.

Wanted: Energy Innovators

David Hsu came to NREL to make a difference by helping reduce the nation's dependence on oil. In the current economy, NREL is unusual: the national laboratory is hiring new employees, expanding its campus and planning for more growth to meet the nation's energy challenges. That's why NREL needs energy innovators, such as biofuels analyst Hsu.

Photo of a woman seated on the left side of a table talking with a man and two women also sitting at the table.

NREL Seeks Energy Innovators

In the current economy, NREL is unusual: we are hiring new employees, expanding our campus, and planning for continued growth. Driving this growth is the critical need to move technologies developed at NREL into the marketplace to meet the nation's energy and environmental challenges. To meet these challenges head on, NREL is hiring energy innovators.

Photo of a young woman and a man with a moustache, both wearing hardhats and dark safety glasses, standing outside in front of a large curved metal reflector. The man is holding a small square-shaped sample of the silver reflective surface, which replaces heavy glass mirrors in the design. The large reflector is streaked with snow and frost after a recent winter storm.

New Solar Technology Concentrates on Cost, Efficiency

The SkyTrough parabolic dish at NREL's South Table Mountain test site uses a reflective laminate over lightweight sheet metal to focus the sun's energy. The technology now being scrutinized by NREL engineers could make concentrating the sun's heat to generate electricity more efficient and affordable. "It's unlike any parabolic trough design used so far," says senior engineer Keith Gawlik.

Photo of a man with a trim white beard wearing safety glasses and a dark blue lab coat, looking closely at a test tube containing a clear liquid.

NREL Helps Set Stringent Biodiesel Standards

Most drivers don't have a clue about the percentage of free glycerin or Group I and II metals in the biodiesel they are pumping into their tanks, and they don't have to. New biodiesel standards developed with NREL's help should boost confidence in fuel quality and support from vehicle manufacturers. NREL research provided the technical basis for setting the new standards.

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