A new report from Blokable, the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2), and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) details actionable pathways to developing and building net zero energy (NZE) housing without increasing costs yet still reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. IN2 is managed by NREL’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center. The newly … [continued]
Teams Will Receive Direct Funding and More Than a Year of Technical Support as They Explore New Forms of Equitable Solar Adoption in Residential and Commercial-Scale Settings Solar energy is taking off in the United States. The U.S. Energy Information Agency projects that solar power will account for nearly half of all … [continued]
Roderick Jackson Follows His Passion for Science, Students, and Social Justice At the age of 3, Roderick Jackson, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL’s) laboratory program manager for buildings research, landed his first job. He was tasked with picking up straight nails as a member of the framing crew for his … [continued]
Molten Salts Can Melt Down the Price of Concentrating Solar Power-Plus-Storage Concentrating solar power (CSP) has long held promise as a renewable energy technology. CSP uses mirrors, or heliostats, to harness the power of the sun by heating and storing an inexpensive medium such as sand, rocks, or molten salt … [continued]
Solar Futures Study Draws Insights From Across NREL’s Expertise and Tools To Deliver Detailed Analysis of Solar Energy’s Future in United States The next 30 years of solar energy is likely to look very different than the past 30. Photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating solar power are likely to continue to … [continued]
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has released a new pilot study on the Solar Automated Permit Processing (SolarAPP+) tool — a free, web-based platform for automating residential solar permit approval—revealing the platform’s impact in the communities where it is deployed. The results of the study are impressive: The software substantially reduces the … [continued]
NREL researchers create plant-derived epoxy that enables recyclable carbon fiber. Ten times stronger than steel, nearly half the weight of aluminum, far stiffer than fiberglass — carbon fiber carries a package of advantages, making it a preferred material for use in luxury sedans and Formula One racecars alike. But it … [continued]
As is the case across many historically male-dominated fields, women are underrepresented in leadership and technical roles at power system operation organizations. This disparity persists despite a growing body of research demonstrating how women bring diverse skills, experiences, and perspectives that improve overall organizational performance. The Women in Power System … [continued]
Researchers Are Collecting the Most Comprehensive Data on How Winds Move Through Wind Power Plants To Help Design More Efficient Plants and Reduce Wind Energy Costs “Windmills,” Bob Kerr said, “don’t eat.” Through years of drought, Kerr, an Oklahoma cattle rancher and wheat farmer, watched the ponds on his farmland … [continued]
The REopt® web tool is a techno-economic decision support platform used by researchers to optimize energy systems for buildings, campuses, communities, microgrids, and more. Users enter site-specific data to determine the optimal size and combination of energy systems to maximize cost savings while meeting resilience or energy performance goals. With the current administration’s … [continued]
