View source for National Renewable Energy Laboratory

{{Short description|United States national laboratory}}
{{third-party|date=January 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox Laboratory
|name           = National Renewable Energy Laboratory
|former_name = Solar Energy Research Institute
|motto          = Transforming Energy
|logo = National Renewable Energy Laboratory logo (2 rows).jpg
|image          = [[Image:NREL.jpg|255px]]
|established    = {{start date and age|1977}}
|director       = [[Martin Keller]]
|city           = [[Golden, Colorado]]
|budget         = $544.9 million (FY 20)<ref name="about">{{cite web|title=About NREL|website=National Renewable Energy Laboratory|url=https://www.nrel.gov/about/|access-date=January 21, 2021}}</ref>
|type           = Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
|staff          = 3,675 employees, postdoctoral researchers, interns, visiting professionals, and subcontractors<ref name="about"/>
|campus         = 
|students       = 
|operating_agency = Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
|website        = {{URL|https://www.nrel.gov|NREL.gov}}
}}

The '''National Renewable Energy Laboratory''' ('''NREL''') in the US specializes in the [[research and development]] of [[renewable energy]], [[Efficient energy use|energy efficiency]], energy systems integration, and sustainable transportation.<ref>{{cite web| title=Mission and Programs| url=https://www.nrel.gov/about/mission-programs.html| work=National Renewable Energy Laboratory| access-date=January 21, 2021}}</ref> NREL is a [[federally funded research and development center]] sponsored by the [[United States Department of Energy|Department of Energy]] and operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, a joint venture between [[MRIGlobal]] and [[Battelle Memorial Institute|Battelle]].<ref>{{cite report|last=Adams|first=Kimberly|title=What are Federally Funded Research and Development Centers?|publisher=National Renewable Energy Lab|agency=Office of Scientific and Technical Information, [[United States Department of Energy|U.S. Department of Energy]]|date=July 7, 2020|url=https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1659996|access-date=January 21, 2021}}</ref> Located in [[Golden, Colorado]], NREL is home to the National Center for Photovoltaics, the National Bioenergy Center, and the National Wind Technology Center.

== History ==
The [[Solar Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Act of 1974#The Solar Energy Research Institute (SERC)|Solar Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Act of 1974]] established the Solar Energy Research Institute,<ref>Text of S. 3234 (93rd): Solar Energy Research Act (Passed Congress version) - GovTrack.us</ref> which opened in 1977 and was operated by [[MRIGlobal]].<ref>{{cite web|title=National Renewable Energy Laboratory: 25 Years of Research Excellence (1977–2002)|date=July 2002|publisher=National Renewable Energy Laboratory|url=http://www.nrel.gov/docs/gen/fy02/30845.pdf|access-date=January 21, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=National Renewable Energy Laboratory|website=MRIGlobal|url=https://www.mriglobal.org/expertise/energy-and-transportation/management-and-operations/nrel/|access-date=January 21, 2021}}</ref> Under the [[Presidency of Jimmy Carter|Jimmy Carter administration]], its activities went beyond research and development in solar energy as it tried to popularize knowledge about already existing technologies, like [[passive solar]]. During the [[Presidency of Ronald Reagan|Ronald Reagan administration]] the institute's budget was cut by nearly 90%; many employees were "reduced in force", and the institute's activities were reduced to R&D. In September 1991, the institute was designated a [[United States Department of Energy National Laboratories|national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy]] by President George H.W. Bush, and its name was changed to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Renewed interest in energy problems improved the laboratory's position, but funding has fluctuated over the years.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.nrel.gov/about/funding-history.html| title=Funding History| work=National Renewable Energy Laboratory| access-date=June 27, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623112812/https://www.nrel.gov/about/funding-history.html| archive-date=June 23, 2018| url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2011, anticipated congressional budget shortfalls led to a voluntary buyout program for 100 to 150 staff reductions,<ref>{{cite news| last=Plunkett| first=Chuck| url=https://www.denverpost.com/2011/10/03/national-renewable-energy-lab-in-golden-to-cut-100-150-jobs-through-buyouts/ | title=National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden to cut 100–150 jobs through buyouts| date=October 3, 2011| work=Denver Post| access-date=January 21, 2021}}</ref> and in 2015 budget cuts led to staff layoffs and further buyouts.<ref>{{cite news| last=Wallace| first=Alicia| url=http://www.denverpost.com/2015/10/07/nrel-cutting-four-percent-of-workforce-lays-off-solar-researchers/| title=NREL cutting four percent of workforce, lays off solar researchers| date=October 7, 2017| work=Denver Post| access-date=June 27, 2017}}</ref>

Martin Keller became NREL's ninth director in November 2015,<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.nrel.gov/news/press/2015/21583| title=Dr. Martin Keller Named Director of National Renewable Energy Laboratory| work=National Renewable Energy Laboratory| access-date=June 27, 2017}}</ref> and currently serves as both the director of the laboratory and the president of its operating contractor, Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dr. Martin Keller – Laboratory Director|url=http://www.nrel.gov/about/director.html|access-date=January 30, 2017}}</ref> He succeeded [[Dan Arvizu]], who retired in September 2015 after 10 years in those roles.<ref>{{cite news| last=Storum| first=Doug| url=http://bizwest.com/nrel-director-dan-arvizu-to-retire-in-september/| title=NREL director Dan Arvizu to retire in September| work=BizWest| date=March 20, 2015| access-date=June 28, 2017}}</ref>

== Department of Energy funding ==
[[File:US projected cost of wind power.png|thumb|The National Renewable Energy Laboratory projects that the [[LCOE|levelized cost]] of [[wind power]] will decline about 25% from 2012 to 2030.<ref>E. Lantz, M. Hand, and R. Wiser (May 13–17, 2012) [http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/54526.pdf "The Past and Future Cost of Wind Energy,"] National Renewable Energy Laboratory conference paper no. 6A20-54526, page 4</ref>]]

In fiscal year 2020, congressional appropriations for the Department of Energy contained $464.3 million for NREL. This total included the following amounts for its renewable energy technology programs:<ref>{{cite web|title=FY 2021 Congressional Budget Request: Laboratory Tables (Preliminary)|website=Office of the Chief Financial Officer, [[United States Department of Energy|U.S. Department of Energy]]|date=February 2020|url=https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2020/02/f72/doe-fy2021-laboratory-table_1.pdf}}</ref>

* [[Solar energy]]: $122.4 million
* [[Wind power]]: $30.0 million
* [[Bioenergy]]: $56.3 million
* [[Hydrogen technologies|Hydrogen]] and [[fuel cell]]s: $17.6 million
* [[Geothermal energy|Geothermal]]: $1.8 million
* [[Hydro power|Water power]]: $15.8 million

== Commercialization and technology transfer ==

The [[National Renewable Energy Laboratory]] (NREL) engages in technology transfer, working with private sector partners to facilitate the application of research in renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies in practical settings.<ref name="NREL About Technology Transfer">{{cite web|title=NREL Commercialization & Technology Transfer|url=http://www.nrel.gov/technologytransfer/about.html|work=About Technology Transfer|publisher=NREL|access-date=March 22, 2011}}</ref> 

In recognition of its efforts in innovation and technology transfer, NREL has received numerous R&D 100 Awards. These awards acknowledge advancements in scientific research with potential market applications.<ref name="Ampluse Corp Case Study">{{cite web |title=Ampulse Corporation: A Case Study on Technology Transfer in U.S. Department of Energy Laboratories |url=https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy10osti/46860.pdf |access-date=April 15, 2011 |work=Success Stories: Commercialization & Technology Transfer |publisher=National Renewable Energy Laboratory}}</ref> Additionally, NREL offers an external user access program. This program is designed to enable researchers from outside the laboratory to utilize the Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF), providing them with an opportunity to collaborate with NREL’s staff in the development and evaluation of energy technologies.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.nrel.gov/esif/user-access.html| title=Energy Systems Integration Facility: User Access| work=National Renewable Energy Laboratory| access-date=June 27, 2017}}</ref>

== National Center for Photovoltaics ==
The goal of the [[photovoltaics]] (PV) research done at NREL is to decrease the "nation's reliance on [[Fossil fuel|fossil-fuel]] generated electricity by lowering the cost of delivered electricity and improving the [[Solar cell efficiency|efficiency]] of PV [[Solar panel|modules]] and [[Photovoltaic system|systems]]."<ref name="PV Research Home">{{cite web|title=NREL Photovoltaic Research Home|url=http://www.nrel.gov/pv/|work=Photovoltaic Research|access-date=March 22, 2011}}</ref>

Photovoltaic research at NREL is performed under the National Center for Photovoltaics (NCPV). A primary mission of the NCPV is to support ongoing efforts of the DOE's SunShot Initiative, which wants to increase the availability of solar power at a cost competitive with other energy sources. The NCPV coordinates its research and goals with researchers from across the country, including the Quantum Energy and Sustainable Solar Technologies (QESST) Center and the Bay Area PV Consortium. NCPV also partners with many universities and other industry partners. NREL brings in dozens of students annually through the Solar University-National lab Ultra-effective Program (SUN UP), which was created to facilitate existing and new interactions between universities and the laboratory.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.nrel.gov/pv/sunup.html| work=National Renewable Energy Laboratory| title=Solar University-National Lab Ultra-Effective Program| access-date=June 27, 2017}}</ref>

The lab maintains a number of research partnerships for PV research.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.nrel.gov/pv/work-with-us.html| work=National Renewable Energy Laboratory| title=Work With Us| access-date=June 27, 2017}}</ref>

===Research and development===
Some of the areas of PV R&D include the physical properties of PV panels, performance and reliability of PV, junction formation, and research into photo-electrochemical materials.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.nrel.gov/pv/research.html| work=National Renewable Energy Laboratory| title=Photovoltaic Research: Research| access-date=June 27, 2017}}</ref>

Through this research, NREL hopes to surpass current technologies in efficiency and cost-competitiveness and reach the overall goal of generating electricity at $0.06/[[Kilowatt hour|kWh]] for [[Electrical grid|grid]]-tied PV systems.{{need citation|date=March 2024}}

NREL identifies the following as cornerstones to its PV R&D program: the Thin-Film Partnership and the PV Manufacturing R&D Project.<ref name="PV Projects">{{cite web|title=NREL PV Research|url=http://www.nrel.gov/pv/projects.html|work=Projects|publisher=NREL|access-date=April 18, 2011}}</ref>

The Thin Film Partnership Program at NREL coordinates national research teams of manufacturers, academics, and NREL scientists on a variety of subjects relating to thin-film PV. The research areas of the Thin Film Partnership Program include amorphous silicon (a-Si), copper indium diselenide (CuInSe2 or CIGS) and, [[cadmium telluride]] (CdTe), and module reliability.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.nrel.gov/pv/thin-film-partnership.html| work=National Renewable Energy Laboratory| title=Thin Film Photovoltaic Partnership Project| access-date=June 27, 2017}}</ref>

NREL's PV Manufacturing Research and Development Project is an ongoing partnership between NREL and private sector solar manufacturing companies. It started in 1991 as the Photovoltaic Manufacturing Technology (PVMaT) project and was extended and renamed in 2001 due to its success as a project. The overall goal of research done under the PV Manufacturing R&D Project is to help maintain a strong market position for US solar companies by researching ways to reduce costs to manufacturers and customers and improving the manufacturing process. It is estimated that the project has helped to reduce manufacturing cost for PV panels by more than 50%.<ref name="pv_manufacturing">{{cite web| url=https://www.nrel.gov/pv/pv-manufacturing.html| work=National Renewable Energy Laboratory| title=Photovoltaic Manufacturing R&D Project| access-date=June 27, 2017}}</ref>

Examples of achievements under the PV Manufacturing Research and Development Project include the development of a manufacturing process that increase the production of silicon solar modules by 8% without increasing costs and the development of a new boron coating process that reduces solar costs over traditional processes.<ref name="pv_manufacturing" />


===Testing===
NREL is capable of providing testing and evaluation to the PV industry with indoor, outdoor, and field testing facilities. NREL is able to provide testing on long-term performance, reliability, and component failure for PV systems. NREL also has accelerated testing capabilities from both PV cells and system components to identify areas of potential long-term degradation and failure.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.nrel.gov/pv/accreditation.html| work=National Renewable Energy Laboratory| title=ISO Accreditation| access-date=June 27, 2017}}</ref> The Photovoltaic Device Performance group at NREL is able to measure the performance of PV cells and modules with regard to a standard or customized reference set. This allows NREL to serve as independent facility for verifying device performance. NREL allows industry members to test and evaluate potential products, with the hope that it will lead to more cost effective and reliable technology. The overall goal is to help improve the reliability in the PV industry.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.nrel.gov/pv/device-performance.html| work=National Renewable Energy Laboratory| title=Device Performance| access-date=June 27, 2017}}</ref>

=== Deployment ===
NREL also seeks to raise public awareness of PV technologies through its deployment services. NREL provides a number of technical and non-technical publications intended to help raise consumer awareness and understanding of solar PV. Scientists at NREL perform research into energy markets and how to develop the solar energy market. They also perform research and outreach in the area of [[Building-integrated photovoltaics|building-integrated PV]]. NREL is also an active organizer and sponsor in the DOE's [[Solar Decathlon]].<ref name="PV Dep.">{{cite web| url=http://www.nrel.gov/tech_deployment/solar.html| work=National Renewable Energy Laboratory| title=Technology Deployment: Solar Deployment and Market Transformation| access-date=June 27, 2017}}</ref>

NREL provides information on solar energy, beyond the scientific papers on research done at the lab. The lab provides publications on solar resources and manuals on different applications of solar technology, as well as a number of different solar resource models and tools. The lab also makes available a number of different solar resource data sets in its Renewable Resource Data Center.<ref name="NREL RReDC">{{cite web|title=NREL Renewable Resource Data Center|url=http://www.nrel.gov/rredc/|work=Solar Resource Data|access-date=March 24, 2011}}</ref>

===Facilities===
[[File:National Renewable Energy Laboratory.jpg|thumb|The Energy Systems Integration Facility in Golden, Colorado.]]

NREL's [[Golden, Colorado]] campus houses several facilities dedicated to PV and biomass research.  In the recently opened Science and Technology Facility, research is conducted on solar cells, thin films, and nanostructure research.  NREL's Outdoor Test Facility allows researchers to test and evaluate PV technologies under a range of conditions, both indoor and outdoor.  Scientists at NREL work at the Outdoor Test Facility to develop standards for testing PV technologies.  At the Outdoor Test Facility NREL researchers calibrate primary reference cells for use in a range of applications.  One of the main buildings for PV research at NREL is the Solar Energy Research Facility (SERF).  Examples of research conducted at the SERF include semiconductor material research, prototype solar cell production, and measurement and characterization of solar cell and module performance. Additionally, the roof at the SERF is able to house ten PV panels to evaluate and analyze the performance of commercial building-integrated PV systems.  Additionally, R&D in PV materials and devices, measurement and characterization, reliability testing are also conducted at the SERF.<ref name="NREL PV Facilities" /> At the Solar Radiation Research Laboratory, NREL has been measuring solar radiation and meteorological data since 1984.<ref name="NREL PV Facilities">{{cite web |title=Photovoltaics Research – Facilities |url=http://www.nrel.gov/pv/facilities.html |publisher=National Renewable Energy Laboratory |access-date=March 24, 2011}}</ref>

==National Bioenergy Center==
The National Bioenergy Center (NBC) was established in October 2000. "The National Bioenergy Center is composed of four technical groups and a technical lead for partnership development with industry. Partnership development includes work performed at NREL under Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA), Technical Service Agreements (TSA), Analytical Service Agreements (ASA), and Work for Others (WFO) contract research for DOE's industry partners."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/national_bioenergy.html|title=The National Bioenergy Center Homepage}}</ref>

The main focus of the research is to convert biomass into biofuels/biochemical intermediates via both biochemical and thermochemical processes.

The National Bioenergy Center is currently divided into certain technology and research areas:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/projects.html|title=NREL's biomass research, development, and deployment projects}}</ref>
* Applied Science
* Catalysis and Thermochemical Sciences and Engineering R&D
* Biochemical Process R&D
* Biorefinery Analysis

Some of the current projects are in the following areas:
* Biomass characteristics
* Biochemical conversion
* Thermochemical conversion
* Chemical and catalyst science
* Integrated biorefinery processes
* Microalgal biofuels
* Biomass process and sustainability analysis

The Integrated Biorefinery Research Facility (IBRF) houses multiple pilot-scale process trains for converting biomass to various liquid fuels at a rate of 450–900&nbsp;kg (0.5–1 ton) per day of dry biomass. Unit operations include feedstock washing and milling, pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation, distillation, and solid-liquid separation.  The heart of the Thermochemical Users Facility (TCUF) is the 0.5-metric-ton-per-day Thermochemical Process Development Unit (TCPDU), which can be operated in either a pyrolysis or gasification mode.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/facilities.html| title=Biomass Research – Facilities| publisher=National Renewable Energy Laboratory|access-date=August 21, 2012}}</ref>

== National Wind Technology Center ==
[[Image:NREL Windmills.jpg|thumb|right|The main research [[wind turbine]]s at NREL]]

NREL has produced many technologies that impact the wind industry at a global level. The National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) is home of 20 patents and has created software such as (FAST), simulation software that is used to model wind turbines.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy15osti/63254.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-date=January 31, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131045112/http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy15osti/63254.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The NWTC is located on NREL's Flatirons Campus, which is at the base of the foothills just south of [[Boulder, Colorado|Boulder]], Colorado. The campus comprises field test sites, test laboratories, industrial high-bay work areas, machine shops, electronics and instrumentation laboratories, and office areas.

The NWTC is also home to NREL's Distributed Energy Resources Test Facility (DERTF). The DERTF is a working laboratory for interconnection and systems integration testing. This facility includes generation, storage, and interconnection technologies as well as electric power system equipment capable of simulating a real-world electric system.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nrel.gov/electricity/dertf.html|title=Distributed Energy Resources Test Facility}}</ref>

The center is the first facility in the United States with a controllable grid interface test system that has fault simulation capabilities and allows manufacturers and system operators to conduct the tests required for certification in a controlled laboratory environment.<ref>[http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/53800.pdf NREL controllable grid interface test system]</ref> It is the only system in the world that is fully integrated with two dynamometers and has the capacity to extend that integration to turbines in the field and to a matrix of electronic and mechanical storage devices, all of which are located within close proximity on the same site.

== Sustainable transportation and mobility research ==
NREL pioneers world-class research accelerating the development of sustainable mobility technologies and strategies for passenger and freight transportation, with a focus on decarbonizing the transportation sector and combating climate change. The only national laboratory solely dedicated to energy efficiency and renewable energy, NREL helps its industry partners create innovative components, fuels, infrastructure, and integrated systems for battery electric, fuel cell, and other alternative fuel on-road, off-road, and non-road vehicles, including emerging technologies for aviation, rail, and marine applications.

NREL's integrated [https://www.nrel.gov/transportation/data-tools.html modeling and analysis tools] help overcome technical barriers and accelerate the development of advanced transportation technologies and systems that maximize energy savings and on-road performance.

=== Transportation and mobility research areas ===
* [https://www.nrel.gov/transportation/commercial-vehicle-technologies.html Commercial vehicle technologies]
* [https://www.nrel.gov/transportation/transportation-decarbonization.html Transportation decarbonization]
* [https://www.nrel.gov/transportation/project-ev-grid-integration.html Electric vehicle grid integration]
* [https://www.nrel.gov/transportation/energy-storage.html Energy storage]
* [https://www.nrel.gov/transportation/fuels-combustion-research.html Fuels and combustion]
* [https://www.nrel.gov/transportation/intelligent-vehicle-energy-analysis.html Intelligent vehicle energy analysis]
* [https://www.nrel.gov/transportation/mobility-behavioral-science.html Mobility behavioral science]
* [https://www.nrel.gov/transportation/peem.html Power electronics and electric machines]
* [https://www.nrel.gov/transportation/sustainable-aviation.html Sustainable aviation]
* [https://www.nrel.gov/transportation/sustainable-mobility-initiative.html Sustainable mobility]
* [https://www.nrel.gov/transportation/vehicle-technology-integration.html Vehicle technology integration]
* [https://www.nrel.gov/transportation/vtm.html Vehicle thermal management]

== See also ==
* [[List of renewable energy organizations]]
* [[Renewable energy]]
* [[Renewable energy commercialization in the United States]]
* [[Simple Model of the Atmospheric Radiative Transfer of Sunshine]] (SMARTS), software published by NREL

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite journal|last=Turner|first=John A.|date=July 30, 1999|title=A Realizable Renewable Energy Future|journal=Science|volume=285|issue=5428|pages=687–689|doi=10.1126/science.285.5428.687|pmid=10426982|url=https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.285.5428.687|access-date=January 21, 2021}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}The [https://smartquickinfo.com/the-power-of-internet-of-things-iot-transforming-our-world/ Internet of Things] (IoT) is a revolutionary concept that interconnects everyday objects and devices through the Internet. By embedding sensors and communication capabilities into these physical entities, the IoT enables data collection, analysis, and real-time communication, ushering in a new era of efficiency, automation, and enhanced user experiences. {{U.S. National Labs}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|39.740576|-105.155855|region:US_type:landmark|display=title}}{{Use American English|date = March 2019}}

[[Category:Energy research institutes]]
[[Category:Renewable energy organizations based in the United States]]
[[Category:United States Department of Energy national laboratories]]
[[Category:Federally Funded Research and Development Centers]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Golden, Colorado]]
[[Category:Research institutes in Colorado]]
[[Category:Battelle Memorial Institute]]
[[Category:Golden, Colorado]]
[[Category:1974 establishments in Colorado]]