NREL

Scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) developed a fully integrated process to produce a promising precursor for diesel and jet fuel from lignocellulosic biomass, and for less expense than the selling price of the…

In the 1930s and 1940s, the Rural Electrification Act wired farms to the grid, turning on lights across the American countryside. Parallel efforts added phone service in these sprawling, sparsely populated areas. At long last, farm…

Nearly 200 years ago, workers drove spikes into the ground for the United States' first railroad tracks. Soon, rail lines crisscrossed the country, carrying people, goods, and industry to new frontiers.Each year, more than 25,000…

From overflowing landfills to floating garbage islands in the oceans to microplastics in remote wilderness areas, billions of tons of discarded plastic have created a global pollution crisis.Poly(ethyleneterephthalate),…

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Colorado School of Mines are applying a new technique to identify defects in silicon solar cells that cause a drop in efficiency. The lessons…

From Iceland to Alaska to France, NREL geoscientist Amanda Kolker has studied geothermal energy all around the world. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in geology, Kolker went to study volcano and glacier interactions in Iceland…

Buildings are used every day by almost all members of U.S. society, which is why diversity in building science professionals is critical to better understanding the needs of all building occupants.JUMP into STEM is designed to inspire the…

Uniting the Eastern and Western U.S. electric grids could offer significant value in strengthening the power system's ability to share generation resources and flexibility across regions, according to the Interconnections Seam Study.…

Envision builders using a robotic drone that can seal building leaks; construction workers controlling a multilegged robot that can insulate confined spaces; an autonomous drone that teams with a remediation robot to map and identify…

On a clear night, Kaitlyn VanSant will be able to watch her work whiz by. Knowing the success of her project, however, will have to wait until her tiny, temporary addition to the International Space Station returns to Earth."My family and…