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44-589: The EECBG Program is administered by the Office of Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy—EERE of the United States Department of Energy—DOE . The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants funding will support energy audits and energy efficiency retrofits in residential and commercial buildings , the development and implementation of advanced building codes and inspections, and

88-540: 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

132-544: A rate of 450–900 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. NREL has produced many technologies that impact

176-502: Is a competition held every other year where collegiate teams design, build, and operate solar-powered houses. The competition winner is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency. These homes are judged in 10 contests. In the EcoCAR 3 challenge, 16 university teams redesign a Chevrolet Camaro to reduce its environmental impact without reducing its performance. It

220-538: Is a contest where college teams are judged by their ability to design a wind turbine based on market research, develop a business plan to market the product, build and test the turbine against set requirements, and demonstrate knowledge of siting constraints and location challenges for product installation. In partnership with the Center for Advanced Energy Studies and the Idaho National Laboratory,

264-402: 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

308-462: Is aims to increase the number of organizations involved in wave energy converter technology development. In 2016, 92 registered teams competed not only for the $ 1.5 million prize, but for opportunities at seed funding and access to testing facilities, experts in the field, and an online "marketplace" that connected teams, investors, and contributors. [REDACTED]  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of

352-617: Is also an active organizer and sponsor in the DOE's Solar Decathlon . 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. NREL's Golden, Colorado campus houses several facilities dedicated to PV and biomass research. In

396-596: 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. 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

440-573: Is an office within the United States Department of Energy . Formed from other energy agencies after the 1973 energy crisis , EERE is led by the Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (Assistant Secretary), who is appointed by the president of the United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate . Alejandro Moreno currently leads the office as the Acting Assistant Secretary. EERE’s mission

484-634: 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

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528-479: 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. The Photovoltaic Device Performance group at NREL

572-400: 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." The main focus of the research

616-605: Is made up of two programs focused on state and local governments and two teams that develop and deliver targeted technical assistance and strategic initiatives to state and local governments. EERE manages the Energy Saver website that promotes energy-efficient technologies for heating, cooling, and weatherizing buildings and lists tips for saving electricity and fuel. The Office of EERE sponsors several activities aimed at public outreach and engagement in energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. The Solar Decathlon

660-492: Is one of the primary forums for helping state and local governments implement cost-effective and productive energy systems for American homes, communities, businesses, and industries. The program's mission is to enable strategic investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and innovative practices across the U.S. by a wide range of government, community and business stakeholders, in partnership with state and local organizations and community-based nonprofits. WIP

704-611: 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

748-581: Is sponsored by DOE and General Motors and managed by Argonne National Laboratory. The Race to Zero Student Design Competition teaches college students about the building science field by challenging them to design zero energy ready homes. In the BioenergizeME Infographic Challenge, students in grades 9-12 use technology to research, interpret, apply, and then design an infographic that responds to one of four cross-curricular bioenergy topics. The Collegiate Wind Competition

792-416: 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: Some of the current projects are in the following areas: The Integrated Biorefinery Research Facility (IBRF) houses multiple pilot-scale process trains for converting biomass to various liquid fuels at

836-646: Is to drive the research, development, demonstration, and deployment of innovative technologies, systems, and practices that will: EERE has been established from several previous agencies within the United States Executive branch following the 1973 energy crisis . It has foundations in the former agencies Federal Energy Administration , the Energy Research and Development Administration , the Energy Resource Council, and

880-535: The Atomic Energy Commission , all established prior to the establishment of Department of Energy (DOE) in 1977 ( Pub. L.   95–91 , 91  Stat.   565 , enacted August 4, 1977 ). The 1978 National Energy Act consolidated several of the former agencies into the DOE and created an office that focused on energy efficiency and renewable fuels. Since 1978, the office has been renamed several times to reflect its changing scope, including

924-522: The 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 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,

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968-533: The United States Department of Energy . National Renewable Energy Laboratory The National Renewable Energy Laboratory ( NREL ) in the US specializes in the research and development of renewable energy , energy efficiency , energy systems integration, and sustainable transportation. NREL is a federally funded research and development center sponsored by the Department of Energy and operated by

1012-793: The Alliance for Sustainable Energy, a joint venture between MRIGlobal and Battelle . Located in Golden, Colorado , NREL is home to the National Center for Photovoltaics, the National Bioenergy Center, and the National Wind Technology Center. The Solar Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Act of 1974 established the Solar Energy Research Institute, which opened in 1977 and was operated by MRIGlobal . Under

1056-557: 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. The lab maintains a number of research partnerships for PV research. Some of

1100-536: The Geothermal Technologies Offices hosts a competition for high school and university teams. Teams of two to three members research data, interpret information, and design an infographic that tells a compelling story about the future of geothermal energy. The Hydrogen Student Design Contest "challenges undergraduate and graduate students worldwide to apply design, engineering, economic, environmental science, business and marketing skills to

1144-586: The Office of Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and the Office of Operations. EERE develops initiatives and programs and provides funding to advance clean energy technologies and integration strategies. EERE oversees the management and operation of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and provides funding to 12 of the U.S. Department of Energy’s national laboratories: The Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs Office

1188-439: The PV industry. 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 PV . NREL

1232-732: The Thin-Film Partnership and the PV Manufacturing R&D Project. 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. NREL's PV Manufacturing Research and Development Project

1276-442: The application of research in renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies in practical settings. 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. Additionally, NREL offers an external user access program. This program is designed to enable researchers from outside

1320-455: 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. 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/ kWh for grid -tied PV systems. NREL identifies the following as cornerstones to its PV R&D program:

1364-460: The creation of financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements. The grant funds could also go towards transportation programs that conserve energy, projects to reduce and capture methane emissions from landfills , renewable energy installations on government buildings, energy efficient traffic signals and street lights , combined heat and power systems, district heating and cooling systems, and other projects. The Program

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1408-522: The development of advanced transportation technologies and systems that maximize energy savings and on-road performance. The 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

1452-670: 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 modeling and analysis tools help overcome technical barriers and accelerate

1496-663: The director of the laboratory and the president of its operating contractor, Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC. He succeeded Dan Arvizu , who retired in September 2015 after 10 years in those roles. 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: The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) engages in technology transfer, working with private sector partners to facilitate

1540-421: The following: The current name, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, was adopted in 1993. The Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy oversees EERE's three technology sectors: Within these sectors are 11 technology offices and programs that support research, development, and outreach efforts [EERE Organization Chart]. EERE also includes corporate support functions such as

1584-531: The hydrogen and fuel cell industries." In the Georgetown University Energy Prize competition, cities and counties with populations between 5,000 and 250,000 compete for a multi-year $ 5 million prize for demonstrating energy use reduction over a two-year period. The Cleantech University Prize provides competitive funding for business development and commercialization training to clean energy entrepreneurs. The Wave Energy Prize

1628-787: The institute was designated a 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. In 2011, anticipated congressional budget shortfalls led to a voluntary buyout program for 100 to 150 staff reductions, and in 2015 budget cuts led to staff layoffs and further buyouts. Martin Keller became NREL's ninth director in November 2015, and currently serves as both

1672-572: 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. The goal of the photovoltaics (PV) research done at NREL is to decrease the "nation's reliance on fossil-fuel generated electricity by lowering the cost of delivered electricity and improving the efficiency of PV modules and systems ." Photovoltaic research at NREL

1716-551: The manufacturing process. It is estimated that the project has helped to reduce manufacturing cost for PV panels by more than 50%. 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. NREL

1760-570: 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. At the Solar Radiation Research Laboratory, NREL has been measuring solar radiation and meteorological data since 1984. The National Bioenergy Center (NBC) was established in October 2000. "The National Bioenergy Center

1804-619: 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

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1848-410: The tests required for certification in a controlled laboratory environment. 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. NREL pioneers world-class research accelerating

1892-503: 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. The NWTC is located on NREL's Flatirons Campus, which is at the base of the foothills just south of 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

1936-638: Was authorized in Title V, Subtitle E of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), and signed into Public Law (PL 110-140) on December 19, 2007. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 appropriated $ 3.2 billion for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program. Office of Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy ( EERE )

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