Grid Modernization News
Explore our archive of grid modernization news stories.
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New Capability for Nondestructive and Fast Module Spectral Response Measurements
NREL’s cell and module performance team recently commissioned a new testbed for measuring the spectral response of silicon PV modules.Full story -
Q&A With Maurice Martin: Advancing Cybersecurity on the Front Lines of the Modern Grid
Securing the grid from cyberattacks is increasingly important as systems become more distributed, digital, and interdependent. Thanks to serendipitous events in his career, Maurice Martin was able to board the cybersecurity train right as it was taking off.Full story -
NREL-Authored Clean Energy Supply Chain Analysis Reports
NREL-authored reports provided insights on supply chain issues related to solar photovoltaic, wind power, energy storage, semiconductor, and hydrogen fuel cell and electrolyzer technologies.Full story -
NREL and Lithuanian Energy Agency Partner To Launch 100% Renewable Energy Study
A new agreement between NREL and the Lithuanian Energy Agency kicks off a multiyear research collaboration to support Lithuania with achieving 100% clean electricity.Full story -
U.S. Department of Energy Awards NREL $4.8M To Accelerate National Affordable Housing Upgrade Effort
An NREL project is among seven selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to help fast-track affordable housing solutions for disadvantaged communities.Full story -
Pioneer in Energy Efficient Buildings Bestowed Lifetime Achievement Award
At the start of Otto Van Geet's career, most research laboratories spent energy freely for science. Thirty years later, laboratories are more likely to be monuments of futuristic sustainability, and that progress is thanks in large part to Otto's creative work in designing efficient buildings.Full story -
It's Go Time for Low-Cost, Net-Zero Affordable Housing
The U.S. construction industry is facing a housing supply deficit on the order of millions—and growing—at a time when climate targets mean that every unit needs be built as efficiently, sustainably, and affordably as possible.Full story -
News Release: Efficiency and Stability Best-Practices Proposed for Solar Water-Splitting To Make Hydrogen
Scientists from NREL and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory are providing researchers with a guide to how to best measure the efficiency of producing hydrogen directly from solar power.Full story -
Long-Lived? Highly Recyclable? Priorities for Solar Panels in a Circular Economy
To meet its 2050 decarbonization goals, the United States will need to install up to 20 times more solar photovoltaic (PV) modules than are installed today.Full story -
IN² Demonstration: The Possibilities of a Plug-and-Play Kitchen
For its latest NREL-based cohort, the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN²) formed an all-demonstration group, where each participant would create a demonstration of their technologies as part of the program. Among the first to have its demonstration project underway is San Francisco-based Kit Switch.Full story -
NREL, Mines Researchers Show Advances in Development of III-V Solar Cells for Use on Earth
Two recently published papers spell out advances in the field of photovoltaics made from III-V materials. The improvements to the III-V solar cells will help the technology find a terrestrial home. III-V cells—although efficient—carry such a high price tag it only makes economic sense to use them on satellites and Mars rovers.Full story -
Marquee NREL Partnership With Hewlett Packard Enterprise Continues To Build on Years of Groundbreaking Innovation
Eleven years ago, the buds of what would become one of NREL's most impactful and successful partnerships began to bloom. NREL commissioned a new data center in the new Energy Systems Integration Facility, designed to house a new supercomputer--and push NREL into the leading edge of high-performance computing.Full story -
Why the World Needs Manufacturing Masterminds
Read a summary of the six manufacturing experts profiled throughout the year as part of NREL's Manufacturing Masterminds Q&A profile series.Full story -
NREL, Kern Community College District Collaborate on Launch of First-of-Its-Kind California Renewable Energy Laboratory
NREL Director Martin Keller stood alongside Kern Community College District Chancellor Sonya Christian to formally announce that the state of California has awarded KCCD $50 million to create a renewable energy hub, called the California Renewable Energy Laboratory, and $200K of that has come to NREL to help get CREL off the ground.Full story -
News Release: NREL Elevates Three to Prestigious Senior Research Fellow Roles
Among the more than 3,000 people who work at NREL, only 15 are current senior research fellows. Along with the current research fellows, Paul Denholm, Vahan Gevorgian, and Joey Luther will advise NREL executive management on the strategic direction of science and technology research.Full story -
Increased Spacing of Solar Panels Comes With Benefits
Moving rows of solar panels further apart can increase efficiency and improve economics in certain instances by allowing greater airflow to whisk away some heat, according to a new analysis.Full story -
World Economic Forum Names NREL's Arent a Distinguished Fellow
The World Economic Forum, an independent global organization based in Switzerland that is dedicated to improving the state of the world, has welcomed Doug Arent as a Distinguished Fellow. Arent's year-long appointment will see him working on two platforms: WEF's Clean Power and Electrification program and the Energy, Materials, and Infrastructure team.Full story -
NREL Celebrates 10th Annual National Bioenergy Day
To commemorate Bioenergy Day, NREL is reflecting on recent partnerships, technical advancements, and research breakthroughs in making sustainable aviation fuel from biomass, capturing and recycling carbon from the atmosphere, enabling circular economies for materials, sending research projects into space, and more.Full story -
A Vision for the Future: Flexible Data Sharing Could Accelerate Battery Breakthroughs
In response to daunting climate challenges, battery researchers are mobilizing to increase collaboration and data sharing. Top battery researchers across the globe—including at NREL—are joining an ambitious movement to spur technology development through a shared Battery Data Genome.Full story -
One Week Left! Join the Solar Decathlon 2023 Design Challenge
One week remains for collegiate teams to register for the next U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon cycle!Full story
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Last Updated March 10, 2025