Increasing power and security demands driven by artificial intelligence and the resulting growth in data centers are dramatically impacting future energy solutions. The 2025 NREL Partner Forum will convene cross-industry stakeholders to define and prioritize the challenges and opportunities.

About the Annual Event

NREL hosts the annual Partner Forum to better facilitate engagement with a range of partners from academia, industry, and city, state, and local government. Since 2017, the event has gathered energy thought leaders to:

• Gain insight into our most pertinent energy challenges
• Explore future energy innovation opportunities
• Convene stakeholders with an urgency to achieve clean energy goals
• Discuss collaborations and partnerships.

The Partner Forum provides a unique opportunity for partners to connect with NREL and one another, learn about and explore current and future activities, and discuss new trends and innovations in renewable energy technology. By facilitating these discussions, the event helps set the stage for future collaborations among attendees.

NREL's expanding partnerships include more than 1,100 agreements with organizations such as the U.S. Department of Defense; U.S. General Services Administration; New York State Energy Research and Development Authority; Los Angeles Department of Water and Power; U. S. Agency for International Development; Xcel Energy; Wells Fargo; U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Dallas Fort Worth International Airport; and more—organizations that are working with the laboratory to shape the future of the U.S. energy market.

Learn more about partnering with NREL—or reach out to your business partner.