Energy storage could save money for up to 5 million U.S. businesses (w/charts)
A new study by NREL finds widespread availability of rates with high demand charges for commercial customers, meaning that businesses across the country could save money with energy storage.
NREL, Swiss researchers break 35% cell efficiency
A collaborative project between the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratories and researchers from two Swiss centers has tested a range of multi junction cells in tandem configuration, and achieved efficiencies of up to 35.9%.
It’s starting: Cuts at national labs slash more than 500 jobs
Though NREL and Berkeley Lab are not specifically mentioned – yet – the cuts at two other labs could signal dim times ahead for these two vital labs for renewable energy research.
How much will community solar compete with residential in the United States?
Community Solar is coming at a time of PV, especially residential, market uncertainty. So far the United States is a big enough sandbox for both markets to play in.
NREL turns 40 amid questions about its future
DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratories has built up an impressive list of accomplishments over the last 40 years. But can it survive the Trump Administration’s budget ax?
Study: Why do people pay vastly varied prices for the same solar? (Read the full report here)
A new Berkeley Lab study, Sources of Price Dispersion in U.S. Residential Solar Installations, looks closely at why consumers often pay vastly different prices for essentially the same solar installations.
Trump budget guts solar research at NREL and Berkeley (14 essential documents embedded)
The president’s federal budget for Fiscal Year 2018 includes the expected cuts to renewable energy within the DOE’s walls, but the cuts to prominent national labs – including the elimination of energy-storage research funding at both – could have unforeseen long-term effects on the industry.
NREL develops controllable quantum dot systems
Researchers at the United States National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have developed a new designer quantum dot system, which allows for greater control over optoelectronic properties of the materials.
Trump Admin fires first shots in its new War on Science
Reports say the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy is under siege by the Department of Energy, with funds frozen and officials refusing to tell the researchers why. Should the scientists at NREL and Sunshot be nervous?
Getting ready for terawatts of solar (with charts)
Researchers from NREL, Fraunhofer ISE and Japan’s AIST have released a new paper which looks at the barriers to deploying multiple terawatts of solar PV and what can be done to overcome them.
