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.
NREL: Solar + storage costs twice as much as solar (with chart)
The National Lab’s latest report uses its renowned cost modeling to find that even a PV system with small batteries costs nearly twice as much as a standalone PV system.
Perry’s testimony undercut by reported budget outline
Energy Secretary Nominee Rick Perry tried to soften his Climate Change and renewable energy stances during his confirmation hearing. However, a leaked budget outline from the Trump transition team belied that conciliatory tone.
Enphase receives much-needed influx of cash
The struggling microinverter manufacturer, which has posted quarterly losses in every quarter since Q3 2015, received a $10 million bailout from two institutional investors.
D.E. Shaw begins construction on a 52 MW solar project in Mississippi
D.E. Shaw expects to complete the plant in Sumrall by the second quarter of 2017.
