News Release NR-0904

NREL Earns Award For Efforts in Homeland Security

Tuesday, February 10, 2004

Golden, Colo. — The Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology (FLC) has recognized the Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory with an award for Outstanding Technology Development in recognition of the Lab's long-term efforts for "Using Renewables to Safeguard the Energy Infrastructure of the U.S."

"This award recognizes the outstanding work of all our Laboratory staff," said Tom Williams, director of NREL's Technology Transfer Office. "NREL researchers have spearheaded the effort to spread the word on the role of renewables in homeland security and have identified how renewable energy technology can contribute to strengthening America's energy infrastructure."

America's energy infrastructure is extremely large and complex, consisting of 158,000 miles of main electric transmission lines and 5,000 power plants. This infrastructure faces a broad spectrum of threats ranging from natural disasters to terrorism to age.

By incorporating technologies such as alternative fuels, distributed energy resources, biomass power and the monitoring of pipelines using solar and wind energy, it is possible to reduce stress on the energy infrastructure and reduce dependence on imported fuels. NREL researchers also are investigating a liquid desiccant air filtration system that removes and deactivates contaminants from air circulating in buildings.

The FLC is a nationwide network of federal laboratories that strives to link laboratory-developed technologies and expertise with the private sector. More than 700 major federal laboratories and centers and their parent departments and agencies are FLC members.

NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's premier laboratory for renewable energy research and development and a leading laboratory for energy efficiency R&D. NREL is operated for DOE by Midwest Research Institute and Battelle.

For further information contact NREL Public Affairs at (303) 275-4090.