Programs
NREL conducts renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development in 13 main programmatic areas. Each research area is enhanced by crosscutting functions, including industry partnerships and technology transfer, analysis, and program integration. The 13 programs are:
Analysis
NREL's Analysis Program conducts a broad range of energy analysis in support the lab's programs and initiatives, DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), and the greater energy analysis community. Energy analysis at NREL is conducted in five major areas of interest, focusing on technology, benefits, market, policy, and program analysis.
Learn more about NREL's Analysis Program. For more information, contact Laboratory Program Manager Gian Porro for more information.
Biomass
The Biomass Program supports NREL research and development that focuses on biomass characterization, thermochemical and biochemical biomass conversion technologies, biobased products development, and biomass process engineering and analysis. NREL also works to develop cost-effective, environmentally friendly biomass conversion technologies to reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil, improve our air quality, and support rural economies.
Learn more about NREL's Biomass Research Program. For more information, contact Laboratory Program Manager Adam Bratis for more information.
Buildings
The Buildings Research Program supports NREL research and development that focuses on improvements in residential buildings, in commercial buildings, in building equipment and components, building energy analysis tools, manufacturing, and in lighting and appliance standards. NREL is a nationally recognized leader in buildings research combining renewable energy with innovative technologies to significantly reduce energy consumption in buildings.
Learn more about NREL's Buildings Research Program. For more information, contact Laboratory Program Manager Ron Judkoff.
Department of Defense Energy Programs
NREL's Department of Defense Energy Programs partner with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to help achieve energy security and sustainability goals. Our capabilities in energy efficiency, renewable energy technologies, and grid integration support energy innovation in DoD's operational and installation environments.
Learn more about NREL's Department of Defense Energy Programs. For more information, contact Director of DoD Energy Programs, Stephen Gorin.
Electricity
Electric infrastructure systems research and development at NREL is focused on renewable energy integration, distributed energy testing and certification, energy management, interconnection standards and codes, Smart Grid research, and much more.
Learn more about NREL's Electricity Integration Research. For more information, contact Laboratory Program Manager David Corbus.
Federal Energy Management Program
NREL's Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) focuses on reducing energy use at federal facilities. FEMP helps agencies save energy and taxpayer dollars by advancing energy efficiency and water conservation, promoting the use of distributed and renewable energy, and improving utility management decisions at federal sites. NREL provides expert technical assistance and training in identifying viable energy efficiency, water conservation and renewable energy projects for agency implementation through the private sector.
Learn more about NREL's Federal Energy Management Program. For more information, contact Laboratory Program Manager Robert Westby.
Hydrogen and Fuel Cells
Hydrogen and fuel cells are an important part of the comprehensive and balanced technology portfolio needed to address the nation's two most important energy challenges—significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions and ending our dependence on imported oil. NREL's hydrogen and fuel cell research focuses on hydrogen production, delivery, and storage. It also focuses on fuel cells, technology validation, analysis, education, manufacturing, and more.
Learn more about NREL's Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program. For more information, contact Laboratory Program Manager Keith Wipke.
Geothermal
NREL's Geothermal Technologies Program leads the research and development effort to enhance conversion of geothermal energy into heat and electricity. The program promotes the economical production of electricity from low- to moderate-temperature geothermal resources by increasing plant cycle utilization efficiency, optimizing plant design, and lowering operation and maintenance costs.
Learn more about NREL's Geothermal Technologies Program. For more information, contact Laboratory Program Manager Tom Williams.
International
NREL's international work spans our full range of capabilities, which include three primary areas of expertise: Analysis, Research and Development, and Deployment and Commercialization. NREL's core international activities include multilateral partnerships, bilateral partnerships, climate and environment initiatives, and energy assessments.
Learn more about NREL's International Program. For more information, contact Laboratory Program Manager Ron Benioff.
Solar
Solar technologies use the sun's energy to provide heat, light, hot water, electricity, and even cooling, for homes, businesses, and industry. NREL's Solar Research Program focuses on two major solar energy technologies: Photovoltaic (PV) research and solar thermal research. In addition, the nation's premier research facility for PV is the National Center for Photovoltaics (NCPV), headquartered at NREL.
Learn more about NREL's Solar Research Program. For more information, contact Laboratory Program Manager Dave Mooney.
Vehicles
Working in partnership with public and private organizations, we research, develop, and demonstrate innovative vehicle and fuel technologies that reduce the nation's dependence on imported oil and improve our energy security and air quality. NREL's conducts research into the areas of vehicle systems analysis and testing, advanced propulsion and vehicle efficiency improvements, energy storage technologies, advanced power electronics, advanced combustion engines, and fuels technology.
Learn more about NREL's Advanced Vehicles and Fuels Research. For more information, contact Laboratory Program Manager Terry Penney.
Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs
NREL's Weatherization and Intergovernmental Program (WIP) provides U.S. and international consumers and decision makers with technical assistance and information to accelerate the use of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. Through WIP, NREL partners with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including state and local governments, auto companies, fleet managers, building and facility managers, tribal governments, weatherization agencies, and other countries and international agencies.
NREL supports the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Weatherization and Intergovernmental Program. For more information, contact Laboratory Program Manager Daniel Beckley.
Wind Energy and Water Power
NREL is EERE's lead lab in wind technology research and development, and home to the nation's only full-service wind turbine test center — the National Wind Technology Center (NWTC). The NWTC works extensively with industry to design and test cost-effective wind systems and components. The Wind and Water Power Program works to improve the performance, lower the costs, and accelerate the deployment of innovative wind and water power technologies.
Learn more about NREL's Wind Research. NREL supports the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Wind Program and Water Program.
For more information, contact Laboratory Program Manager Brian Smith.
