Science and Technology Highlights

January 2016

• NREL, CSEM Jointly Set New Efficiency Record with Dual-Junction Solar Cell
  Scientists set a new world record for converting non-concentrated sunlight into electricity using a dual-junction III-V/Si solar cell.

December 2015

• NREL Photoelectrode Research Advances Hydrogen Production Efforts
  Scientists have created a high-performing photo-electrode that boosts the ability of solar water-splitting to produce hydrogen.
• Uncovering the Operating Principles of Photoelectrodes
  NREL researchers have developed a new probe to help design more efficient sunlight-to-fuel photoelectrodes.

September 2015

• New Multijunction Design Leads to Ultra-Efficient Solar Cell
  Four-junction III-V multijunction cell uses buffer layers and other innovations to reach 45.6% efficiency at 690 suns.

January 2015

• Boosting Accuracy of Testing Multijunction Solar Cells
  NREL developed a more precise technology for measuring efficiency of concentrating solar cells, enabling the industry to advance.

August 2014

• NREL Study of Fielded PV Systems Demonstrates PV Reliability
  Photovoltaic module quality has remained high even as module prices have declined.
• Post-Deposition Treatment Boosts CIGS Solar Cell Performance
  NREL's use of potassium fluoride process improves the open-circuit voltage and conversion efficiency.
• NREL Particle Receiver Will Enable High-Temperature CSP
  Near-blackbody enclosed particle receiver can support high-temperature thermal energy storage and high-efficiency power cycles.
• NREL Quantifies Value of CSP to the Grid
  In California study, greater penetration of renewable energy means greater value of CSP with thermal energy storage.
• NREL Develops ZnSiP₂ for Silicon-Based Tandem Solar Cells
  Combining an Earth-abundant chalcopyrite with a silicon layer could significantly boost conversion efficiency above that of single-junction silicon solar cells.

April 2014

• NREL Fights Corrosion to Cut Costs in CSP Plants
  NREL investigates how best to protect tanks and pipelines used for thermal energy storage and heat transfer fluids.
• NREL Investigates Critical Properties of Perovskite Halides Solar Cells
  Results give insight on a novel, promising class of photoactive materials for solar conversion applications.

January 2014

• Technique Reveals Critical Physics in Deep Regions of Solar Cells
  NREL's improved time-resolved photoluminescence method measures minority-carrier lifetime deep within photovoltaic samples to help develop more efficient solar cells.
• System Advisor Model Includes Analysis of Hybrid CSP Option
  NREL has created an analytical model to study a hybrid power option—concentrating solar power coupled with natural-gas-powered generation.

September 2013

• Simple Method Quantifies Recombination Pathways in Solar Cells
  NREL's analytic equation uses open-circuit voltage data to determine how much recombination occurs via different channels in a solar cell.

August 2013

• New Pathway Developed to Silicon Quantum Dot Devices
  Researchers create a way to prepare doped nanocrystal solutions for solar thin films that are nontoxic and less expensive than heavy metal-based thin films.
• Better Internal Optics Can Improve III-V Solar Cell Performance
  NREL model that calculates external luminescent efficiency has potential to enhance performance of solar cells dominated by radiative recombination.

January 2013

• Thermal Scout Pinpoints Hard-to-Find Problems in CSP Fields
  Updated receiver survey system uses an infrared camera, GPS technology, and computer software to rapidly analyze concentrating solar power (CSP) fields and locate defective receivers.

December 2012

• Distant Observer Tool Quickly Identifies Costly Flaws in CSP Fields
  Remote control digital photography and metrology are combined to accurately define optical efficiency problems in concentrating solar power (CSP) plants.

June 2016

• Inventing a New Way to Capture the Energy of Waves
  Innovative NREL wave energy conversion technology enables greater control of wave loads to create a more economical source of renewable energy.

June 2015

• NREL's Water Power Software Makes a Splash
  Open-source software provides essential modeling and simulation help in water power research and development.

January 2015

• NREL Advances Feedforward Control in Turbines
  Researchers use lidar and feedforward algorithms to improve rotor speed regulation and reduce costs of maintenance and operation.
• NREL Software Models Performance of Wind Plants
  Simulator fOr Wind Farm Applications (SOWFA) helps optimize layouts and controls of wind plant arrays.

June 2014

• NREL Assesses National Design Standards for Offshore Wind
  Report summarizes regulations, standards, and guidelines for the design and operation of offshore wind projects in the United States.

April 2014

• New Framework Transforms FAST Wind Turbine Modeling Tool
  A recent overhaul of the tool makes it a powerful, robust, and flexible modeling software to aid the development of innovative wind and water power technologies.

January 2014

• NREL Report Redefines Wind as a Grid Stabilizer, Not a Liability
  Study explores how wind power can support power system reliability, and do so economically.

September 2013

• NREL Identifies Investments for Wind Turbine Drivetrain Technologies
  NREL examines current U.S. manufacturing and supply chain capabilities for advanced wind turbine drivetrain technologies.

May 2013

• National Wind Technology Center to Debut New Dynamometer
  New test facility will be used to accelerate the development and deployment of next-generation offshore and land-based wind energy technologies.
• New Facility to Shed Light on Offshore Wind Resource
  Chesapeake Light Tower facility will gather key data for unlocking the nation's vast offshore wind resource.

November 2012

• NREL Collaborates with SWAY on Offshore Wind Demonstration
  NWTC researchers gain valuable data from one of the first floating offshore wind prototypes.

June 2016

• NREL Explains the Higher Cellulolytic Activity of a Vital Microorganism
  A newly discovered category of scaffolded enzymes in C. thermocellum has the potential for superior conversion of biomass into biofuel.
• NREL Advancements in Methane Conversion Lead to Cleaner Air, Useful Products
  NREL research has developed an effective genetic engineering strategy that converts methane waste into valuable chemicals and transportation fuels.

March 2016

• High Titer and Yields Achieved with Novel, Low-Severity Pretreatment Strategy
  A new, less toxic, NREL-developed deacetylation and mechanical refining (DMR) process achieves unexpectedly high sugar titers and yields for fermentation into advanced biofuels and chemicals.

February 2016

• New Catalyst Reduces Wasted Carbon in Biofuel Process, Lowers Cost
  NREL researchers have shown that incorporating copper-modified catalysts into the dimethyl ether-to-fuels pathway increases carbon efficiency and decreases overall production costs.

December 2015

• New Cyanobacteria Metabolic Pathway Critical to Energy Conversion
  A little-known metabolic pathway in photosynthetic organisms is actually a major pathway for converting carbon dioxide to biofuels and bioproducts.

September 2015

• NREL's Cyanobacteria Engineering Shortens Biofuel Production Process, Captures CO₂
  The flexibility of cyanobacterial metabolism supports direct conversion of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to ethylene.
• New NIR Calibration Models Speed Biomass Composition and Reactivity Characterization
  Using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, NREL researchers have developed powerful tools to rapidly estimate biomass feedstock characteristics.

June 2015

• Algal Pretreatment Improves Biofuels Yield and Value
  Advanced process for algal biofuel production captures the value of both the lipids and carbohydrates for conversion to biofuels.
• Improving Catalyst Efficiency in Bio-Based Hydrocarbon Fuels
  New study determines the effect of catalyst structure on product yields and coking during vapor phase upgrading of biomass pyrolysis products.

January 2015

• NREL Overcomes Obstacles in Lignin Valorization
  Using a "funneling" pathway inherent in nature, NREL researchers show that lignin can be converted into renewable fuels, chemicals, and materials.

August 2014

• New Screening System Detects Algae with Increased H₂ Production
  NREL's high-throughput screen facilitates the selection of novel hydrogen-producing algae.

January 2014

• Advantages of Enzyme Could Lead to Improved Biofuels Production
  Cellulase C. bescii CelA, a highly active and stable enzyme, exhibits a new cellulose digestion paradigm promoting inter-cellulase synergy.
• Closer Look Reveals New Insights on Enzymatic Catalysts for H₂ Production
  Researchers use spectroscopic tools to analyze H₂ activation by [FeFe]-Hydrogenase HydA1 from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

August 2013

• Novel Combination of Enzyme Systems Could Lower Biofuel Costs
  Two biomass-degrading enzyme systems that work in very different ways are shown to be more effective at releasing plant sugars when used together.

May 2013

• NREL Demonstrates Photocatalytic Conversion With Mutant Microbe
  Breakthrough will facilitate future research on photosynthetic production of biofuels.
• NREL Shows How Cyanobacteria Build Hydrogen-Producing Enzyme
  Results will help researchers improve microbial hydrogen production.

April 2013

• New Cellulase Identification Method Holds Promise for Lower-Cost Biofuels
  A new computational approach to genomic data effectively distinguishes cellulases and non-cellulases within the protein family GH48, a key component for degrading lignocellulose for biofuels.

January 2013

• NREL Breaks New Ground in Plant Pretreatment for Biofuels
  NREL researchers use imaging technologies to broaden knowledge of plant cell wall structures and identify ideal pretreatment of plant material.

November 2012

• NREL Produces Ethylene via Photosynthesis
  Environmentally friendly process offers intriguing alternative to fossil-fuel-based ethylene for chemicals and transportation fuels.

May 2016

• NREL Collaboration Breaks 1-Volt Barrier in CdTe Solar Technology
  Reaching a critical voltage milestone provides path for CdTe solar technology to undercut electricity costs from traditional sources.

January 2016

• NREL Studies Carrier Separation and Transport in Perovskite Solar Cells
  The discovery of a p-n junction in these solar devices may help to advance R&D toward better cell performance.

January 2015

• A New Method to Stabilize Solar Water-Splitting Electrodes
  A two-step surface modification of high-efficiency III-V photoelectrolysis materials provides corrosion protection without sacrificing conversion efficiency.
• High-Efficiency CdTe Ink-Based Solar Cells Using Nanocrystals
  NREL researchers create a solution-processable "ink" to produce high-efficiency solar cells using low temperature and simple processing.

August 2014

• NREL Simulations Provide New Insight on Polymer-Based Energy Storage Materials
  Atomistic simulations correlate molecular packing and electron transport in polymer-based energy storage materials.

January 2014

• NREL Demonstrates Efficient Solar Water Splitting by Metal Oxide Photoabsorber
  New development demonstrates that inexpensive and robust metal oxide photoabsorbers hold great promise as photoanodes for water oxidation.

June 2016

• Virtual Oscillator Control Maintains Grid Operations with High Inverter Penetrations
  A new control strategy helps the grid run normally with lower percentages of spinning, synchronized power sources.

June 2015

• Evaluating Membrane Processes for Air Conditioning
  NREL compiles state-of-the-art review on membrane processes for air conditioning to identify future research opportunities.
• Understanding Energy Impacts of Oversized Air Conditioners
  NREL research reveals the effects of parasitic power losses on the energy consumption of oversized residential air conditioners.

August 2014

• NREL and Industry Advance Low-Cost Solar Water Heating R&D
  NREL and Rhotech develop cost-effective solar water heating prototype to rival natural gas water heater market.

April 2014

• NREL Improves Access to Building Product Energy Data
  Technology Performance Exchange helps move projects to implementation.

January 2014

• NREL Enables Efficient Data Exchange for Home Performance Companies
  NREL supports standard data transfer protocol to streamline communication of home performance tracking systems and upgrade analysis software.

September 2013

• Lab Tests Demonstrate Effectiveness of Advanced Power Strips
  NREL engineers evaluate the functionalities of advanced power strips and help consumers choose the right one for their plug loads.
• NREL Launches Collaborative Resource for Field Test Best
  Practices
  Dynamic portal documents and shares state-of-the-art residential field test tools and techniques.

May 2013

• NREL Develops Method to Evaluate Accuracy of Home Energy Scoring Tool
  Using data from existing homes, NREL researchers boost the accuracy of the new software tool.
• NREL Solves Residential Window Air Conditioner Performance Limitations
  Comprehensive performance tests lead to enhanced modeling capability and affordable methods to increase energy efficiency.

December 2012

• NREL Demonstrates Game-Changing Air Conditioner Technology
  Testing of DEVAP prototype validates modeled predictions of 40% to 85% energy savings.

October 2012

• AHEM Lab Opens Doors to New Technology Test Bed at NREL
  NREL studies smart sensors and dynamic control systems to help homeowners conserve energy, save money, and live comfortably.

June 2016

• Innovation Meets Performance Demands of Advanced Lithium-ion Batteries
  Novel surface modification methods are enabling ultrathin coatings to adhere to highly textured battery surfaces.

March 2016

• New Analysis Methods Estimate a Critical Property of Ethanol Fuel Blends
  Methods developed at NREL disclose the impact of ethanol on gasoline blend heat of vaporization with potential for improved efficiency of spark-ignition engines.

February 2016

• Optical Thermal Characterization Enables High-Performance Electronics Applications
  Critical experimental data for thermal performance of advanced materials help to develop next-generation electronic components.

September 2015

• NREL Develops High-Speed Scanner to Monitor Fuel Cell Material Defects
  The fuel cell scanner could provide effective in-line quality control in a high-volume manufacturing facility.
• NREL Evaluates Performance of Hydraulic Hybrid Refuse Vehicles
  Initial results indicate that the hydraulic hybrids offer substantial fuel savings compared to similar conventional vehicles.

June 2015

• Assessing the Fuel-Saving Potential of Semiautomated Truck Platooning
  An NREL study found that platooning of long-haul trucks reduces fuel consumption at all tested highway speeds.

January 2015

• Making Fuel Cells Cleaner, Better, and Cheaper
  NREL helps reduce contaminants in fuel cells, enabling the industry to cut costs and commercialize state-of-the-art technologies.

August 2014

• NREL Reduces Climate Control Loads in Electric Vehicles
  NREL demonstrates that zonal climate control can reduce air conditioning power and improve range while maintaining driver thermal sensation.

April 2014

• Analysis Reveals Impact of Road Grade on Vehicle Energy Use
  Findings of study indicate that, on average, road grade could be responsible for 1%–3% of fuel use in light-duty automobiles, with many individual trips impacted by as much as 40%.

January 2014

• NREL Uses Fuel Cells to Increase the Range of Battery Electric Vehicles
  NREL analysis identifies potential cost-effective scenarios for using small fuel cell power units to increase the range of medium-duty battery electric vehicles.
• Fueling Robot Automates Hydrogen Hose Reliability Testing
  Automated robot mimics fueling action to test hydrogen hoses for durability in real-world conditions.
• Second-Use Li-Ion Batteries to Aid Automotive and Utility Industries
  Repurposing Li-ion batteries at the end of useful life in electric drive vehicles could eliminate owners' disposal concerns and offer low-cost energy storage for certain applications.

October 2013

• Fuel Cell Vehicles Enhance NREL Hydrogen Research Capabilities
  Expanded research, development, and testing activities will help advance fuel cell electric vehicle technology.

September 2013

• Demo Projects Introduce New Class of Natural Gas Vehicles
  NREL teams with industry and government stakeholders to identify and address technical and marketplace barriers.

December 2012

• Study Reveals Fuel Injection Timing Impact on Particle Number Emissions
  Start of injection can improve environmental performance of fuel-efficient gasoline direct injection engines.