Laboratory History

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has a rich history of renewable energy and energy efficiency research and innovation that spans decades.

NREL's Roots: The Creation of SERI

NREL was designated a national laboratory by President George Bush on September 16, 1991. But the birth of the organization began more than two decades before. Learn about the global politics, energy landscape, and environmental drivers that led to the creation of NREL's predecessor, the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI).