This episode discusses two recent stories from NREL:  

1. The transformative shift toward sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), highlighting the crucial role of advanced simulations powered by supercomputers. Despite the long-standing reliance on petroleum jet fuel since the 1950s, growing concerns about carbon emissions are driving the urgent need for change. Through meticulous testing and analysis, researchers like Shashank Yellapantula are paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future in aviation. 
2. NREL and Oak Ridge National Laboratory teamed up to analyze the potential of geothermal heat pump installations. The collaborative efforts reveal the significant energy and emissions savings these pumps could achieve, highlighting their role in decarbonizing the building sector and strengthening the electricity grid. 

Also, in celebration of Black History Month, special correspondent Nataleah Small spotlights NREL's Black Employee Resource Group, featuring co-leaders and NREL researchers Kamyria Coney and Sika Gadzanku, who discuss the group's mission to promote diversity and inclusion at NREL and in the local community. 

This episode was hosted by Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle, written and produced by Allison Montroy, Hannah Halusker, and Kaitlyn Stottler, and edited by Taylor Mankle, Joe DelNero, and Brittany Falch. Graphics are by Brittnee Gayet. Our title music is written and performed by Ted Vaca and episode music by Chuck Kurnik, Jim Riley, and Mark Sanseverino of Drift BC. Transforming Energy: The NREL Podcast is created by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. Email us at [email protected]. Follow NREL on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, and Facebook.

• Researchers at NREL have utilized a multidisciplinary approach to quantitatively define the arrangement of polymers in Populus wood, offering insights crucial for biomass conversion to fuels, chemicals, and materials. The study presents a novel computer model detailing the intricate structural configuration of the wood's secondary cell wall, advancing our understanding beyond previous incomplete techniques and offering potential breakthroughs in bioenergy research.
• NREL's role in assisting startups is underscored by its cutting-edge technology and expertise, facilitating transformative innovations in the clean energy sector. Through collaborative programs and strategic partnerships, NREL empowers startups to navigate early-stage challenges, secure funding, and accelerate the development and adoption of groundbreaking technologies, driving the transition to a sustainable energy future.
• NREL is building a groundbreaking 127,000-square-foot Energy Materials and Processing at Scale (EMAPS) laboratory in Golden, Colorado. The facility, set to achieve LEED Gold certification, will provide state-of-the-art research capabilities in energy storage, advanced manufacturing, and grid modernization, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration and advancing NREL's mission of driving renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies

This episode was hosted by Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle, written and produced by Allison Montroy, Hannah Halusker, and Kaitlyn Stottler, and edited by Taylor Mankle, Joe DelNero, and Brittany Falch. Graphics are by Brittnee Gayet. Our title music is written and performed by Ted Vaca and episode music by Chuck Kurnik, Jim Riley, and Mark Sanseverino of Drift BC. Transforming Energy: The NREL Podcast is created by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. Email us at [email protected]. Follow NREL on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, and Facebook.

• A new analysis by NREL that reveals that the $4 billion economic value represented by cardboard and paper is lost due to landfilling. The study, focused on 2019 data, emphasizes the potential for substantial energy, environmental, and economic benefits through improved waste management strategies for paper and cardboard waste, which constitutes a quarter of municipal solid waste in the United States.
• Owners of electric vehicles (EVs) are more likely to install solar panels on their homes, according to a behavioral study analyzed by researchers NREL. The study, based on a survey of 869 households in the San Francisco Bay Area, reveals a complementary relationship between EVs and solar photovoltaics (PVs), suggesting potential benefits for energy system resiliency and cross-sectoral adoption of sustainable technologies.
• NREL has released its 2023 Standard Scenarios, offering insights into potential changes in the U.S. electricity sector until 2050. The scenarios, generated using NREL's Regional Energy Deployment System model, project significant growth in wind and solar power by 2050, with a five-fold increase in wind capacity to 750 GW and a tenfold increase in solar capacity to 1,100 GW.

This episode was hosted by Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle, written and produced by Allison Montroy, Hannah Halusker, and Kaitlyn Stottler, and edited by Taylor Mankle, Joe DelNero, and Brittany Falch. Graphics are by Brittnee Gayet. Our title music is written and performed by Ted Vaca and episode music by Chuck Kurnik, Jim Riley, and Mark Sanseverino of Drift BC. Transforming Energy: The NREL Podcast is created by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. Email us at [email protected]. Follow NREL on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, and Facebook.

In the introductory episode of the Lab Notes series, Laboratory Director Martin Keller sits down with NREL writer Ernie Tucker, author of Clean Energy Innovators: NREL People Working To Change the World. The pair discuss Keller’s childhood in Germany, foray into a science-focused career, vision for the laboratory, and dream job (hint: he’s doing it).  

Lab Notes takes a deeper dive into NREL’s research, the people of NREL, and the people impacted by NREL’s work. 

This episode was hosted by Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle, written and produced by Allison Montroy, Hannah Halusker, and Kaitlyn Stottler, and edited by Taylor Mankle, Joe DelNero, and Brittany Falch. Graphics are by Brittnee Gayet. Our title music is written and performed by Ted Vaca and episode music by Chuck Kurnik, Jim Riley, and Mark Sanseverino of Drift BC. Transforming Energy: The NREL Podcast is created by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. Email us at [email protected]. Follow NREL on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, and Facebook.

Hosts Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle discuss the top 10 most-impactful stories highlighting how NREL contributed to a clean energy future in 2023. Highlights include NREL's visionary 2030 National Charging Network study, groundbreaking research on geothermal energy with the "Heat Beneath Our Feet" initiative, and the creation of a one-of-a-kind "SuperLab" linking solar, battery, hydrogen electrolyzers, and a nuclear reactor for advanced energy system studies. Stay tuned for exciting developments in 2024, including the launch of a new podcast series, "Lab Notes."

This episode was hosted by Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle, written and produced by Allison Montroy, Hannah Halusker, and Kaitlyn Stottler, and edited by Taylor Mankle, Joe DelNero, and Brittany Falch. Graphics are by Brittnee Gayet. Our title music is written and performed by Ted Vaca and episode music by Chuck Kurnik, Jim Riley, and Mark Sanseverino of Drift BC. Transforming Energy: The NREL Podcast is created by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. Email us at [email protected]. Follow NREL on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, and Facebook.

Hosts Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle discuss recent stories from NREL:       

• The LA100 Equity Strategies project, developed by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in collaboration with NREL and the University of California, Los Angeles , envisions a future where Los Angeles achieves 100% clean electricity by 2035 through community-driven approaches. The project, born out of two years of community engagement, outlines strategic pathways to address inequities in the current energy system, focusing on issues such as affordable clean energy access, workforce development, and community involvement to ensure a just and inclusive transition to renewable energy. 
• Ben Maurer, a scuba diver and ocean enthusiast working with NREL, leads the Waterborne Plastics Assessment and Collection Technologies project (WaterPACT) to address the issue of waterborne plastics. Through collaborative efforts with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and various partners, Maurer's team collects data on plastics in major rivers, including the Mississippi, Delaware, Columbia, and Los Angeles rivers, aiming to develop solutions to prevent plastic pollution from reaching the ocean and create a comprehensive understanding of the U.S. contribution to global ocean emissions. 

This episode was hosted by Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle, written and produced by Allison Montroy, Hannah Halusker, and Kaitlyn Stottler, and edited by Taylor Mankle, Joe DelNero, and Brittany Falch. Graphics are by Brittnee Gayet. Our title music is written and performed by Ted Vaca and episode music by Chuck Kurnik, Jim Riley, and Mark Sanseverino of Drift BC. Transforming Energy: The NREL Podcast is created by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. Email us at [email protected]. Follow NREL on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, and Facebook.

In this episode, hosts Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle take us  on a journey through time exploring the origins of NREL. Beginning with the establishment in 1973 of the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI) after the oil embargo, SERI soon expanded into wind and other renewable technologies.

The hosts discuss a dynamic journey marked by political changes, budget fluctuations, technological breakthroughs, and influential leadership shifts that shaped SERI's transformation into NREL in 1991, marking a pivotal moment in the laboratory's history.  

This episode was hosted by Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle, written and produced by Allison Montroy, Hannah Halusker, and Kaitlyn Stottler, and edited by Taylor Mankle, Joe DelNero, and Brittany Falch. Graphics are by Brittnee Gayet. Our title music is written and performed by Ted Vaca and episode music by Chuck Kurnik, Jim Riley, and Mark Sanseverino of Drift BC. Transforming Energy: The NREL Podcast is created by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. Email us at [email protected]. Follow NREL on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, and Facebook.

Hosts Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle discuss recent stories from NREL:  

• The rapid adoption of zero-emission electric vehicles, alongside a transition to a clean electric grid and measures to manage travel demand growth, could lead to an 80% or more drop in transportation greenhouse gas emissions in the United States by 2050, according to researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy’s NREL. Their study, published in the journal Nature Communications, involved over 2,000 simulations and identified the dynamic variable in reducing emissions as measures supporting the transition to zero-emission vehicles, emphasizing the importance of a multifaceted approach involving technology advancements, policy changes, and behavioral shifts. 
• Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s NREL achieved a record-breaking efficiency of 27% for a gallium arsenide (GaAs) heterojunction solar cell, using dynamic hydride vapor phase epitaxy (D-HVPE). By optimizing the doping and bandgap of the emitter layer, the study provides a roadmap for enhancing the performance of solar cells, with potential applications beyond III-V materials, such as silicon, cadmium telluride, or perovskites. 
• NREL researchers are utilizing artificial intelligence, specifically invertible neural network (INN) tools, to accelerate airfoil design for wind turbine blades, demonstrating a hundredfold speedup over current methods and achieving performance characteristics satisfaction, offering a potential breakthrough in optimizing airfoil shapes and streamlining the design process. The INN, by learning an invertible relationship between airfoil shapes and their properties, enables rapid exploration of design spaces, providing higher-fidelity insights into aerodynamics and structural properties without compromising tight design timelines. 

This episode was hosted by Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle, written and produced by Allison Montroy, Hannah Halusker, and Kaitlyn Stottler, and edited by Taylor Mankle, Joe DelNero, and Brittany Falch. Graphics are by Brittnee Gayet. Our title music is written and performed by Ted Vaca and episode music by Chuck Kurnik, Jim Riley, and Mark Sanseverino of Drift BC. Transforming Energy: The NREL Podcast is created by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. Email us at [email protected]. Follow NREL on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, and Facebook.

Hosts Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle discuss recent stories from NREL:     

• NREL’s Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS) Test Bed is a cutting-edge facility that can enable utilities to model and evaluate distribution systems, from simulating electric vehicle impacts to integrating renewable energy sources, emphasizing its role as a crucial resource for utilities and partners to experiment with innovations in a risk-free, controlled environment. Applications for new projects are currently open until Dec. 1. 
•  Researchers at NREL and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory conducted a U.S. Department of Energy Water Power Technologies Office-funded study on mooring systems for wave energy converters at the upcoming PacWave South test site off the coast of Oregon. The study aimed to find cost-effective mooring solutions for diverse wave energy converter prototypes, narrowing down from 43 designs to propose specific mooring systems for different anchoring areas, with decisions now pending approval from relevant authorities. 
• NREL and ACE Green Recycling are collaborating to develop economically viable recycling techniques for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, addressing the challenges posed by diverse battery types and the shift from cobalt-containing to cobalt-free batteries in the market. NREL's expertise in cell production, modeling, and analysis will support ACE in evaluating their proprietary LFP recycling technology, aiming to bridge the sustainability-profitability gap in battery recycling. 
• NREL's study on energy storage highlights the importance of storage systems lasting more than four hours, addressing the changing landscape of energy demand, particularly in winter, where longer-duration storage becomes vital due to prolonged and significant demand peaks, potentially paving the way for alternative technologies to compete with lithium-ion batteries in terms of cost and service lifetimes, ultimately enhancing grid reliability and integrating renewable energy efficiently. 

This episode was hosted by Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle, written and produced by Allison Montroy, Hannah Halusker, and Kaitlyn Stottler, and edited by Taylor Mankle, Joe DelNero, and Brittany Falch. Graphics are by Brittnee Gayet. Our title music is written and performed by Ted Vaca and episode music by Chuck Kurnik, Jim Riley, and Mark Sanseverino of Drift BC. Transforming Energy: The NREL Podcast is created by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. Email us at [email protected]. Follow NREL on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, and Facebook.

Hosts Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle discuss recent stories from NREL:     

• Alaska Native communities face enormous challenges when it comes to energy, housing, and health, in part due to government-provided prefabricated housing from the late 20th century that was not designed for Alaska’s extreme weather. Seven homeowners in the Native Village of Gakona are working with researchers at NREL’s Alaska Campus (formerly Cold Climate Housing Center) in Fairbanks, about 200 miles north, to improve the health, safety, and energy efficiency of their homes. 
• Special Correspondent Jason Youngstrom joins to share how NREL is addressing the problem of “wishcycling,” where people recycle items they're unsure about, leading to challenges in the recycling system. NREL's approach involves staff-driven programs to sort and recycle plastics labeled 3–7, focusing on capturing various types of plastic waste. The laboratory is researching upcycling technologies and redesigning plastics for recyclability, aiming for a circular economy where every plastic produced has a viable path to reuse. 
• Malik Hassanaly, a computational science researcher at NREL, specializes in uncertainty quantification, machine learning, and computational fluid dynamics spanning diverse areas like solar and wind energy, bioenergy, energy storage, and cybersecurity. His multidisciplinary approach enhances scientific innovation and practical problem-solving, emphasizing the importance of understanding various computational science use cases. 

This episode was hosted by Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle, written and produced by Allison Montroy, Hannah Halusker, and Kaitlyn Stottler, and edited by Taylor Mankle, Joe DelNero, and Brittany Falch. Graphics are by Brittnee Gayet. Our title music is written and performed by Ted Vaca and episode music by Chuck Kurnik, Jim Riley, and Mark Sanseverino of Drift BC. Transforming Energy: The NREL Podcast is created by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. Email us at [email protected]. Follow NREL on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, and Facebook.