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.

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

• Beneath the Surface: The 'Spark Squad' Behind the Spark Squad: Inspired by the 1990s television show “Captain Planet,” three NREL researchers developed a super squad for a new generation. The Spark Squad Comic Book series features three heroes super-powered by clean energy innovations. The series first came out in 2022 and was developed by NREL and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office.
• Technology Advancements Could Unlock 80% More Wind Energy Potential During This Decade: Researchers have identified new technologies that could make it possible to profitably capture more of the nation’s wind resources. In a recently published study, NREL researchers found that technology innovations making their way into commercial markets today and in coming years could unlock 80% more economically viable wind energy capacity within the contiguous United States. This could go a long way toward helping the nation meet its clean energy goals.
• A Tale of Two Cities (Powered by Clean Energy): Los Angeles, California, and Tehuantepec, Mexico, are almost 2,500 miles apart but share similarities in clean energy goals and challenges. A study led by researchers from NREL contrasts how these areas in California and Mexico have chosen to address inequities in plans for clean energy transitions and the very different outcomes of those approaches.
•  Clean Cities Celebrates 30 Years of Acting Locally To Generate National Impact: The U.S. Department of Energy established the Clean Cities Coalition Network in 1993 to boost the country's economic vitality, energy security, and quality of life by advancing affordable, efficient, and clean transportation fuels and technologies. For the last 30 years, NREL, along with other national labs, has created tools and provided technical assistance to these communities. 

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.

Special Correspondent Nataleah Small joins the podcast to discuss Hispanic Heritage Month at NREL. Hosts Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle discuss three recent stories from NREL:  

• NREL’s Annual Partner Forum Eyes Pathways to Future Energy Systems: The laboratory hosted its 7th annual Partner Forum last month, bringing together industry partners, researchers, and energy leaders to discuss our most pertinent energy challenges, explore energy innovation opportunities, connect stakeholders to solve grid integration challenges, and develop collaborations and partnerships. The event included a demonstration of NREL’s Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems platform—also known as ARIES.    
• After 20 Years, NREL and Walmart Partnership Stays Strong: NREL partnered with Walmart to test clean energy technologies in an Aurora, Colorado, store in 2003, and the partnership has been growing ever since.  Some of the technologies NREL has tested throughout the partnership are now standard in all Walmart stores.  
• Early-Career Researchers Gather in Frenoble, France, To Tackle Climate Change From a Global Perspective: In early July, 65 researchers from 16 countries spent one week outside of Grenoble in the northern French Alps participating in lectures and discussions about the latest developments and trends in renewable energy and sustainability research with a goal to create an international network of researchers dedicated to making the energy transition happen as quickly as possible. The summer school was organized under the patronage of the Research and Development 20 for Clean Energy Technologies (RD20) initiative.  

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 three recent stories from NREL:    

• 10 Years of Leading Energy Systems Integration: As more renewables add to our energy mix, the grid is changing—and sectors that once were siloed are now interconnecting with one another. The Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) is a research facility designed to provide a space for NREL to validate these new technologies and how they are all working together. The building and its staff recently celebrated its first decade of moving clean energy innovations forward.  
• R&D 100 Awards Honor NREL Innovations: Considered the Oscars of innovation, R&D World magazine presented NREL with two of its annual R&D 100 Awards for research innovations. The winning NREL technologies are the Renewable Energy Potential (reV) model and the Simulation and Emulation for Advanced Systems (SEAS) software. This year’s winners bring NREL’s total R&D 100 Award count to 74 since 1982.  
• NREL Analysis Reveals Benefits of Hydropower for Grid-Scale Energy Storage: A recently published NREL study found that closed-loop pumped storage hydropower systems rank as having the lowest potential to add to the problem of global warming for energy storage when accounting for the full impacts of materials and construction.   

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.