The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) announced on November 27, 2023, that a machine learning tool developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), with support from BETO,...more
Figures from the California Energy Commission (CEC) highlight California’s continued progress toward building a more resilient grid, achieving 100% clean electricity, and meeting the state’s carbon neutrality goals. Analysis...more
The U.S. saw roughly triple the amount of grid-scale battery storage installed in the second quarter of this year as it did in the preceding quarter, in megawatt terms, according to the latest Clean Power Quarterly report...more
The California coast is home to some of the best offshore wind resources in the country. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) estimates that California's coast has a resource potential of 201,000 megawatts (MW) of...more
After the landmark prices received for eight offshore wind leases in the New York Bight, and with great anticipation for the upcoming December 6, 2022, lease auction for the Humboldt and Morro Bay Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) off...more
In U.S. patent news, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory recently earned a patent —U.S. Patent No. 11,401,910, entitled “Flexible Wave Energy Converter” — directed to using tiny electrical generators via dynamic strain...more
On June 23, the White House announced the launch of a Federal-State Offshore Wind Implementation Partnership to accelerate the development of US offshore wind projects. This partnership is a joint effort of the Biden...more
On October 21, the Department of Energy (DOE)’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) issued An Examination of the Hydropower Licensing and Federal Authorization Process, in which it examined the various statutory and...more
Negotiations Continue on Budget Reconciliation & Infrastructure Bills - Although the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – also referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework (BIF) – was approved by the Senate in...more
On February 22, 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) announced its comprehensive strategy to decarbonize transportation by 30-85 percent by 2050. A strategy based on research...more
The Gulf of Mexico is an attractive location for offshore wind development according to two recent studies conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and funded by the U.S. Bureau...more
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (“NREL”) released a July 2018 study titled: Electrification Futures Study: Scenarios of Electric Technology Adoption in Power Consumption for the United States (“Study”)...more
On March 22, 2018, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) announced that by studying and comparing the cellulose-degrading enzymes of two fungi, NREL researchers have pinpointed...more
Researchers at the DOE National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are seeking responses to a survey on biorefinery operations. Yimin Zhang, an environmental engineer at NREL, and Marshall Goldberg, a subcontractor for NREL,...more
Following months of speculation, on January 23, 2018, the Trump Administration issued a Proclamation announcing new tariffs on imported solar cells and modules (the “Solar Tariff”) in response to the Section 201 petition...more
Under the Brownfields Law of 2002, EPA and other federal agencies have established a variety of programs focused on promoting and funding the repurposing of abandoned mine lands (AMLs), broadly defined as lands, waters, and...more
A Note from the Editors - Our April edition of Energy Technology Connections brings you recent industry highlights and features a list of upcoming energy industry events throughout the nation. To learn about MIT’s latest...more
Renewable Energy Focus - California solar spike leads to negative CAISO real-time prices in March - Utility Dive - Apr 10 - Solar capacity on the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) system spiked last...more
Renewable Energy Focus - California ramps up energy storage plans with enactment of four new bills - Renewable Energy World - Sep 28 - California Governor Jerry Brown on September 27 signed four new bills...more
A recent National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) report noted that wind and solar, despite being intermittent sources, could supply 30% of the annual power for the Eastern grid without increasing reliability concerns. ...more
On March 10, 2016, DOE's BETO announced that $1.9 million has been allocated for biofuel, bioproduct, and biopower projects under its Small Business Vouchers (SBV) Pilot initiative. The grant money is the first of up to $20...more
Last week, the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released the results of a study exploring the potential impact of recently extended federal tax credits on the deployment of renewable generation...more
On September 29, 2015 the Department of Energy released the 2014-2015 Offshore Wind Technologies Market Report, assessing the nation’s offshore wind potential and planned projects through June 30, 2015. The report summarizes...more
The Problem: Supply and Demand Geographic Mismatch Because much of America’s renewable energy supply is inland and demand is on the coasts (about 52% of the U.S. population is coastal), demand cannot meet supply without...more
On August 20, 2014, DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) announced a new NREL study demonstrating a potentially more economical way to use lignin to make renewable fuels and products....more