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A podcast highlighting the latest research and news from the U.S. Department of Energy's National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) as we work to achieve the laboratory's vision of an affordable and secure energy future.
59 Episodes
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New week, new discoveries! In today’s episode, you can: Explore the evolving world of battery safety research—from new energy storage technologies to a strategic approach for evaluating safety at the electrode, pack, and cell levels. Discover how self-propelled rail cars could make freight trains competitive in short-haul delivery for the first time. Revisit the HERO-WEC, now redesigned to better withstand storms and powerful waves as it turns ocean energy into fresh drinking ...
Are you curious about new technologies that maximize performance while minimizing energy use and costs? If yes, this episode is for you. Learn about: A tool package that is helping trucking companies reduce fuel usage and costs by streamlining their fleet design and logistics. A breakthrough in air conditioning that transforms how we condition air and when we use electricity to do it. A silicon-carbide-based power module with never-before-seen efficiency, power density, and l...
In this episode, you’ll learn about three real-world research applications for a more reliable and cost-effective future: Experts convened at NREL to focus on deploying next-generation concrete and cement technologies to decrease our reliance on cement imports and increase durability. Artificial intelligence has the potential to help snuff out wildfires caused by downed power lines before they even begin. NREL researchers are looking at how to lower the plug and process loads...
It’s the 50th episode of The NREL Podcast! Today, you’ll hear about: A new tool that lets researchers and partners cut prototyping costs, wait times, and design barriers for ocean energy technologies. A recent gathering at NREL where experts explored how artificial intelligence can accelerate materials synthesis, characterization, and modeling—unlocking new insights and speeding technologies to market. NREL data scientist Hilary Egan's creative career path from astrophysics to...
It’s been a busy summer at NREL. In this episode, you’ll learn about: The appointment of NREL’s incoming laboratory director Dr. Jud Virden, who brings 34 years of national lab experience at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and a background in chemical engineering to his new position. How Google and NREL teamed up to host an AI Hackathon. (Yes, we Googled it: Hackathon is a real word.) This summer’s EnergyTech University Prize 2025 collegiate pitch event with many innov...
Ever wondered what it's like to intern at NREL? It might include supercomputers, hydrogen breakthroughs, and … a podcast mic. NREL intern Madelyn Weirich joins this episode of The NREL Podcast to take you behind the scenes of NREL's internship programs. 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 Ga...
In this episode, explore three ways NREL researchers are creating energy solutions for small, remote, and rural regions: How a microgrid project on Martha’s Vineyard is strengthening the island’s energy resilience and reliability during outagesHow NREL’s ARIES platform is being used to test new electrification scenarios for airports—before infrastructure is builtHow geothermal heat stored underground could help meet building heating needs in Alaska’s Arctic climateThis episode was hosted by K...
In this episode, explore three ways NREL researchers are seeking out energy solutions: An experiment dubbed “No Photon Left Behind” examined if growing tomatoes under the filtered light spectrum of a semitransparent photovoltaic panels would make them grow faster, bigger, and tastier. The BOTTLE consortium at NREL released a paper recently that looked at new methods for recycling carbon fiber composites, the high-strength, low weight materials made from epoxy-amine resins that en...
In this episode, hosts Kerrin and Taylor dive into three stories with one goal: powering our world with curiosity, creativity, and just a dash of “What if it fails?” Listen in to explore: Updates to NREL’s risk management framework. Remember the HERO-WEC from last episode? Researchers are working with the team behind this device to help developers identify, prioritize, and address the challenges of designing and deploying wave energy converters.How NREL engineer Bri Friedman will deploy a new...
In this episode of The NREL Podcast, hosts Taylor Mankle and Kerrin Jeromin spotlight three stories where innovation meets real-world impact, including: Marine energy tech getting a surprising upgrade. NREL researchers test an elevator pulley belt to improve their wave-powered desalination device, called the HERO WEC. A major milestone for secure transportation data sharing. The Transportation Secure Data Center celebrates 15 years of enabling smarter transportation planning while ...
In this episode of The NREL Podcast, hosts Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle take listeners across the United States to explore three very different—but equally impactful—stories from the lab, including: A look at NREL’s work with the Chilkat Indian Village to improve housing in Klukwan, a remote Alaskan village facing a housing emergency. Discover how retrofits, health assessments, and workforce development are bringing warmth and opportunity to the community. NREL’s partnership wi...
In this episode, hosts Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle dive into a banner year for innovation at NREL. Together, they explore the entrepreneurial side of energy technology, including: NREL’s record-breaking 294 invention disclosures and 46 patents in Fiscal Year 2024—including the first patent from NREL’s Cybersecurity Research Center, an AI-powered system for grid security. Licensing Executive Eric Payne explains how patents reflect years of prior innovation, and the team highlights o...
In this episode, hosts Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle highlight the human side of energy innovation—from personal career journeys to community impact and mentorship. Highlights include: A look into how Senior Scientist Susan Habas’ love for 90s pop culture inspired her to pursue a career in catalytic research, providing the foundations for her cutting-edge work at NREL. How Ponderosa High School in Arizona is empowering students who faced difficulties in their education by giving...
In this episode, hosts Taylor Mankle and Kerrin Jeromin explore stories of innovation and determination at NREL, including: How researchers are testing marine energy technologies in land-locked Colorado. With tools like a sophisticated wave tank and the Large Amplitude Motion Platform (LAMP), researchers can test marine energy devices in simulated ocean conditions—without ever dipping a toe in the sea. These facilities reduce time, cost, and risk, accelerating the development of reliabl...
Electricity demand is rapidly increasing in the United States—so much so that we may need to double or even triple our transmission system by 2050! But how does that work? In this special Lab Notes episode, you’ll hear directly from experts at NREL—Jarrad Wright, Christina Simeone, and Faith Smith—about key findings from the National Transmission Planning Study. Providing concrete examples and data from the study, they dive into why exactly the U.S. grid needs an upgrade, where the barr...
To kick off the first episode of the new year, our hosts are celebrating a few of their favorite renewable energy innovations of 2024! From advancements in sustainable aviation to innovative solutions for reducing plastic pollution, this episode highlights 10 of the lab's top stories of 2024, showcasing the future of renewable energy and sustainable technologies. Learn more about how NREL is celebrating the incredible strides made over the past year in renewable energy research an...
In this episode, explore the volunteer efforts of NREL employees and how they’re making a tangible impact on their communities while advancing the lab’s mission of a renewable energy future. Hear from Education, Stewardship, and Community Action for Promoting Environmental Sustainability (ESCAPES) Cofounder Hilary Sewell and NREL Volunteer Coordinator Ivilina Thornton about how NREL staff are partnering with organizations like GRID Alternatives to give directly to the community, whether...
In this Thanksgiving week episode, special correspondent Nataleah Small joins to dive into the latest innovations at NREL, including: How NREL researchers are revolutionizing heating systems by using salt-hydrate thermochemical materials (TCMs) to create more efficient, cost-effective heating solutions. From hydration and dehydration processes to innovative reactor configurations, discover how TCMs could transform the way buildings stay warm in winter. A few ways NREL’s STEM Educat...
In this Lab Notes episode, we explore the ins and outs of integrating solar energy with agriculture—also known as agrivoltaics! Learn about why agrivoltaics is vital for sustainable growth, along with NREL’s work in pioneering the technique from lead Agrivoltaics researcher Jordan Macknick. Then, dive into how agrivoltaics is evolving in the United States and the challenges of scaling these projects with Ethan Winter from American Farmland Trust. Finally, understand the critical role of...
In this week’s episode, your hosts dive into a few real-world applications of NREL’s research, including: Boosting Energy Efficiency on the Front Lines of Wildfire Control: through a partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, NREL introduced solar power and battery storage solutions to wildfire basecamps, paving the way for quieter, cleaner, and more efficient firefighting support.Decoding Zero-Emission Vehicle Costs: Now available for public use, NREL's T3CO tool helps owners of commercial ve...
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