As Spring 2018 began on Colorado’s Front Range to bluebird skies and balmy temps, employees of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) descended on Powder7 for free ski tunes, pizza, and beers. If it sounds lush, here’s where we’re coming from: A little hospitality and refreshed gear is the least we can do for folks who drive the push for clean energy to fight climate change.
Along with being a major employer here in Golden, NREL takes the mantle as a big deal both nationally and globally. Not familiar with them? You’re overdue for an introduction.
More than 2,000 employees from 70-plus countries
The NREL tribe includes full-time employees, postdoctoral researchers, interns, visiting professionals, and subcontractors. They work to support NREL’s sweeping mission, which focuses on sustainable transportation, energy productivity, renewable electricity, and systems integration. Interns from Colorado School of Mines and other institutions along with recent advanced-degree graduates work closely with veterans in the field across the lab’s many departments. Fun fact? NREL employees hold a combined 2,700 college degrees.
The only federal laboratory of its kind
NREL is the only federal laboratory dedicated to the research, development, commercialization, and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. In 2017, its funding topped out at $458 million. These days, NREL employees are concerned about the near future of the lab’s financial support considering the Trump Administration’s unpredictability and volatile attitude toward renewable energies and climate change science.
Three national centers
The lab’s main campus measures 327 acres and houses the National Bioenergy Center and the National Center for Photovoltaics. NREL’s 305-acre National Wind Technology Center is located 25 miles north of Golden. In addition to the centers, NREL is also home to three collaborative research facilities: the Energy Systems Integration Facility, Solar Facilities and Laboratories, and the Integrated Biorefinery Research Facility.
Near-zero energy and waste
Most of the buildings on the NREL campus achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and/or net zero energy status. This minimizes the lab’s footprint. Additionally, by living and working out of a reduce/reuse/recycle/re-buy philosophy blended with composting, chemical management systems, and pollution prevention initiatives, NREL nets nearly zero waste.
NREL’s reach is huge
The lab is responsible for more than 1,000 scientific and technical materials that are published annually, and it maintains more than 700 active tech partnerships. Along with leading many ongoing educational programs to foster continuing development in its field, NREL also creates—more than 800 patented or patent-pending technologies are available for licensing.
Follow along with Powder7 staffers on their visit to NREL.
