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NREL 2005 Research Review National Renewable Energy Laboratory 2005 Research Review June 2006 ISSUE 4 a publication about NREL R&D highlights CONTENTS feature 6 On the Road to Future Fuels & Vehicles America’s dependence on imported petroleum can be reduced by using clean, domestic trans- portation fuels and advanced vehicles. NREL is developing the science and technology to allow us to move from corn ethanol, biodiesel, and flexible-fuel and hybrid-electric vehicles in the near term to cellulosic ethanol, green diesel, and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles in the mid term to renewable-source hydrogen and fuel- cell vehicles in the long term. departments articles 1 Perspective 14 High- The President has told the nation that we are Performing “…addicted to oil…[and] the best way to break Commercial this addiction is through technology.” NREL’s R&D in sustainable, domestic energy technolo- Buildings gies is leading the way to a long-term solution NREL’s R&D shows that it is possible to design to this problem. and construct attractive residential and commer- cial buildings that are much more energy efficient 2 NREL in Focus than current standard practice. Take a look at six such “high-performing” buildings. NREL has a new deputy director/chief operat- ing officer, has partnered with others to form a fuel-cell research center, has expanded its com- 18 Closing the Gaps puting capabilities beyond the 1-teraflop High-efficiency solar milestone, and is about to open a major cells are one of many new facility. The Science and Technology areas of solar research Facility will greatly facilitate the transfer of at NREL. Read about renewable energy technology to industry. the basic rationale of multijunction cells and some innovative design Awards & Honors 4 twists that are boosting During 2005, NREL received two R&D 100 their efficiencies. Awards and two technology transfer awards. In addition, several of our scientists were recognized for their special service and expertise. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is operated by Midwest Research Institute and Battelle for the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. NREL is the nation’s primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. TheResearch Review is published yearly and describes the Laboratory’s accomplishments in science and technology to a wide audience. The purpose is not simply to describe the progress being made, but also to show the promise and value of NREL’s R&D to people, industry, the nation, and the world. This year’s NREL Research Review staff includes Howard Brown, Don Gwinner, Molly Miller, and Paula Pitchford, writers, and Ray David and Al Hicks, graphic designers. i Perspective Dr. Stanley R. Bull, Associate Director, Science & Technology Securing Energy for the future directions in integrate renewable areas the President energy technologies Future Through Science and particularly noted in into these buildings. Technology his Address: biofuels PIX006943/Warren Gretz PIX006943/Warren The President’s and vehicles, energy- Science and technology. They are at Advanced Energy efficient buildings, the heart of everything we do at the Initiative will invest National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and solar energy. in renewable energy technologies that as we pursue innovative, robust, and Biofuels and Vehicles—The alternative “change how we power our homes sustainable ways to produce energy— fuels industry is helping to reduce our and offices.” In this way, we can con- and as we seek to understand and illu- dependence on imports by introducing tinue to assist the U.S. building indus- minate the physics, chemistry, biology, more domestic ethanol and biodiesel try in constructing energy-smart, and engineering behind alternative options into the transportation fuels “high-performing” buildings, like the energy technologies. market. This issue describes NREL’s con- ones described in this issue. Although our nation is learning to use tributions, which include expanding Solar Energy—As part of NREL’s energy more wisely—for example, by feedstock sources, developing meth- research and development in photo- producing and buying more energy- ods for breaking down feedstock for fur- voltaics, our scientists work closely with efficient vehicles and appliances—the ther processing, and making conversion other expert groups to investigate and demand is still great. Americans con- methods for fuels and other products improve the way in which solar cells sumed 99.7 quadrillion Btu (quads) of more efficient and cost effective. directly convert sunlight to electricity. energy in 2004; the Energy Information The President proposes to “fund addi- The President’s Solar America Initiative Administration projects that this will tional research in cutting-edge meth- will support the development of solar increase to 127 quads by 2025. ods of producing ethanol, not just from cells that convert the sunlight much more efficiently than they do now. In his 2006 State of the Union address, corn, but from wood chips and stalks, President George W. Bush noted the or switchgrass. Our goal is to make this Work in high-efficiency solar cells is one seriousness of the situation and pointed new kind of ethanol practical and com- of many relevant areas of solar research the way to a remedy. The President said, petitive within six years.” Through the conducted at NREL. In the article in this “Keeping America competitive requires Advanced Energy Initiative, we will issue, we discuss the basic rationale of affordable energy. And here we have a continue working toward this impor- multijunction cells and some innova- serious problem: America is addicted to tant goal in feedstock development and tive twists on their design that can boost oil, which is often imported from un- conversion methods. efficiencies to higher levels. stable parts of the world. The best way Buildings—Our buildings consume From NREL’s inception in 1977 to the to break this addiction is through nearly 40% of the energy Americans use present, the science and technology of technology.” each year. NREL’s buildings research alternative energy has been the core of With our emphasis on research and and development demonstrate that it is our mission. And this will continue in development in market-relevant, possible to design and construct attrac- the decades to come. The advances we domestic energy technologies, NREL is tive residential and commercial build- make in all areas of renewable energy working toward a long-term solution to ings that are much more energy efficient and energy efficiency will play a vital this problem. In this issue of the NREL than the current standard practice. role in assuring the security, strength, Research Review, we present three stories Our work also develops good ways to and competitiveness of the nation. that highlight recent advances and 1 provided $2 million in start-up fund- NREL In Focus ing, and the partners are contributing $1 million. The CFCC aims to provide state leadership in the development and application of fuel cell technol- ogies, increase the public’s under- standing of the technologies through education and outreach activities, and foster economic development through partnerships with local businesses. Bill Glover Is New NREL vision. He will also serve as a vice pres- Deputy Director and COO ident for Midwest Research Institute, The CFCC will also coordinate the which has operated and managed development of fuel cell R&D pro- On February NREL for DOE since NREL opened as grams, facilitate access to experts in 1, 2006,NREL the Solar Energy Research Institute in NREL and CSM research labs, assist in welcomed 1977. forming strategic alliances among local William (Bill) developers and university research cen- Glover as the New Colorado Research ters, and serve as an independent test- Laboratory’s ing agency. In addition, the center will new Deputy Partnership Formed to promote the development of fuel cell Director and Develop Fuel Cells PIX14712/Mike Linenberger PIX14712/Mike curriculums in colleges, universities, Chief Oper- Power generation in the 21st Century and trade schools in order to build a ating Officer. faces some tough challenges: it has technically viable labor force for this “I’m glad to to score very high in energy efficiency Deputy Director and Chief young industry. Operating Officer Bill Glover be here,” he and, at the same time, very low in envi- said. “I’m very The tremendous growth excited about the Lab’s mission and I expected in the fuel cell am looking forward to working with industry in the coming everyone at NREL.” decade will mean new high-tech jobs in R&D Bill has had more than 35 years of and in manufacturing that executive-level experience. His exten- PIX14679/Ray David PIX14679/Ray will eventually extend well sive experience with the Department beyond Colorado and the of Energy (DOE) has included senior industry itself. management responsibilities in stan- dards identification and management, At the end of two years, self-assessment and independent over- the CFCC should be sight, quality assurance, performance self-sustaining through measurement and evaluation, and research and develop- readiness reviews. He was on a head- ment contracts, consulting quarters level group overseeing the The new joint-venture Colorado Fuel Cell Center is housed agreements, and other rollout of DOE’s Standards Program, at the Colorado School of Mines a few miles away from the sources of funding. The and he led a facilities maintenance pro- NREL campus. center will then empha- gram assessment team at Los Alamos size the development National Laboratory. ronmental impacts. Right now, the fuel of the Colorado fuel cell industry as cell is one of the few technologies that it responds to national solicitations. Before joining NREL, Bill was an inde- appears to do both these things at once. For more information, contact CFCC pendent consultant, President/General Executive Director Robert J.
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