NREL in Review: Science and Technology at NREL
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Summer 1995 Science and Technology at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory InIn Review Review Summer 1995 Vol. XVII, No. 2 The National Renewable Features Energy Laboratory NREL is a national resource 2 New Directions for NREL committed to leadership, excellence, Plans to streamline NREL take root in the extensive industry background and innovation in renewable energy of its new director, Charlie Gay and related technologies. 10 Solar for South Africa Our research is intended for A new assembly plant for photovoltaic modules could open up a large application in the private sector. We market for American-made solar cells foster cooperation with industry through subcontracts and cost- 11 Integrating Renewables shared studies. We collaborate with Recent studies dispel misconceptions about integrating renewable energy university and industry researchers. technologies into electric utility grids Our world-class laboratories are 12 Hands Across the Water available for experiments, analyses, NREL helps smooth the way for American companies to prosper in and proprietary studies. expanding global markets for clean, renewable energy NREL is a DOE national labora- 18 Energy Software’s Best Test tory operated by the Midwest Research Institute. Architects and engineers can have more confidence in computerized predictions of building energy use thanks to a new tool called BESTEST NREL In Review NREL’s news magazine is intended to promote the flow of Departments technology from the laboratory to 1NRELNews the private sector. NREL In Review Budget cuts loom on NREL’s horizon; SERF wins national design award; addresses a readership ranging from states speed the widespread use of photovoltaics; NREL honored by wind scientific professionals to business industry; bipartisan poll indicates strong public support for renewables people. It is distributed without charge to those involved in 7 Technology Transfer renewable energy and related fields. Advanced airfoils offer top performance for wind turbines Material may be reprinted with 8 Partnerships proper credit. Mention of product or PV partnership program targets thin films; energy crops get a boost from company name does not constitute key stakeholders; IT Corporation and Fabricare Institute clean up solvents endorsement by NREL, MRI, or any from dry cleaning agency of the U.S. government. 15 Technical News Linda R. Brown Bioremediation uses a wealth of microscopic organisms to detoxify waste Managing Editor/Science Writer streams, soil, and groundwater (303) 275-4097 19 Publications Ann Hansen Assistant Editor 20 Calendar/Technical Reports Howard Brown, Mike Coe, Gary Cook, Paula Pitchford, Patrick Summers 1994 Lester Lefkowitz © Contributing Writers Susan Sczepanski On the cover — In a special growth chamber, Photograph Designer and Typographer an NREL researcher checks samples of Lester Lefkowitz microalgae that will be screened for their Cover photograph 1994 ability to capture and hold metal ions. See article on p. 15. Printed on paper containing at least 50% wastepaper, including 20% postconsumer waste. This magazine is fully recyclable at centers using the Office Pack program. NREL News says Christine Ervin, DOE’s researchers. Experimental labora- SERF wins national Assistant Secretary for Energy tories, state-of-the-art computer design award Efficiency and Renewable Energy. facilities, a blade-testing labora- The unique, energy-efficient While the debate continues in tory, assembly and tooling work- design of NREL’s Solar Energy Washington, Energy Secretary shops, and outdoor wind turbine Research Facility (SERF) has Hazel O’Leary, Assistant Secre- test beds are available to NREL’s ranked it among 77 winners of tary Ervin, and NREL Director industry partners. For more infor- this year’s Federal Design Charlie Gay are using their busi- mation on the center, contact Achievement Award from the ness acumen to create leaner, Darrell Dodge at (303) 384-6906. National Endowment of the Arts. meaner organizations. Will their Recipients are now contending proposals stave off massive Americans support for the Presidential Design Award budget cuts? See article on p. 2. for Excellence, the nation’s high- renewable energy est design honor. The SERF uses MIT wins Sunrayce‘95 A recent national survey on daylighting, compact fluorescent After 1150 miles and nine days priorities for the federal energy lights, window shades powered of racing, the Massachusetts Insti- budget reveals strong bipartisan by photovoltaics, and other tute of Technology (MIT) won support for continued funding of advanced features to reduce Sunrayce ‘95, edging second- renewable energy and energy energy consumption by 30% to place University of Minnesota efficiency research. 40%—a savings of almost by just 18 minutes. Conducted by Republican $200,000 a year in utility bills MIT’s solar car averaged pollster Vince Breglio, the post- when compared to a comparable a record 37.2 mph (59.9 kph) election survey found that 42% of conventional building. for the race, which started in Americans believe that renewable Indianapolis, IN, on June 20 and energy technologies should be the finished at NREL’s Solar Energy highest priority for continued fed- Research Facility on June 29. eral funding of energy research. Rounding out the top five Another 22% ranked renewables were: California Polytechnic as the second highest energy re- University—Pomona, third; search priority. This opinion was George Washington University, voiced almost equally by Republi- fourth; and Stanford University, cans (60%), Democrats (66%), and fifth. Solar cars from 38 North independents (67%). American universities competed Energy efficiency and conser- in the race. vation was also cited as a high pri- Sunrayce ‘95 is a biennial colle- ority: 22% of respondents rated giate solar car race sponsored by these technologies as the top pri- Budget cuts loom on DOE and General Motors. ority for federal energy funding, with 27% ranking them as second NREL’s horizon highest. Once again, this opinion At press time, both the U.S. NREL honored by was almost equally share by House of Representatives and the wind industry Republicans, Democrats, and Senate have proposed federal independents. budgets that could slash NREL’s The American Wind Energy About 85% of those surveyed funding by as much as 50% begin- Association has bestowed its agreed that the federal govern- ning in fiscal year 1996. Budget 1995 Technical Award to NREL’s ment should continue to support cuts would be counterproductive National Wind Technology Cen- partnerships with American busi- because the affected initiatives ter. Dedicated by Energy Secre- ness to promote sales of energy will ultimately save more money tary Hazel O’Leary in October efficiency and renewable energy for U.S. taxpayers than what’s 1994, the center has already technologies through research consumed in federal spending, become a focal point for collabora- and development. The poll was tion and information exchange commissioned by the Sustainable among government and industry Energy Budget Coalition.♦ NREL In Review Summer 1995 1 New Directions for NREL Plans to streamline NREL take root in the extensive industry background of its new director, Charlie Gay by Linda R. Brown What changes do you envision in synergies with other national labs; operations? and how we can draw more heavily on the ties we already have with Operational efficiency is essential universities. ith impending budget to maximizing the amount and cuts and intensive scru- quality of our work within the con- What about new business initiatives? Wtiny of DOE’s national straints of our available budget. labs, what’s on the horizon for We’ll use a spectrum of modern busi- These would be an effective way NREL? We asked Director Charlie ness practices to increase our work to move some of NREL’s mature Gay for his perspective on upcoming output and decrease the cost of our technologies quickly and efficiently changes that may affect both the day-to-day operations. into the marketplace. We’re explor- Laboratory and its industry partners. ing opportunities and methodologies to spin off our more mature tech- Right now there’s a lot of talk about “We’ve succeeded in nologies into new business ventures. major budget cuts for government We’ve succeeded in bringing some technologies to the brink of commer- agencies, including DOE. Can you bringing some technologies cialization, and it would be very tell how NREL will be affected? to the brink of appropriate to have these technolo- Last year, a review committee commercialization, and it gies spun off into private ventures to appointed by Energy Secretary flourish or perish in the competitive O’Leary concluded that the national would be very appropriate to marketplace. NREL is now working labs as a whole could find ways to have these technologies spun to define more aggressive technol- cut their activities by 30 to 50 percent off into private ventures to ogy transfer strategies incorporating without jeopardizing the priority these options. elements of DOE’s mission. In other flourish or perish in the words, if you roll together all 10 competitive marketplace.” What technologies might be appro- national labs, it should be possible priate for spinning off as new for those labs to deliver the same business ventures? results for about 40 percent less. This reduction focuses on how effec- For example, we’ll be following a We have a couple of candidates tively the money is being spent to corporatized approach to decision- in mind. One is a fairly substantial accomplish the objectives of each making in which responsibility and opportunity in the biofuels area— laboratory. accountability for getting things converting rice, straw, wood chips, We don’t know exactly how Con- done is delegated to the lowest possi- or other biomass into ethanol. By gressional budget cuts will fall out. ble level within the organization. In spinning off certain elements of this But we’re taking action to address almost any business today, you’ll activity as a stand-alone business concerns about the efficiency and find this kind of network, in which venture—independent from the effectiveness of our operations.