Renewable energy lab lists its accomplishments for 2005

BOULDER, Colorado, US, February 8, 2006 (Refocus Weekly)

Solar energy technologies received 35% of research funding from the U.S. government last year, with wind and hydropower technologies receiving a combined 16%, biomass 13% and geothermal technologies receiving 2% of the funds.

In its 2005 performance review, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory says a discretionary research budget allocated 48% to solar PV and solid-state lighting, and another 16% to biomass conversion and bioenergy.

“As the U.S. Department of Energy’s premier laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development, NREL has always been focused on the future and delivering on the tremendous promise of renewables, which can help solve the world’s toughest energy-related problems,” says director Dan Arvizu. “We have exemplified the energy efficiency and renewable energy mission, walking the talk of sustainability by maximizing efficient use of resources, minimizing waste and pollution, and serving as a positive force for economic, environmental and social responsibility.”

NREL purchased renewable energy certificates equivalent to 100% of its annual DOE-owned building electric use, which puts NREL as the leader in the federal sector. The NREL purchase was key to DOE reaching its FY05 commitment of 3% of its electricity use from renewables.

Among the accomplishments noted by Arvizu was the ‘R&D 100 Award’ for developing a quasi-steady state photoconductance silicon evaluation system with Sinton Consulting, which can detect impurities and defects in the silicon material used in the solar cell manufacturing process. “With this information, manufacturers can identify substandard silicon before it is made into cells, thereby increasing the quality and yield of cells produced and helping the solar industry keep up with demand,” the report explains. “This information also supports the ongoing success and growth of solar energy.”

The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation accepted NREL’s facilities for solar cell and module calibration, while Germanischer Lloyd of Germany accepted two of NREL’s wind turbine design codes. Research supported by the federal laboratory resulted in crystalline silicon reaching 13.5% efficiency and 11% for thin-film modules, while world-record efficiencies were attained for six solar cells and one module. NREL also supported design of the Boeing-Spectrolab cell, which achieved 39% efficiency, the highest efficiency ever achieved for any cell.

NREL and DOE designed and built a net-zero energy Habitat for Humanity home, which will produce as much energy as it consumes on an annual basis. The home combines energy efficient design to reduce energy consumption with solar heating and solar power generation technologies which supply the home’s remaining energy needs, and features super-insulation, heat recovery ventilation, solar water heating and a large solar electric system.

Construction started last year on the Science & Technology Facility that will provide additional space and new capabilities to work in solar, hydrogen, buildings, solid-state lighting, thin-film energy coatings/devices, electrochromics, and nanotechnologies. NREL conducted several student educational competitions, including the Colorado Junior Solar Sprint which attracted 46 teams from 17 schools, while its ‘Renewable Energy & Efficiency Education on Wheels’ (RnE2EW) vehicle has demonstrated renewable energy technologies to schools and at consumer events.


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