PROGRAM DETAILS - U.S. Department of Energy

National Renewable Energy Lab
carried out in state-of-the-art laboratories and in the process development unit (PDU) pilot plant,
which can process up to one ton of biomass feedstock per day.
* At the Outdoor Test Facility (11,247 gsf), researchers study the performance and reliability of
advanced or emerging photovoltaic technologies under simulated, accelerated indoor and outdoor,
and prevailing outdoor conditions.
* At the Thermal Test Facility (TTF) (10,682 gsf), researchers develop, test, and optimize advanced
energy-saving technologies - focusing their efforts on cost-effective and environmentally
friendly building equipment and energy systems. TTF houses the Energy Storage Laboratory,
which supports DOE's Vehicle Technologies Program, and the U.S. Advanced Battery
Consortium. In addition to providing state-of-the-art laboratory space, the TTF also serves as a
large-scale, live-in laboratory. Researchers monitor such energy-saving features as highefficiency
lighting, space conditioning (heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning, or HVAC),
water heating, and daylighting.
* Mesa Top Facilities (4,882 gsf total) provide indoor and outdoor facilities for continuously
measuring solar and atmospheric radiation and other meteorological parameters important for
renewable energy technologies and climate research. The High-Flux Solar Furnace generates
power to expose, test, and evaluate many components - such as receivers, collectors, and
reflector materials - used in concentrating solar power systems.
National Wind Technology Center (NWTC)
* Wind engineering analysis and research development is performed in the NWTC Bldg 251
(22,026 gsf).
* The NWTC Industrial User Facility (11,394 gsf) is a utility-class blade testing facility where
researchers are able to simulate the effects of years of normal use on turbine blades in only a
matter of months. This facility will serve as a test bed for development of new testing
technologies and methods and for training staff for two new, larger blade test facilities that are
being built by consortia in Massachusetts and Texas.
* The Distributed Energy Resources Test Facility (2,000 gsf) is a 2,000-square-foot test facility
where researchers work closely with the distributed power community - especially those in
industry - to study and evaluate systems integration and interconnection issues with large-scale
deployment of renewable energy technologies. This facility houses the precursor capabilities that
ultimately will be housed in a new Energy Systems Integration Facility.
Other facilities at the NWTC, such as the megawatt dynamometer test stand and full-scale turbine
testing sites help researchers test wind turbines and drive trains.
Leased Space
* The Fuel Chemistry Laboratory supports NREL's fuels performance work in its efforts to test and
evaluate renewable and synthetic fuels and lubricants.
* Research at the state-of-the-art Energy Storage Laboratory helps battery developers and
automobile manufacturers improve battery module and pack designs by enhancing performance
and extending battery life.
* At the Ancillary Loads Reduction Laboratory, research is focused on improving fuel economy and
reducing emissions by decreasing vehicle auxiliary loads, such as air conditioning, while
maintaining passenger comfort.
* Researchers at the Electrical Systems Laboratory develop and test vehicle power management
components and systems that significantly reduce cost, weight, volume and increase efficiency and
reliability.