Alliance for Sustainable Energy

On october 1, 2008, Alliance began management of the u.s. department of Energy's (doe) national renewable Energy laboratory under prime contract number de-ac36-08-go28308. The national renewable Energy laboratory (nrel) is the nation's primary laboratory for renewable Energy and Energy efficiency research and development (r and d). Alliance provides the leadership and strategy through its management and operation contract of the national renewable Energy laboratory (nrel) to execute research, development, demonstration, technical assistance and analysis programs on behalf of doe, other federal agencies and the private sector. It stewards the underlying capabilities and research assets that enable mission accomplishment. It also provides the leadership to safely, securely and sustainably manage and operate two major nrel campuses located in Colorado, and one nrel campus in fairbanks, Alaska, as well as several off-campus research and office facilities, and to operate and continuously improve business systems, including finance, human resources, procurement, and quality. Alliance partners with industry, other government agencies, and academia to transfer the knowledge, know how, and intellectual property to enable new product development and then scale up within the nation's Energy infrastructure. This effort supports Energy security and a vibrant economy while ensuring stewardship of the environment. Alliance provides leadership and technical capabilities for work within the following areas: renewable electricity generation this area includes advancements in renewable electricity generation technologies including solar, water, wind and geothermal. Energy productivity this area includes advancements, technologies, and systems integration to increase Energy productivity in homes, buildings, and industrial plants. Sustainable transportation this area includes advancements in transportation and vehicle technologies and alternative fuels. Energy analysis credible and objective Energy analysis increases the understanding of how the Energy systems operate. We explore how Energy policies, markets, resources, technologies, environmental impacts, and infrastructure interact. Analyses, data, and tools inform investment decisions as energy-efficient and renewable Energy technologies advance from concept to commercial application. Energy systems integration Energy systems integration research addresses tradeoffs across Energy carriers (such as electricity, thermal pathways, fuels, and water) within infrastructures (grids, buildings and campuses, communities, communications and transportation) to maximize efficiency and minimize waste. Nrel transforms Energy through science by focusing its expertise and resources on three distinct research areas that recognize emerging megatrends to help guide its research. Integrated Energy pathways focuses on modernizing the grid to support a broad selection of generation types, encourage active participation by the consumer, and expand options for transportation electrification. Electrons to molecules focuses on the use of renewable, affordable electricity as the driving force for the conversion of low-energy molecules-such as water and carbon dioxide-to generate higher-value, higher-energy chemicals, fuels, and materials. Circular economy for Energy materials focuses on reducing waste and preserving resources through the design of materials and products with reuse, recycling, and upcycling in mind from the start. Nrel is positioned to help the nation advance its Energy goals through the Alliance strategy for accelerating impact. The laboratory delivers market-relevant, high-impact knowledge/innovations; amplifies market impact through strategic partnerships; stewards distinctive capabilities and sustains operational excellence. Nrel supports collaborative research projects, disseminates research results broadly, protects intellectual property through patents and copyrights, licenses technologies and works with public and private partners to implement technologies. Innovative technologies are annually recognized with multiple r&d 100 awards, which are considered the most prestigious technology innovation awards in the united states. The engineering and science behind these technology transfer successes and awards demonstrate Alliance's commitment to developing and applying innovative renewable Energy solutions to achieve the nation's secure and Sustainable Energy future.