The National Laboratory of the Rockies’ podcast is back with a new name and brand! In our first episode as Peaks to Power, you’ll hear about: A rooftop “sunscreen” that’s keeping buildings cool in summer while protecting roofs from ultraviolet sunrays A bioplastic made from hemp seed oil that might one day be found in aerospace, automotive, battery, and construction materials A new approach, called cell-free biomanufacturing , that NLR is pioneering to turn biomass and waste into useful chemical...
May 06, 2026•10 min•Season 1Ep. 54
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). New week, new discoveries! In today’s episode, you can: Explore the evolving world of battery safety research —from new energy storage technologies to a strategic approach for evaluating safety at the electrode, pack, and cell levels. Discover how self-propelled rail cars could make freight trains competitive in...
Nov 19, 2025•10 min•Season 1Ep. 53
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). Are you curious about new technologies that maximize performance while minimizing energy use and costs? If yes, this episode is for you. Learn about: A tool package that is helping trucking companies reduce fuel usage and costs by streamlining their fleet design and logistics. A breakthrough in air conditioning ...
Sep 30, 2025•14 min•Season 1Ep. 52
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). In this episode, you’ll learn about three real-world research applications for a more reliable and cost-effective future: Experts convened at NREL to focus on deploying next-generation concrete and cement technologies to decrease our reliance on cement imports and increase durability. Artificial intelligence has...
Sep 17, 2025•11 min•Season 1Ep. 51
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). It’s the 50th episode of The NREL Podcast! Today, you’ll hear about: A new tool that lets researchers and partners cut prototyping costs, wait times, and design barriers for ocean energy technologies. A recent gathering at NREL where experts explored how artificial intelligence can accelerate materials synthesis...
Sep 03, 2025•10 min•Season 1Ep. 50
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). It’s been a busy summer at NREL. In this episode, you’ll learn about: The appointment of NREL’s incoming laboratory director Dr. Jud Virden , who brings 34 years of national lab experience at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and a background in chemical engineering to his new position. How Google and NREL t...
Aug 20, 2025•14 min•Season 1Ep. 49
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). Ever wondered what it's like to intern at NREL? It might include supercomputers, hydrogen breakthroughs, and … a podcast mic. NREL intern Madelyn Weirich joins this episode of The NREL Podcast to take you behind the scenes of NREL's internship programs. This episode was hosted by Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle...
Aug 06, 2025•10 min•Season 1Ep. 48
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). In this episode, explore three ways NREL researchers are creating energy solutions for small, remote, and rural regions: How a microgrid project on Martha’s Vineyard is strengthening the island’s energy resilience and reliability during outages How NREL’s ARIES platform is being used to test new electrification ...
Jul 23, 2025•15 min•Season 1Ep. 47
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). In this episode, explore three ways NREL researchers are seeking out energy solutions: An experiment dubbed “ No Photon Left Behind ” examined if growing tomatoes under the filtered light spectrum of a semitransparent photovoltaic panels would make them grow faster, bigger, and tastier. The BOTTLE consortium at ...
Jul 09, 2025•10 min•Season 1Ep. 46
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). In this episode, hosts Kerrin and Taylor dive into three stories with one goal: powering our world with curiosity, creativity, and just a dash of “What if it fails?” Listen in to explore: Updates to NREL’s risk management framework. Remember the HERO-WEC from last episode? Researchers are working with the team b...
Jun 25, 2025•10 min•Season 1Ep. 45
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). In this episode of The NREL Podcast , hosts Taylor Mankle and Kerrin Jeromin spotlight three stories where innovation meets real-world impact, including: Marine energy tech getting a surprising upgrade. NREL researchers test an elevator pulley belt to improve their wave-powered desalination device , called the H...
Jun 11, 2025•11 min•Season 1Ep. 44
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). In this episode of The NREL Podcast , hosts Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle take listeners across the United States to explore three very different—but equally impactful—stories from the lab, including: A look at NREL’s work with the Chilkat Indian Village to improve housing in Klukwan , a remote Alaskan villag...
May 28, 2025•8 min•Season 1Ep. 43
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). In this episode, hosts Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle dive into a banner year for innovation at NREL. Together, they explore the entrepreneurial side of energy technology, including: NREL’s record-breaking 294 invention disclosures and 46 patents in Fiscal Year 2024 —including the first patent from NREL’s Cybe...
May 14, 2025•11 min•Season 1Ep. 42
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). In this episode, hosts Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle highlight the human side of energy innovation—from personal career journeys to community impact and mentorship. Highlights include: A look into how Senior Scientist Susan Habas’ love for 90s pop culture inspired her to pursue a career in catalytic research,...
Apr 30, 2025•9 min•Season 1Ep. 41
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). In this episode, hosts Taylor Mankle and Kerrin Jeromin explore stories of innovation and determination at NREL, including: How researchers are testing marine energy technologies in land-locked Colorado . With tools like a sophisticated wave tank and the Large Amplitude Motion Platform (LAMP ) , researchers can ...
Apr 16, 2025•10 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). Electricity demand is rapidly increasing in the United States—so much so that we may need to double or even triple our transmission system by 2050! But how does that work? In this special Lab Notes episode, you’ll hear directly from experts at NREL—Jarrad Wright, Christina Simeone, and Faith Smith—about key find...
Jan 15, 2025•26 min
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). To kick off the first episode of the new year, our hosts are celebrating a few of their favorite renewable energy innovations of 2024! From advancements in sustainable aviation to innovative solutions for reducing plastic pollution , this episode highlights 10 of the lab's top stories of 2024, showcasing the fut...
Jan 08, 2025•10 min•Season 1Ep. 39
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). In this episode, explore the volunteer efforts of NREL employees and how they’re making a tangible impact on their communities while advancing the lab’s mission of a renewable energy future. Hear from Education, Stewardship, and Community Action for Promoting Environmental Sustainability (ESCAPES) Cofounder Hila...
Dec 11, 2024•10 min•Season 1Ep. 38
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). In this Thanksgiving week episode, special correspondent Nataleah Small joins to dive into the latest innovations at NREL, including: How NREL researchers are revolutionizing heating systems by using salt-hydrate thermochemical materials (TCMs) to create more efficient, cost-effective heating solutions. From hyd...
Nov 27, 2024•15 min•Season 1Ep. 37
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). In this Lab Notes episode, we explore the ins and outs of integrating solar energy with agriculture—also known as agrivoltaics ! Learn about why agrivoltaics is vital for sustainable growth, along with NREL’s work in pioneering the technique from lead Agrivoltaics researcher Jordan Macknick. Then, dive into how ...
Nov 21, 2024•41 min
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). In this week’s episode, your hosts dive into a few real-world applications of NREL’s research, including: Boosting Energy Efficiency on the Front Lines of Wildfire Control : through a partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, NREL introduced solar power and battery storage solutions to wildfire basecamps, paving...
Nov 13, 2024•13 min•Season 1Ep. 36
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). In this Halloween-inspired episode, our hosts explore recent highlights in NREL’s research, including: A look into the potential of geothermal heat pumps (GHPs). NREL’s 19 new case studies provide real-world GHP examples across various U.S. climate zones , with installations at the NREL Alaska Campus, Seattle Pu...
Oct 30, 2024•11 min•Season 1Ep. 35
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). In this episode of Transforming Energy’s Lab Notes series, hosts Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle are flying high into NREL’s research on sustainable aviation . The federal government and the aviation industry have lofty goals for decarbonizing aviation by 2050, but how can we get there? NREL researcher Scott Ca...
Oct 28, 2024•18 min
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). In this week’s episode, our hosts Kerrin and Taylor discuss: A 30-year friendship that brings together NREL and minority-serving institutions through DOE’s Visiting Faculty Program to focus on unraveling the mysteries of photosynthesis . NREL researcher Juanping Yu and Alabama State University professor Harvey H...
Oct 16, 2024•14 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). In this episode, our hosts explore the unofficial mascots of NREL’s campuses in Colorado and Alaska. This interactive episode covers: A fun guessing game (listeners are encouraged to join in) connecting clips of animal calls to their sources—the unofficial mascots of each campus. The game highlights how the loca...
Oct 02, 2024•13 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). In this week’s episode, our hosts dive into NREL’S impact, featuring: NREL’s research interns and how they’re not only gaining valuable experience but making tangible contributions to the clean energy transition. This year alone, NREL employed more than 500 interns both on-site and remote. Listen to what summer ...
Sep 18, 2024•10 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). In this episode, our hosts discuss: Recyclable Wind Turbine Blades : Researchers at NREL are developing wind turbine blades using a new material known as PECAN (PolyEster Covalently Adaptable Network) resin. This bioderivable resin allows the blades to be chemically recycled and remanufactured multiple times, of...
Sep 04, 2024•11 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). In this episode, our hosts discuss: Carbon-Negative Concrete – Learn about the BUILD'EM project, which aims to replace traditional cement with a low-carbon alternative made from lignin and other innovative materials. This new concrete not only reduces emissions but also promises to be cost-competitive and enviro...
Aug 21, 2024•14 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). In this episode, our hosts discuss: 1. Revolutionizing Solar Energy with Perovskites As we develop technology to produce renewable energy, it’s important that our materials don’t cause problems for future generations! Discover how NREL researchers are advancing perovskite solar technology , which promises a leap...
Aug 07, 2024•11 min•Season 1Ep. 29
Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). In this episode, our hosts discuss two recent stories from NREL: The recent release of this year’s Electricity Annual Technology Baseline (ATB) : a valuable resource for utility planners and grid operators to understand and tackle new challenges in the ever-changing power landscape. For the last 10 years, resear...
Jul 24, 2024•14 min•Season 1Ep. 28
