Episode description

• Researchers at NREL have utilized a multidisciplinary approach to quantitatively define the arrangement of polymers in Populus wood, offering insights crucial for biomass conversion to fuels, chemicals, and materials. The study presents a novel computer model detailing the intricate structural configuration of the wood's secondary cell wall, advancing our understanding beyond previous incomplete techniques and offering potential breakthroughs in bioenergy research.
• NREL's role in assisting startups is underscored by its cutting-edge technology and expertise, facilitating transformative innovations in the clean energy sector. Through collaborative programs and strategic partnerships, NREL empowers startups to navigate early-stage challenges, secure funding, and accelerate the development and adoption of groundbreaking technologies, driving the transition to a sustainable energy future.
• NREL is building a groundbreaking 127,000-square-foot Energy Materials and Processing at Scale (EMAPS) laboratory in Golden, Colorado. The facility, set to achieve LEED Gold certification, will provide state-of-the-art research capabilities in energy storage, advanced manufacturing, and grid modernization, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration and advancing NREL's mission of driving renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies

This episode was hosted by Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle, written and produced by Allison Montroy and Kaitlyn Stottler, and edited by James Wilcox, Joe DelNero, and Brittany Falch. Graphics are by Brittnee Gayet. Our title music is written and performed by Ted Vaca and episode music by Chuck Kurnik, Jim Riley, and Mark Sanseverino of Drift BC. Transforming Energy: The NREL Podcast is created by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. We express our gratitude and acknowledge that the land we are on is the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Ute peoples. Email us at podcast@nrel.gov. Follow NREL on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, and Facebook.