In the introductory episode of the Lab Notes series, Laboratory Director Martin Keller sits down with NREL writer Ernie Tucker, author of Clean Energy Innovators: NREL People Working To Change the World . The pair discuss Keller’s childhood in Germany, foray into a science-focused career, vision for the laboratory, and dream job (hint: he’s doing it). Lab Notes takes a deeper dive into NREL’s research, the people of NREL, and the people impacted by NREL’s work. This episode was hosted by Kerrin ...
Jan 10, 2024•50 min•Ep 14•Transcript available on Metacast Hosts Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle discuss the top 10 most-impactful stories highlighting how NREL contributed to a clean energy future in 2023. Highlights include NREL's visionary 2030 National Charging Network study, groundbreaking research on geothermal energy with the "Heat Beneath Our Feet" initiative, and the creation of a one-of-a-kind "SuperLab" linking solar, battery, hydrogen electrolyzers, and a nuclear reactor for advanced energy system studies. Stay tune...
Dec 27, 2023•9 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast Hosts Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle discuss recent stories from NREL: The LA100 Equity Strategies project , developed by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in collaboration with NREL and the University of California, Los Angeles , envisions a future where Los Angeles achieves 100% clean electricity by 2035 through community-driven approaches. The project, born out of two years of community engagement, outlines strategic pathways to address inequities in the current energy system, f...
Dec 13, 2023•11 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, hosts Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle take us on a journey through time exploring the origins of NREL . Beginning with the establishment in 1973 of the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI) after the oil embargo, SERI soon expanded into wind and other renewable technologies. The hosts discuss a dynamic journey marked by political changes, budget fluctuations, technological breakthroughs, and influential leadership shifts that shaped SERI's transformation into NREL in 1991...
Nov 29, 2023•7 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast Hosts Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle discuss recent stories from NREL: The rapid adoption of zero-emission electric vehicles , alongside a transition to a clean electric grid and measures to manage travel demand growth, could lead to an 80% or more drop in transportation greenhouse gas emissions in the United States by 2050, according to researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy’s NREL. Their study , published in the journal Nature Communications, involved over 2,000 simulations and ident...
Nov 15, 2023•10 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast Hosts Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle discuss recent stories from NREL: NREL’s Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS) Test Bed is a cutting-edge facility that can enable utilities to model and evaluate distribution systems, from simulating electric vehicle impacts to integrating renewable energy sources, emphasizing its role as a crucial resource for utilities and partners to experiment with innovations in a risk-free, controlled environment. Applications for new projects are currently ...
Nov 01, 2023•16 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast Hosts Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle discuss recent stories from NREL: Alaska Native communities face enormous challenges when it comes to energy, housing, and health, in part due to government-provided prefabricated housing from the late 20th century that was not designed for Alaska’s extreme weather. Seven homeowners in the Native Village of Gakona are working with researchers at NREL’s Alaska Campus (formerly Cold Climate Housing Center ) in Fairbanks, about 200 miles north, to improve the ...
Oct 18, 2023•16 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast Hosts Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle discuss new stories from NREL: Beneath the Surface: The 'Spark Squad' Behind the Spark Squad: Inspired by the 1990s television show “Captain Planet,” three NREL researchers developed a super squad for a new generation. The Spark Squad Comic Book series features three heroes super-powered by clean energy innovations. The series first came out in 2022 and was developed by NREL and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office. Tech...
Oct 04, 2023•13 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast Special Correspondent Nataleah Small joins the podcast to discuss Hispanic Heritage Month at NREL. Hosts Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle discuss three recent stories from NREL: NREL’s Annual Partner Forum Eyes Pathways to Future Energy Systems : The laboratory hosted its 7th annual Partner Forum last month, bringing together industry partners, researchers, and energy leaders to discuss our most pertinent energy challenges, explore energy innovation opportunities, connect stakeholders to solve g...
Sep 20, 2023•14 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast Hosts Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle discuss three recent stories from NREL: 10 Years of Leading Energy Systems Integration : As more renewables add to our energy mix, the grid is changing—and sectors that once were siloed are now interconnecting with one another. The Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) is a research facility designed to provide a space for NREL to validate these new technologies and how they are all working together. The building and its staff recently celebrated its f...
Sep 06, 2023•13 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast Hosts Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle discuss three recent stories from NREL: All Aboard! NREL Releases First Comprehensive, Open-Source Software for Freight Rail Decarbonization : The rail industry has an opportunity to revolutionize transportation. In the coming years, railroads could lay the tracks for industry-wide net-zero-emissions operations—thanks, in part, to a new software tool from NREL. ALTRIOS, the Advanced Locomotive Technology and Rail Infrastructure Optimization System , is the ...
Aug 23, 2023•11 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast Hosts Taylor Mankle and Kerrin Jeromin discuss four recent stories from NREL: Ukraine Fights To Build More Resilient, Renewable Energy System in Midst of War : In partnership with USAID, NREL is supporting deployment of renewable-generation-based microgrids that will enable Ukraine to increase its energy independence and resilience by integrating more renewables into its energy mix. NREL Partners With Black Farmers' Collaborative To Plan Solar Panels for Florida Farms and Churches : The Cle...
Aug 09, 2023•15 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast Hosts Taylor Mankle and Kerrin Jeromin explore four recent stories from NREL: Floating Photovoltaics in Southeast Asia : In a first-of-its-kind assessment, NREL researchers completed an analysis of FPV potential for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Enabling Floating Solar Photovoltaic (FPV) Deployment: FPV Technical Potential Assessment for Southeast Asia estimates the technical potential for the 10 ASEAN countries and is coupled with an FPV data set that is publicly accessibl...
Jul 26, 2023•13 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast Hosts Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle cover four recent new stories from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) – 2030 National Charging Network Study : NREL, in collaboration with the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation and the Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office, developed the 2030 National Charging Network study, which estimated the number, type, and location of chargers needed to create a comprehensive network of EV charging infrastructure, one that can support...
Jul 12, 2023•13 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) brings you a brand-new biweekly podcast highlighting the clean energy research happening at our Colorado-based laboratory. Tune in Wednesday, July 12, for the first episode. 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 an...
Jul 05, 2023•37 sec•Transcript available on Metacast 
