Peaks to Power

Latest Episodes:

Building Healthy Homes in Alaska, Addressing Our Plastics Emergency, and Using Science To Optimize Wedding Guest Seating Oct 18, 2023

Show notes

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).

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 health, safety, and energy efficiency of their homes.
Special Correspondent Jason Youngstrom joins to share how NREL is addressing the problem of “wishcycling,” where people recycle items they're unsure about, leading to challenges in the recycling system. NREL's approach involves staff-driven programs to sort and recycle plastics labeled 3–7, focusing on capturing various types of plastic waste. The laboratory is researching upcycling technologies and redesigning plastics for recyclability, aiming for a circular economy where every plastic produced has a viable path to reuse.
Malik Hassanaly, a computational science researcher at NREL, specializes in uncertainty quantification, machine learning, and computational fluid dynamics spanning diverse areas like solar and wind energy, bioenergy, energy storage, and cybersecurity. His multidisciplinary approach enhances scientific innovation and practical problem-solving, emphasizing the importance of understanding various computational science use cases.

This episode was hosted by Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle, written and produced by Allison Montroy, Hannah Halusker, and Kaitlyn Stottler, and edited by Taylor Mankle, 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. Peaks to Power is created by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Laboratory of the Rockies in Golden, Colorado. Email us at podcast@nlr.gov. Follow NLR on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, and Facebook.

Spark Squad Comics’ Hydropower Heroes, Wind Energy’s Increased Potential, and a Tale of Two Cities Powered by Clean Energy—Plus, Clean Cities Coalitions Oct 04, 2023

Show notes

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).

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.
Technology Advancements Could Unlock 80% More Wind Energy Potential During This Decade: Researchers have identified new technologies that could make it possible to profitably capture more of the nation’s wind resources. In a recently published study, NREL researchers found that technology innovations making their way into commercial markets today and in coming years could unlock 80% more economically viable wind energy capacity within the contiguous United States. This could go a long way toward helping the nation meet its clean energy goals.
A Tale of Two Cities (Powered by Clean Energy): Los Angeles, California, and Tehuantepec, Mexico, are almost 2,500 miles apart but share similarities in clean energy goals and challenges. A study led by researchers from NREL contrasts how these areas in California and Mexico have chosen to address inequities in plans for clean energy transitions and the very different outcomes of those approaches.
Clean Cities Celebrates 30 Years of Acting Locally To Generate National Impact: The U.S. Department of Energy established the Clean Cities Coalition Network in 1993 to boost the country's economic vitality, energy security, and quality of life by advancing affordable, efficient, and clean transportation fuels and technologies. For the last 30 years, NREL, along with other national labs, has created tools and provided technical assistance to these communities.

The NREL Community, Partner Forum, Walmart Partnership, and Building International Connections  Sep 20, 2023

Show notes

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).

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 grid integration challenges, and develop collaborations and partnerships. The event included a demonstration of NREL’s Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems platform—also known as ARIES.
After 20 Years, NREL and Walmart Partnership Stays Strong: NREL partnered with Walmart to test clean energy technologies in an Aurora, Colorado, store in 2003, and the partnership has been growing ever since. Some of the technologies NREL has tested throughout the partnership are now standard in all Walmart stores.
Early-Career Researchers Gather in Frenoble, France, To Tackle Climate Change From a Global Perspective: In early July, 65 researchers from 16 countries spent one week outside of Grenoble in the northern French Alps participating in lectures and discussions about the latest developments and trends in renewable energy and sustainability research with a goal to create an international network of researchers dedicated to making the energy transition happen as quickly as possible. The summer school was organized under the patronage of the Research and Development 20 for Clean Energy Technologies (RD20) initiative.

A Decade of ESIF Innovation, the R&D 100 Awards, and the Benefits of Closed-Loop Pumped Storage Hydropower  Sep 06, 2023

Show notes

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).

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 first decade of moving clean energy innovations forward.
R&D 100 Awards Honor NREL Innovations: Considered the Oscars of innovation, R&D World magazine presented NREL with two of its annual R&D 100 Awards for research innovations. The winning NREL technologies are the Renewable Energy Potential (reV) model and the Simulation and Emulation for Advanced Systems (SEAS) software. This year’s winners bring NREL’s total R&D 100 Award count to 74 since 1982.
NREL Analysis Reveals Benefits of Hydropower for Grid-Scale Energy Storage: A recently published NREL study found that closed-loop pumped storage hydropower systems rank as having the lowest potential to add to the problem of global warming for energy storage when accounting for the full impacts of materials and construction.

A Clean Locomotive Revolution, Renewable Deployment Setback Ordinances, and Using Water to Cool Supercomputers Aug 23, 2023

Show notes

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).

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 world's first fully integrated, open-source software designed for exploring deep decarbonization of the rail industry.
NREL Analysis Quantifies Impacts of Setback Ordinances on Land Available for Renewable Energy Deployment: The number of local zoning ordinances governing renewable energy deployment is growing in the United States, according to new research by the U.S. Department of Energy’s NREL. The results indicate that local land use and community considerations play a significant role in U.S. decarbonization and should therefore be accurately reflected in modeling and analysis.
A Decade of Greener Computing Blooms Inside NREL's Data Center: NREL installed its first water-based cooling system inside the Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) data center in 2012. That risk paid off, and not just in the $4.05 million operational-cost savings to date. By not relying on air conditioning, the data center has avoided expelling 22,829 metric tons of carbon dioxide over the past 10 years. That is the equivalent of sequestering carbon dioxide emissions from over 25.2 million pounds of coal.

Energy Resilience in Ukraine, Agrivoltaics in Florida, and Barriers to Solar on Tribal Land Aug 09, 2023

Show notes

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).

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 Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) Expert Match program is a U.S. Department of Energy initiative that pairs communities with researchers from national laboratories to provide short-term technical assistance to address clean energy goals. NREL is working with Bealsville and the Black Farmers' Collaborative in Florida to incorporate clean-energy technology on farms and in communities.
Guidebook Explores Regulatory Barriers and Potential Solutions for Tribal Solar Projects: In a three-year project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technologies Office, NREL and the Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Association (MTERA) set out to learn more about the regulatory barriers that often prevent tribes from implementing solar projects and explore potential solutions through a guidebook.
Saving the Planet, One Internship at a Time: With more than 400 individuals, NREL welcomed its largest cohort of interns to the laboratory this summer. The NREL internship programs offer a variety of opportunities to talented, diverse undergraduate and graduate students interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Floating Solar, Electricity ATB, the Next Generation of Building Scientists, and Electrochemical Fellows Jul 26, 2023

Show notes

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).

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 accessible through the USAID-NREL Partnership's Renewable Energy (RE) Data Explorer tool.
The 2023 Electricity Annual Technology Baseline:
NREL has released the 2023 Electricity Annual Technology Baseline (ATB), a realistic and timely set of technology cost and performance data (current and projected) for the electric sector.
Preparing the Next Generation’s Zero-Energy Workforce with ZEDD:
Howard University’s Master of Architecture with an Equitable High-Performance Energy Design Concentration was among 17 programs of study from 12 institutions in the U.S. Department of Energy’s inaugural Zero Energy Design Designation (ZEDD) cohort in 2022.
Two NREL Researchers Named Electrochemical Society Fellows:
The Electrochemical Society has selected two researchers from NREL among this year’s class of its fellows: Bryan Pivovar, who manages NREL’s Electrochemical Engineering and Materials Chemistry Group, and Jeff Blackburn, who is a senior scientist, group manager, NREL Distinguished Member of the Research Staff, and serves on the current board of directors of ECS.

Electric-Powered Cars, Hydrogen-Powered Trucks, and Hydro-Powered Cities—Plus Geothermal! Jul 12, 2023

Show notes

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).

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 an anticipated 30–42 million EVs on the road by 2030.
H2Rescue: In the wake of a disaster, communities are displaced, and critical infrastructure is down. H2Rescue is a hydrogen fuel cell-powered truck designed to provide power for disaster relief operations. Unlike conventional fuel-based vehicles, H2Rescue runs with little to no noise and only emits water vapor.
Real-Time Hydropower Emulation Platform: With the new platform researchers can recreate hydropower plants in a virtual, lab setting. With the platform, users can study how various hydropower plant designs are likely to operate in the real world and in real time—providing a low-cost, low-risk way to test out new hydropower technologies and grid configurations.
Non-Technical Barriers to Geothermal Development: Geothermal resources represent a vast domestic energy supply that can provide a flexible and reliable source of renewable electricity. But, like any development, geothermal projects are subject to numerous permits, authorizations, and other regulatory requirements at the federal, state, and local levels. A new NREL study reveals the barriers to geothermal development.

Welcome to Transforming Energy: The NREL Podcast Jul 05, 2023

Show notes

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).

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.

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