Latest news with #NREL
Observer
24-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
Exploring the potential of sand batteries for the Gulf
In the global quest for sustainable energy, the spotlight often shines on solar panels, wind turbines, and lithium-ion batteries. But in the quiet town of Kankaanpää, Finland, a modest silo packed with sand is rewriting the rules of energy storage; offering a promising solution to one of renewable energy's most stubborn challenges: what to do when the sun isn't shining and the wind isn't blowing. The world's first commercial sand battery became operational in July 2022, the result of a collaboration between Finnish startup Polar Night Energy and local utility Vatajankoski (Polar Night Energy, 2022). The installation, a 7-meter-high steel container filled with around 100 tons of coarse sand, uses excess renewable electricity to heat air, which is then circulated through the sand, raising its temperature to about 600°C. The stored thermal energy is later used to supply the town's district heating network, warming homes and even a municipal swimming pool (BBC Future, 2022). Unlike conventional batteries, which store electricity, sand batteries store heat - a key advantage in cold climates where heating demand exceeds electrical use. The Kankaanpää system delivers 100 kW of heating power with a thermal storage capacity of 8 MWh, allowing energy to be held for days or weeks with minimal loss (Polar Night Energy, 2022). A second installation in Pornainen, southern Finland, is currently under development. Slated for commissioning in 2025, this larger unit will store up to 100 MWh using 2,000 tons of crushed soapstone, a byproduct of fireplace manufacturing. The system is expected to cut the town's oil-based heating use by over 60% (PV Magazine, 2024). The simplicity and sustainability of sand battery technology make it especially appealing. Sand is abundant, affordable, and thermally stable. Unlike lithium-ion systems, sand batteries involve no toxic materials or rare earth elements and operate without moving parts—minimizing long-term maintenance and degradation (NREL, 2024). Although the concept remains new, it is attracting global attention. The US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has confirmed sand's potential for long-duration thermal storage, capable of maintaining high temperatures with minimal heat loss over time (NREL, 2024). Meanwhile, researchers in the United Arab Emirates have demonstrated that local desert sand can store solar energy at temperatures of up to 1,000°C, proving its viability for regional adaptation (Masdar Institute, 2017). So far, no sand battery projects have been deployed in the Gulf. Energy storage in the GCC remains dominated by lithium-ion systems, such as Saudi Arabia's 1,000 MWh battery at the Red Sea Project (Red Sea Global, 2023) and the UAE's Masdar-led 5 GW solar-battery hybrid system (Financial Times, 2024). Yet the Gulf's abundant solar radiation, readily available desert sand, and commitment to decarbonization position it well for future sand battery implementation. If adapted to local needs -particularly cooling- sand batteries could complement existing renewable strategies in the GCC. For example, thermal storage could be linked to concentrated solar power (CSP) systems or used in district cooling networks. These adaptations would support the region's goal of net-zero energy systems without relying heavily on imported battery materials. While commercial use remains limited to Finland, sand batteries offer an elegant, low-cost path forward, particularly for regions seeking seasonal energy storage solutions without the footprint of chemical battery farms. As Polar Night Energy's team puts it, 'the future of clean energy may not only be in the sky, but beneath our feet.'
CBS News
06-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
More than 100 National Renewable Energy Lab employees laid off in Colorado, elsewhere
The federal government has laid off more than 100 employees at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Colorado lab, an agency spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday. The layoffs affected staff at the lab's Golden campus, as well as remote employees, not all of whom live in Colorado. The impacted workers came from both research and operations departments. An NREL spokesperson said in a statement that the organization continues to "navigate a complex financial and operational landscape shaped by the issuance of stop work orders from federal agencies, new federal directives, and budgetary shifts." The visitors center at the National Renewable Energy Lab, NREL, in Golden, Colorado, is seen in a 2007 Getty Images file photo. Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images NREL works on research and development of renewable energy, like solar and wind energy, and related technologies and research. Headquartered in Golden, it also has campuses in Arvada, Alaska, and an office in Washington, D.C., and employs approximately 3,000 people. Tuesday's layoffs are the latest in a string of mass layoffs and firings across the federal government under the second Trump administration by billionaire Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. While the exact number of civilian government employees laid off this year isn't clear, the Center on Budget and Public Priorities has reported that 130,000 have been laid off or accepted buyouts, and the Trump administration plans to eliminate an additional 150,000 government jobs. The federal government employs about 2.3 million people, about 57,000 of whom reside in Colorado, according to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. Layoffs of federal workers in Colorado have so far impacted the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Forest Service, and the National Park Service.
Reuters
06-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Trump funding cuts force layoffs at US renewable energy research lab
U.S. President Donald Trump looks on as he signs executive orders and proclamations in the Oval Office at the White House, in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 5, 2025. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab May 6 (Reuters) - The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), a research division of the U.S. Department of Energy that focuses on energy sources like wind and solar, said on Tuesday that it laid off 114 employees due to federal budget cuts, stop work orders and new directives. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT The staff reduction at NREL, based in Golden, Colorado, reflects the broader trend of workforce cuts across the Department of Energy under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump . The staff reduction represents about 3% of NREL's workforce of 3,675, according to the lab's web site. The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here. Advertisement · Scroll to continue KEY QUOTE "NREL's mission continues to be critical to achieve an affordable and secure energy future. We are grateful for the dedication and commitment of our staff as we continue to advance the laboratory's work," the lab said in a statement. CONTEXT The layoffs come amidst a wider downsizing of the federal government under Trump. NREL is overseen by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. A White House budget proposal last week seeks to cut $2.6 billion in funding from EERE, in line with Trump's goal to boost fossil fuels and eschew clean energy technologies that experts say are needed to combat climate change. Advertisement · Scroll to continue NREL is one of 17 national labs that sit under DOE. Most are managed by third-party contractors. NREL is managed by Battelle and MRIGlobal. Reporting by Nichola Groom; editing by Edward Tobin Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab Share X Facebook Linkedin Email Link Purchase Licensing Rights
The Hill
06-05-2025
- Business
- The Hill
More than 100 fired from National Renewable Energy Lab
More than 100 staff members have been fired from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, spokespeople for the lab confirmed on Tuesday. A National Renewable Energy Lab spokesperson cited 'stop work orders from federal agencies, new federal directives, and budgetary shifts' in its reason for the firings. 'As a result, NREL has experienced workforce impacts affecting 114 employees across the laboratory, including staff from both research and operations, who were involuntarily separated today,' the spokesperson said. However, spokespeople for the lab declined to elaborate on what orders it had received. The National Renewable Energy Lab had nearly 3,700 employees as of 2023, and it is the Energy Department's primary energy systems lab. The lab has campuses in Colorado, Alaska and Washington, D.C. The job cuts come as the Trump administration has sought to cut staffing across the board — but has also demonstrated a particular distaste for renewable energy. While even under his last administration, Republicans called for an 'all of the above' energy strategy, this time around the Trump administration has excluded renewables from its energy emergency declaration and sought to stop or even claw back approvals for wind projects.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
114 people fired from National Renewable Energy Laboratory as federal cuts impact Colorado
DENVER (KDVR) — On Monday, 114 employees of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory were 'involuntarily separated' from the agency. The mass layoff was confirmed in an email from an NREL spokesperson, who said NREL is dealing with 'a complex financial and operational landscape shaped by the issuance of stop work orders from federal agencies, new federal directives, and budgetary shifts.' 'As a result, NREL has experienced workforce impacts affecting 114 employees across the laboratory, including staff from both research and operations, who were involuntarily separated today,' the statement read. 'We appreciate their meaningful contributions to the laboratory. NREL's mission continues to be critical to achieve an affordable and secure energy future. We are grateful for the dedication and commitment of our staff as we continue to advance the laboratory's work.' NREL is self-described on its website as 'the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for energy systems research and development.' NREL said on its website that it employs over 3,600 employees with campuses in Arvada, Golden, Fairbanks and Washington, D.C. Answers demanded on DOGE lease cancellations of Colorado's federal agencies On May 2, the Office of the President sent a letter to the Committee on Appropriations recommending that billions in funds committed to renewable energy be canceled, calling it the 'Green New Scam.' However, NREL is not directly listed in any of those line items, but it does name $2.5 billion in cuts to the DOE's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy program, which the Trump Administration said funnels taxpayer dollars into 'unreliable energy and EVs to advance the destructive 'Green New Deal' agenda.' 'EERE is also responsible for outlandish regulations that drive up costs for American families, like banning gas stoves and incandescent light bulbs,' the White House information sheet argued. 'The Budget proposal refocuses spending on research and development, technologies improving baseload power, and bioenergy, while saving taxpayers over $2.5 billion.' The Trump administration has increased oil and gas drilling efforts with plans for expanded offshore drilling and more public land drilling and mining. The news of the NREL layoffs comes almost a month to the day after U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright traveled to the NREL campus in Golden to speak to staff as part of his tour of the Department of Energy's 17 national labs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
