|
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located in Golden, Colorado, is the United States' primary laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is a government-owned, contractor-operated facility, and is funded through the United States Department of Energy (DOE). This arrangement allows a private entity to operate the lab on behalf of the federal government under a prime contract. NREL receives funding from Congress to be applied toward research and development projects. NREL also performs research on photovoltaics (PV) under the National Center for Photovoltaics. NREL has a number of PV research capabilities including research and development, testing, and deployment. NREL's campus houses several facilities dedicated to PV research. == History == Established in 1974,〔 NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY (NREL—25 Years of Research Excellence 1977–2002 ), July 2002 ((archive ))〕 NREL began operating in 1977 as the Solar Energy Research Institute. Under the Jimmy Carter administration, it was the recipient of a large budget and its activities went beyond research and development in solar energy as it tried to popularize knowledge about already existing technologies, like passive solar, amongst the population. During the Ronald Reagan administration, the institute's budget was cut by some 90%; many employees 'reduced in force' and the laboratory's activities were reduced to R&D. In later years, renewed interest in the energy problem improved the institute's position, but funding has fluctuated. In 2006 funding had dropped to the point that NREL was forced to lay off 32 workers,〔 (NREL to Lay Off 32 Staff, Budget Shortfall )〕 and in 2011 anticipated congressional budget shortfalls led to a voluntary buyout program for 100 to 150 staff reductions.〔Plunkett, Chuck. (National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden to cut 100–150 jobs through buyouts ), The Denver Post, October 4, 2011.〕 Since its inception in 1977 as the Solar Energy Research Institute, it has been operated under contract by MRIGlobal.〔(MRIGlobal About Us - mriglobal.org - Retrieved July 22, 2014 )〕 In September 1991, the NREL was designated a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) by President George H.W. Bush and its name was changed to NREL. Currently, NREL is managed for the DOE by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC. The Alliance was formed in 2008 as a joint venture between MRIGlobal and Battelle.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 url=http://www.eere.energy.gov/golden/FOIAPD.aspx )〕 Dr. Dan E. Arvizu became NREL's eighth Laboratory Director in January 2005, and currently serves as both the director of the lab and president of the Alliance.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 url=http://www.allianceforsustainableenergy.org/Alliance.aspx )〕 NREL's areas of research and development expertise are renewable electricity, renewable fuels, integrated energy systems, and strategic energy analysis.〔 (NREL Overview )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「National Renewable Energy Laboratory」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|