NREL is the U.S. government's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development, advancing the science of clean energy transformation.

Editorial Review

NREL is the premier U.S. research laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency, and its website provides access to groundbreaking research, data tools, and technical publications. The lab's work spans solar, wind, bioenergy, hydrogen, and building efficiency. Tools like the System Advisor Model (SAM) and PVWatts are used globally for renewable energy project planning.

The publications library and data sets are invaluable for researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals working on the energy transition.

Pros

  • World-leading renewable energy research and data
  • Excellent free tools like PVWatts and SAM
  • Comprehensive technical publications library
  • Practical resources for industry and policymakers

Cons

  • Technical content may be inaccessible to general public
  • Website organization can make finding specific data challenging
  • Focus on U.S. energy market limits some international applicability
By Editorial Team · Mar 2, 2026

User Ratings & Comments

5 out of 5 (1 rating)
Solar Developer Feb 11, 2026
NREL is the gold standard for renewable energy research. PVWatts and SAM are essential tools for anyone in solar project development — free and incredibly well-maintained. The technical publications are rigorous and practical. An invaluable public resource for the energy transition.

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