NREL Director Dr. Martin Keller (Photo by Dennis Shroeder | NREL)
Dr. Martin Keller, who took the reins as the laboratory director of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) late last year, has a clear vision of the role his lab and its researchers will play in helping the nation realize its clean energy goals.
Keller, who joined NREL from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where he served as associate laboratory director for Energy and Environmental Sciences, outlines his vision and priorities including enhancing the lab's science culture, increasing lab-directed research and development, and expanding its scientific collaborations across the spectrum.
What is your vision for NREL as its new director?
We are only in the early stages of a global energy transformation, and innovation is essential for continued progress. My vision is for NREL to further solidify our position as the premier research organization in the world focused on renewables and energy efficiency.
NREL’s research is informed by our globally recognized expertise in analysis and decision science. Combined with our years of experience in deployment and technology application, we provide market insights and identify knowledge gaps. From that, we focus our foundational science and research in the areas most ripe for technological breakthroughs. The integration of these unique capabilities allows for NREL's continued innovation.
What are your top priorities for this year?
Several months ago, I identified a few priorities for my first year. One is to achieve stronger alignment between our research and EERE’s highest priorities. My goal is to deepen our relationships with the various program offices and continue to work together to drive success on cross-cutting initiatives.
Another of my highest priorities is to enhance the science culture of the laboratory by promoting scientific publications, increasing laboratory-directed research and development, integrating our core capabilities, and expanding our scientific collaborations across the spectrum of potential partners. I want to ensure that our researchers are able to make discoveries that will change the face of renewable energy.
How important is the partnership between EERE and NREL?
A strong partnership between NREL and EERE is critical, and we can achieve greatness only if we are working together. From fundamental science to tech-to-market, together we can forge a path that helps the nation reach its clean energy goals. The Energy Department’s Golden Field Office is our partner in achieving our mission, and I am committed to strong collaboration.
As we move toward implementation of the COP 21 objectives and work to deliver mission innovation programming, EERE and NREL will be the entities driving success. Working together, we can make the transformation to a renewable energy future happen.
Amped Up! Magazine is the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s publication that highlights breaking technologies and achievements in renewable power, energy efficiency and sustainable transportation that influence global change toward a clean energy economy.