ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC BRINGS TOGETHER KEY PARTNERS BATTELLE AND MIDWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE TO MANAGE NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY

Bold new team and vision promises to drive change agenda

 

Golden, Colorado, July 29, 2008—The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) selected the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC (the Alliance) as the next management contractor of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).  The new equally-owned management entity pairs two non-profit organizations—Midwest Research Institute (MRI) and Battelle—in a partnership that will enhance NREL’s leadership and provide greater, more innovative impact on accelerating achievement of the national energy goals.

 

There will be a 60-day transition period. Upon conclusion of transition, and the completion of the existing contract, the Alliance will take over full management and operations responsibilities.

 

“We are honored that DOE has selected our team to lead NREL,” said the Alliance President and Laboratory Director, Dr. Dan Arvizu.  “Our primary mission will be to support DOE in the development and deployment of innovative, high impact renewable energy technologies. The Alliance hopes that a fortunate byproduct of this mission will be the creation of a renewable energy ‘Silicon Valley,’  emanating  from the laboratory, the State of Colorado, and the Front Range,  while reaching out to national and international connections for wider impact on clean energy.”

 

The Alliance team will manage and operate the laboratory by leveraging the expertise and accomplishments of MRI and Battelle—two companies who have a 10-year history of teaming success at NREL. 

 

“We have already begun our trajectory to transform NREL from a great laboratory to our concept of the world’s premiere laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency,” said Dr. James Spigarelli, MRI President and CEO. “Our history at NREL provides us with a solid foundation, and we will build on that foundation with new programs, relationships, and corporate investments that position the laboratory as the premier center for renewable energy and energy efficiency research, with a much stronger focus on technology commercialization and deployment.”

 

“We look forward to working in full partnership with MRI on this new vision to move  NREL to the next level, a commitment that will help us continue to serve our most important customer—DOE—as it responds to one of the most critical needs facing our country,” said Dr. Jeffrey Wadsworth, Battelle Executive Vice President for Global Laboratory Operations. “Our new governance structure, innovative concepts for enhancing the Laboratory’s impact, outstanding leadership and world-class public and private partners will enable NREL to find solutions to the significant energy challenges facing our country and the world.”

 

The Alliance has a bold vision and clear concept for the future of NREL which includes:

  • Driving Market-Relevant Technology Innovations: Strengthening NREL’s   scientific, technical and analytical foundation, particularly in biofuel systems and renewable power systems engineering, by recruiting and retaining leading talent and by effectively partnering with premier research centers at leading universities, industries and laboratories across the nation and around the world.
  • Accelerating Commercialization and Deployment: Implementing new business strategies and partnership arrangements aimed at accelerating commercialization and deployment of renewable energy technologies and rapidly moving revolutionary innovations from concept to consumer.
  • Leading Insightful Analysis: Serving as the definitive source of objective, independent quality analysis, providing DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy with technical, economic, and policy insights needed to help refine and direct  EERE’s Research, Development, Demonstration, and Deployment (RDD&D)  portfolio to accelerate achievement of national energy goals.
  • Creating the Campus of the Future: Building and investing in a world-class renewable energy Campus of the Future with facilities and infrastructure that showcase sustainable energy on the NREL site and in nearby partnering facilities. 
  • Fostering the Best Work Environment: Creating a safe, supportive and innovative work environment that attracts the best and brightest people.

To increase NREL’s impact in achieving national energy goals and to leverage the federal investment in the laboratory, the Alliance has committed to invest significantly in the laboratory through the engagement of the State of Colorado and more than 20 other organizations and collaborators.  The Alliance will enhance capabilities in science and technology by working with other national laboratories and for commercialization and development through representation from leading institutions in the investment community.  In addition, the Alliance will collaborate with five of the nation’s leading research universities (Colorado School of Mines, Colorado State University, University of Colorado-Boulder, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Stanford University) -- creating outstanding opportunities to further ensure the nation’s sustainability needs are addressed.

 

The Alliance will be governed by a 15-member Alliance Board of Directors composed of five executives each from MRI and Battelle, as well as senior-level officials from the five key collaborating universities.            

 

MIDWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE

 

About Midwest Research Institute

MRI, a not-for-profit scientific research organization with 1,800 employees nationwide, performs contract research and laboratory consulting services for clients in government, industry, and academia. Established in 1944, MRI is one of the nation’s leading independent research institutes conducting research in the areas of national security and defense, energy and environment, life sciences, agriculture and food safety, and infrastructure.  With headquarters in Kansas City, MRI also has facilities in Palm Bay, Fla., Frederick, Md., and Rockville, Md.  MRI has managed the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colo., for the U.S. Department of Energy since 1977. The Institute’s mission is to benefit society by providing solutions to national problems through scientific research, technology development, and technical services.  For more information, visit www.mriresearch.org

 

MRI Media Contact:  Linda Cook, (816) 360.1943, lcook@mriresearch.org

 

BATTELLE

 

Battelle is the world’s largest non-profit independent research and development organization, with 20,000 employees in more than 120 locations worldwide, including six national laboratories Battelle manages or co-manages for the U.S. Department of Energy.  Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Battelle conducts $4 billion in R&D annually through contract research, laboratory management and technology commercialization.  Battelle provides innovative solutions to some of the world’s most important problems including global climate change, sustainable energy technologies, high performance materials, next-generation healthcare diagnostics and therapeutics, and advanced security solutions for people, infrastructure, and the nation.  Battelle has a long history of developing successful commercial products in collaboration with its clients, ranging from products to fight diabetes, cancer, and heart disease to the development of the office copier machine (Xerox).  As a non-profit charitable trust with an eye toward the future, Battelle actively supports and promotes science and math education.

 

Battelle Media contacts:  Katy Delaney, (410) 306-8638, delaneyk@battelle.org; T.R. Massey, (614) 424-5544, masseytr@battelle.org