National Laboratory of the Rockies

06/12/2026

Join us in congratulating multiple National Laboratory of the Rockies teams for receiving FLC Awards! The FLC awards are the premier honors for federal technology transfer, recognizing outstanding partnerships, commercialization success stories, and the professionals who move innovations from the lab to the marketplace.

"NLR’s Groundbreaking Energy Storing and Efficient Air Conditioner" received the Excellence in Technology Transfer Award.

"Commercialization of Intelligent Residential Heat Pump Water Heaters" and "Technology Transfer Excellence Within the BOTTLE Consortium" were given Honorable Mentions.

"Licensing IViz-OT Intrusion Detection Tool for Grid Security" received an Impact Award.

Congratulations all! Learn more, https://federallabs.org/about/media/flc-press-releases/2026-flc-award-winners

06/10/2026

Peaks to Power heads to Alaska for a deep dive into the growing use of heat pump technology in extreme conditions. In this feature episode, we hear about how heat pumps can add reliability and cut costs for consumers, and the need for more trained workforce to install this technology. Subscribe and listen, https://bit.ly/4fCYdhW

06/09/2026

Two National Laboratory of the Rockies staff are helping shape the future of the national laboratory system. Congratulations to Amanda Kolker and David Digon on being selected as 2026 fellows in the Oppenheimer Science & Energy Leadership Program (OSELP).

Through collaboration, mentorship, and visits to Department of Energy national labs, OSELP develops emerging leaders prepared to tackle the nation’s biggest energy and scientific challenges.

Read more: https://bit.ly/49Ou3of

06/08/2026

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Community Microgrid Assistance Partnership (C‑MAP)—managed by the National Laboratory of the Rockies—just announced $2.5M in direct project funding supported by $1M in technical assistance to advance microgrid development and improvement for remote communities and industries.
Individual awards range from $200k–$575k and include technical assistance from NLR and other national partners.

Eligible applicants include energy cooperatives, state and local governments, federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes and villages, and, for topic area 5, U.S. businesses with the required registrations.

Register for the informational webinar on May 26, 2026 and apply by July 2, 2026 at https://bit.ly/4d8GU6P

06/05/2026

Critical minerals are key building blocks for technologies we use every day. To secure their supply chains, National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) researchers are using AI to shore up discovery, mining, and processing. ⛏️ “There is a need for more flexibility in the way we approach critical minerals,” says NLR computational science researcher Ryan King. “My goal is to find ways to contribute to the supply chain durability and technological innovation with these critical assets.”

Learn more, https://bit.ly/4vssq88

06/04/2026

06/03/2026

An award from NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration for improving battery safety 🚀, launching the first-of-its-kind large-load data center test bed 🖥️, and capturing more energy from sunlight through artificial photosynthesis ☀️, it’s just another day at the National Laboratory of the Rockies!

Tune in to the latest episode of Peaks to Power to learn more 🎧 https://apple.co/4wEMC7Z

06/01/2026

As demand for electricity in the United States grows and evolves, utilities need to continually analyze whether distribution infrastructure is up to the task. Strain on the power grid can risk transformer overloads and power outages and result in higher electricity costs if growing demand is not addressed—requiring utilities to make decisions balancing reliability, safety, and cost considerations.

Research conducted by the National Laboratory of the Rockies for large public-utility company Xcel Energy sought to identify solutions to mitigate costly grid upgrades by applying “smarts” to flexible uses of energy in a way that preserves the same level of service and manages costs. Learn how: https://bit.ly/4dHHs3H

05/29/2026

Congratulations to National Laboratory of the Rockies postdoc Kalen Rasmussen for winning the Energy Security award at the 2026 National Lab Research SLAM! His presentation, “From Microbes to Metals: Powering Energy Security,” explored how his research harnesses microorganisms to recover critical metals from spent batteries.

This important work leverages a steady waste stream to bolster the domestic critical mineral supply chain and ensure U.S. energy security and independence. https://bit.ly/4e9ax8j

05/28/2026

Last week, NLR director Jud Virden joined U.S. Department of Energy Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation Assistant Secretary Robertson in Alaska for a valuable discussion on the state’s important role in our energy and critical minerals landscape.