Solar Heating Facilities and Laboratory Capabilities
The Thermal Test Facility at NREL uses large, south-facing windows to optimize the use of natural light in the building. Daylighting illuminates the building with natural light and reduces electrical lighting requirements and related cooling loads.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Sandia National Laboratory (SNL) have state-of-the-art facilities to conduct their solar heating research and collaborate with partners at these facilities to aid industry in their research as well.
Thermal Test Facility (TTF)
Many of today's most advanced energy-saving technologies for buildings are developed, tested, and optimized at NREL's TTF. Researchers closely monitor the building's energy-saving features, including high-efficiency lighting, space conditioning (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning), water heating, and daylighting design. Research done at this facility helps determine how well these features perform as an integrated system and what combination of features will result in optimal efficiency.
The TTF also houses the solar-heating test facility, which includes a 920-ft2 roof test rack where new solar-heating system designs and concepts can be tested. The polymer ICS collectors produced by the teams have been tested, along with innovative thermosyphon systems.
National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF)
Sandia National Laboratory's NSTTF is a test facility devoted to the development of the use of solar energy. The facility encompasses the Central Receiver Test Facility, the Distributed Receiver Test Facility, the Engine Test Facility, a solar furnace, and parabolic troughs. Additional information is available on the U.S. Department of Energy's Concentrating Solar Power page.