Distinguished Scientist Appointed Director of National Renewable Energy Laboratory
GOLDEN, Colo., July 23, 2025 – The Alliance for Sustainable Energy today announced the appointment of Jud Virden, Ph.D., as director of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and president of the Alliance, which manages the laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy. Virden will officially assume leadership on Oct. 1, 2025, following a competitive national search to succeed Dr. Martin Keller, who has directed NREL since 2015.
Virden joins NREL from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), where he served as associate laboratory director for the Energy and Environment Directorate since 2011. In that capacity, he led approximately 1,700 scientists, engineers, and technical staff advancing critical Department of Energy priorities ranging from power grid modernization and energy storage to nuclear and environmental management. His extensive experience forging public-private partnerships and driving grid resilience initiatives positions him to accelerate NREL’s mission as the DOE’s primary national laboratory for energy systems research, development, and integration.
According to a recent statement from the Alliance Board, Virden’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for America’s energy transition. NREL has experienced record growth under Keller’s tenure, with the laboratory’s annual budget exceeding $700 million and staff expanding to more than 3,000 employees. The renewable energy sector now employs over 3.5 million Americans and represents one of the fastest-growing segments of the U.S. economy, with solar and wind capacity additions reaching record highs in 2024. As the nation works to modernize its aging grid and achieve decarbonization goals, NREL’s role in validating emerging technologies has never been more critical. “Jud’s leadership in driving transformative energy solutions makes him an outstanding fit for NREL,” said Alliance Board co-chairs Ian Colrain, president and CEO of MRIGlobal, and Juan Alvarez, executive vice president of laboratory operations at Battelle.
Virden earned both his Bachelor of Science and doctorate in chemical engineering from the University of Washington and has been with PNNL since 1991. His research portfolio includes breakthrough work in energy technology development and deployment, with particular emphasis on translating laboratory innovations into market-ready solutions. During his 14-year leadership at PNNL’s Energy and Environment Directorate, the organization secured more than $1.2 billion in research funding and established partnerships with over 150 industry collaborators. “It’s a privilege to step into this role at such a pivotal time,” Virden said. “I am eager to build on NREL’s reputation for scientific excellence and drive meaningful, lasting transformation through expanded collaborations with DOE, industry, academia, and our national laboratory partners”.
The transition includes a carefully planned succession process. Dr. Martin Keller will remain at NREL as a strategic advisor through early November to ensure continuity before departing for his new position as president of the Helmholtz Association in Berlin, Germany. Under Keller’s nine-year stewardship, NREL cemented its status as a global leader in renewable energy research, launching flagship initiatives in perovskite solar cells, offshore wind integration, and green hydrogen production. His leadership helped the laboratory achieve a 40 percent increase in peer-reviewed publications and establish the world-class Energy Systems Integration Facility, which has supported over 1,000 research partnerships since 2013.
Virden’s appointment aligns with DOE’s strategic vision to strengthen the national laboratory system’s impact on energy security and climate goals. The laboratory is currently managing more than 1,500 active research projects spanning photovoltaic efficiency, Scientist Named Head of National Research Institute for Renewable Energy battery storage duration, and sustainable aviation fuels. Industry analysts project that global clean energy investment will reach $2.8 trillion by 2030, creating unprecedented demand for the validated data and technical assistance that NREL provides to developers and policymakers worldwide. “His ability to translate innovation into impact makes him ideally suited to lead NREL into its next chapter,” Colrain and Alvarez noted in their joint statement.
About NREL
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is the U.S. Department of Energy’s primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, a partnership of MRIGlobal and Battelle, under contract to the DOE. Located in Golden, Colorado, with additional research facilities in Washington, D.C., and Hawaii, NREL develops clean energy innovations, advances sustainable transportation, and modernizes the national grid through world-class research and analysis.
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