Andy Walker

Andy Walker is a Senior Research Fellow at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), specializing in Mechanical Engineering. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado School of Mines, and Metropolitan State University of Denver.

• PhD, Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University
• Master, Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University
• Bachelor, Mechanical Engineering (Energy Conversion and Bioengineering), Colorado State University

His research focuses on energy efficiency, renewable energy optimization, and photovoltaic systems. He has developed innovative methods for economic analysis of renewable projects, including a patented Renewable Energy Optimization technique recognized with the Thomas A. Edison Patent Award in 2015.

Recent research outputs highlight expertise in photovoltaic reliability, connector failures, and ambient energy for buildings. Collaborations span photovoltaic technology trends and lifecycle cost modeling.

• Thomas A. Edison Patent Award (2015) for Renewable Energy Optimization

Walker contributes to technical standards, system configurations, and cooperative research (e.g., CRADA CRD-22-23180). His work bridges engineering analysis with practical implementation across energy sectors.