Judith Vidal

Judith Vidal is a Group Manager in Building Energy Science at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), where she has led groundbreaking research in thermal systems since 2010. She serves as a joint faculty member at the Colorado School of Mines, contributing to advancements in concentrating solar power (CSP), energy storage, and corrosion mitigation. Dr. Vidal established NREL's Thermal Storage Materials Laboratory and Thermal Systems Process and Components Laboratory, enabling comprehensive material property analysis and degradation studies.

• PhD, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
• Master & Bachelor, Materials Engineering, Simon Bolivar University

Her research spans thermal energy storage, phase change materials (PCMs), molten salt corrosion mitigation, and high-temperature systems for CSP. She pioneered methods for electrochemical purification of molten chlorides and studied stress relaxation cracking in stainless steel welds critical for CSP plant longevity.

Recent publications highlight her expertise in molten salt chemistry, corrosion dynamics, and thermal storage scalability. She has received two major NREL awards and holds patents in thermal storage composites, emphasizing durable, sustainable solutions for energy-efficient buildings.

• NREL Distinguished Member of Research Staff (2021)
• NREL Chairman's Award (2017)

Dr. Vidal leads the Buildings Emerging Technologies Sub-Program, managing Department of Energy projects with global collaborations. Her work bridges early-stage research and practical applications to reduce building energy consumption through advanced materials.