The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), part of the United States Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, develops marketable alternative energy technologies. The laboratory, established as the Solar Energy Research Institute in 1977, conducts solar, wind, biomass, and geothermal renewable energy studies. It also pursues research on biomass and hydrogen fuel technologies. The laboratory analyzes economic, planning, and marketing elements associated with technologies. NREL has worked with hundreds of public and private partners. The laboratory includes encompasses the Basic Sciences, Computational Sciences, National Bioenergy Center (NBC), Buildings and Thermal Systems, National Wind Technology Center (NWTC), National Center for Photovoltaics (NCPV), Electric & Hydrogen Technologies and Systems, and Transportation Technologies and Systems research centers. NREL also includes a technology transfer office. The laboratory operates 11 research facilities near Golden, Colorado. Facilities include the ReFUEL Laboratory and High-Flux Solar Furnace. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) designated NREL as a national laboratory in 1991. NREL is operated by Midwest Research Institute and Battelle. The laboratory receives over $200 million in funding annually from the DOE, other government agencies, and private firms. Approximately 87 percent of NREL's funds are provided by the DOE.