Enhancing Federal Clean Energy Innovation

A widespread and rapid transition to a low-carbon energy system by 2050 is essential to keep pace with ambitious policy goals and avoid the worst consequences of climate change. Innovation is necessary to lower costs and improve performance of existing technologies and to develop new clean energy options that address challenges in harder-to-decarbonize sectors. To examine means by which the U.S. federal government can rise to this challenge, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine hosted a virtual workshop series "Enhancing Federal Clean Energy Innovation" on July 27 to August 7, 2020. The workshop featured timely, action-orientated assessments of how to strengthen development and penetration of new clean energy technologies. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions that occurred over the course of the workshop.Table of ContentsFront MatterOverview1 The Imperative to Accelerate Energy Innovation2 Strategies for Acceleration: Strengthening User Pull3 Strategies for Acceleration: Leveraging and Learning from the Department of Defense4 Managing the Department of Energy's Research and Development Portfolio5 Expert Roundtable6 Advanced Manufacturing and the Climate Crisis: Changes and Opportunities7 Thinking Globally8 Next StepsAppendixesAppendix A: Statement of TaskAppendix B: Workshop AgendaAppendix C: Planning Committee and Participant Biographical InformationAppendix D: Registered Workshop ParticipantsAppendix E: Acronyms