6. ENERGY TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION

An important component of DOE’s RD&D efforts are programmes run out of its Office of Science, including administration of ten of the country’s energy national laboratories. The Office of Science oversees a broad portfolio of basic research that is focused on transformational technologies. It hosts six programme areas: 1) Advanced Scientific Computing Research; 2) Basic Energy Sciences; 3) Biological and Environmental Research; 4) Fusion Energy Sciences; 5) High Energy Physics; and 6) Nuclear Physics. The Office of Science also oversees knowledge and training programmes, including Workforce Development for Teachers and Students, the DOE’s Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programmes, and the Office of Project Assessment.

With a renewed emphasis on the pathway to market, in 2015, the Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) was established in the DOE to advance the commercialisation of the DOE’s RD&D efforts (DOE, 2019a). The Technology Commercialization Fund and the Energy Investor Center (see below for more details) are both run out of the OTT. The office is required to submit two reports on its programmes to Congress each year: the Technology Transitions Execution Plan and the Report on Technology Transfer and Related Technology Partnering Activities at the National Laboratories and Other Facilities. The OTT director also serves as the technology transfer co-ordinator to co-ordinate the OTT’s efforts with that of the broader DOE and the Secretary of Energy.

In addition, individual applied programme offices within the DOE oversee RD&D efforts that fall under their subject areas, such as nuclear power and renewable fuels.

A core aspect of DOE’s RD&D efforts is the funding it offers to universities, research institutions and industry for projects that support energy technology development and commercialisation. The department conducts two types of funding announcements: Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) that can be open to several institutional types as defined by individual announcements, and DOE National Laboratory Announcements that are open only to DOE labs (DOE, 2019b).

The DOE’s budget, including for RD&D efforts, is decided by Congress. In its DOE budget request to Congress for fiscal year (FY) 2020, the administration noted a focus on earlystage RD&D and a reliance on the private sector to finance later-stage efforts (DOE, 2019c).

Energy RD&D programmes

The United States has directed large amounts of resources towards energy RD&D for many decades in order to promote innovation in the energy space, boost the competitiveness of US industries and address the challenges associated with a changing energy landscape.

The US National Security Strategy, issued in 2017, highlights “energy dominance” as its core strategy for the energy sector, and notes the role of innovation, technology breakthroughs and energy efficiency gains as the leading driver for emissions reduction in the United States (White House, 2017). In particular, the strategy identifies as a priority action area boosting the US technological edge in nuclear, battery, carbon capture and advanced computing applications, as well as those that address the interconnection between energy and water resources.

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