Center for Clean Energy Innovation
Innovation to make energy both clean and competitive must be a central goal of climate and energy policy. ITIF’s Center for Clean Energy Innovation exists to elevate this imperative in the policy debate in the United States and around the world. We conduct research, provide nonpartisan analysis, generate policy proposals, and convene members of the analytical and policymaking communities with this mission firmly in focus. (Read more about the Center.)
- Spotlight: Building the Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation (FESI)—The Center was instrumental in developing the congressionally chartered nonprofit foundation that was included in the 2022 CHIPS Plus Science bill to assist DOE and advance its mission, and we are continuing to support FESI’s ramp-up.
- Spotlight: Expanding DOE’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations—Congress authorized and funded a new DOE office in 2021 to pursue large-scale energy demonstration projects. The Center has an ongoing stream of analytical and outreach work seeking to expand that portfolio of projects and improve their management. See our “OCED Observatory Newsletter,” and contact Hannah Boyles if you’d like to be added to its email list.
- Spotlight: Tracking funding pathways for RD&D at the U.S. Department of Energy over time and across programs and subprograms. See the interactive data visualization.
- Stay up to date with the Center’s work by signing up for ITIF’s weekly emails and checking the box for more on “Clean Energy Innovation.”
- Make a tax-exempt donation to support the program—as The New York Times and Vox have recommended as one the most effective ways to fight climate change based on evidence-based analysis.
Featured Publications
It’s Critical to Prioritize Commercial and Market Readiness for H2Hubs
Effectively managing the Energy Department’s hydrogen hubs program in the face of formidable challenges will be vital for the success of developing hydrogen-based economic ecosystems.
Climate-Tech to Watch: Green Ammonia
Green ammonia has attracted plenty of recent attention. The technology is promising, but cost reductions, demonstrations, infrastructure, and market growth are all still needed if it is to realize its potential.
Decarbonizing the Chemical Industry: Policy Insights From a Case Study of PVC
A recent first-of-its-kind study of the value chain for polyvinyl chloride production in the United States provides valuable insights into the types and sequencing of policies that will be required to decarbonize chemical production.
Climate Innovation Policy From Glasgow to Pittsburgh
In September, ministers will gather in Pittsburgh to consider how their governments should respond to the energy and climate innovation imperative. Building on Glasgow, the meeting should strive to fill critical gaps in areas such as capital-intensive demonstration projects and innovation-friendly trade in carbon-intensive goods.
Closing the Gap: Priorities for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building RD&D Portfolio
The building sector is not on track to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Federal RD&D investments have been disproportionately low, while national strategies that address the key hurdles of decarbonizing the building sector have been lacking.
Events
May 30, 2023
Further Energizing Innovation: Assessing the Federal Energy RD&D Budget for FY24 and Beyond
Watch the Center for Clean Energy Innovation’s release event covering their annual report on the federal energy RD&D budget; discussion by expert panel covering how the funding aligns with these key priorities.
March 16, 2023
Petrochemicals Without the Petro: A New Initiative?
Watch to learn more about these exciting innovations and to discuss a federal initiative (such as a DOE EarthShot) to accelerate them.
October 27, 2022
Mission Critical: Accelerating Innovation at COP 27
Watch thought leaders from ITIF, IIT-Delhi School of Public Policy, and the Climate Policy Lab at The Fletcher School, Tufts University share their visions for a successful COP for innovation, building off the September 12th forum published in Nature Energy.
October 13, 2022
Decarbonizing Chemical Production: Innovation Strategies
Watch the webinar where we shared new work from ITIF, George Mason’s Center for Energy Science and Policy, and the Center for Houston’s Future that investigates these pathways and explores policy options to decarbonize chemical production.
September 7, 2022
Buying Power: How Federal Procurement Can Drive Clean Energy Innovation
Join ITIF for an expert panel discussion about a new report by ITIF board member and former DOD and GSA sustainability leader Dorothy Robyn.
Staff
More From the Center
May 31, 2023|Blogs & Features
Jumpstarting FESI: Seeking Bold Ideas for a New Energy Innovation Foundation
To jumpstart FESI, we are seeking promising project opportunities that would advance the DOE mission through collaboration with private sector and philanthropic partners.
May 26, 2023|Blogs & Features
Congress Must Move Beyond Permitting Reform to Speed Up Adoption of Digital Energy Solutions
In Washington, nothing is possible until it’s done. With federal permitting reform, that moment might be just around the corner, but Congress must not miss the opportunity to think beyond procedural reforms to federal permitting laws and should include a broad innovation-based approach to solving our nation’s energy infrastructure dilemmas.
May 22, 2023|Reports & Briefings
Energizing Innovation in Fiscal Year 2024
The FY 2024 budget request, if met, could maintain bipartisan momentum for clean energy innovation. Congress should support that innovation to foster domestic clean energy industries that can compete globally, minimize foreign dependencies, and address climate change.
April 18, 2023|Blogs & Features
The Hydrogen Hubs’ Success Relies on Proper Management
It is vital that the hydrogen hubs (H2Hubs) program prioritizes the delivery of commercially-viable low-carbon hydrogen and develops the market ready to buy it, which can be achieved through proper management of the program.
April 5, 2023|Blogs & Features
Why Young Researchers Are Vital to Climate and Innovation Policy and How to Support Them
Early-career scholars who bring fresh ideas to the field of climate and energy innovation policy face significant obstacles. Funders and academic institutions need to take action to encourage them.
March 23, 2023|Testimonies & Filings
Comments to DOE’s Office of Technology Transitions Regarding the Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation (FESI)
FESI is an idea whose time has come. DOE drives action toward many of the United States’ most vital goals: a strong, secure economy; global leadership in science and technology; eliminating climate pollution at home and around the world, and much more. Congress seized an historic opportunity to accelerate progress toward these goals by authorizing DOE to establish and collaborate closely with FESI.
March 22, 2023|Testimonies & Filings
Comments to the DOE Office of Clean Energy Demonstration Regarding Demand-Side Support for Clean Energy Technologies
Demand-side support measures such as direct procurement, advanced market commitments, and guaranteed price floors can advance DOE’s mission by providing a predictable commercial market for clean energy technologies.
