Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Source: GAO.
Note: Budget authority is in real terms, adjusted to fiscal year 2008 dollars to account for
inflation.
Figure 3. DOE's Budget Authority for Office of Science, Fiscal Years 2000-200
8.
DOE
F
ACES
K
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C
HALLENGES IN
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EVELOPING
A
DVANCED
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ECHNOLOGIES FOR
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EPLOYMENT
There are key technical, cost, and environmental challenges in developing
advanced renewable, fossil, and nuclear energy technologies to address future
energy challenges.
DOE's R and D Challenges for Advanced
Renewable Energy Technologies
DOE's recent R and D focus in renewable energy has been in (1) biomass-
derived ethanol, (2) hydrogen-powered fuel cells, (3) wind technologies, and (4)
solar technologies. The primary focus of ethanol and hydrogen R and D is to
displace oil in the transportation sector. The primary focus of wind and solar
technologies is to generate electricity. DOE also conducts R and D on geothermal
and hydropower to generate electricity, but they have reflected a small proportion
of the R and D budget in prior years and are not discussed here.
Biomass-derived ethanol
. DOE's short-term R and D goal is to help meet the
administration's “20 in 10” goal of substituting 20 percent of gasoline
