The final panel of the 2023 National Clean Energy Week Policymakers Symposium discussed the role of both the private sector and government in advancing the innovation of clean energy technologies. Jim Cabot of Breakthrough Energy moderated a discussion with Dr. Evelyn N. Wang of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) and Mary Yamada of the DOE’s Office of Technology Transitions (OTT).
The panel explored how these DOE offices strengthen the U.S. economy, boost clean energy production and protect the national security interests of the nation.
ARPA-E plays a vital role in developing emerging clean energy technologies.
“We support all ranges of energy technologies, from how we use energy to how we generate it,” Wang said.
By focusing on early-stage research and development, ARPA-E helps bridge the gap between scientific discovery and commercialization, ensuring that promising technologies have the support they need to mature and reach the market.
OTT works to expand the public impact of the department’s research, development, demonstration and deployment portfolio by facilitating the transfer of innovative technologies from the laboratory to the marketplace.
“We’re thinking about new ways to partner, how can we leverage philanthropic dollars and the blending of public and private capital to do new and innovative and flexible things that government can’t necessarily do by itself,” Yamada said.
Clean energy innovation requires collaboration between the public and private sectors. By working together, government agencies and private companies can pool their resources and expertise to accelerate the development and deployment of clean energy technologies.
Watch the full discussion here. To see other panels from National Clean Energy Week, like and subscribe on YouTube.
CRES Forum is the lead convener and a proud sponsor of National Clean Energy Week.