Committee Examines DOE Basic Energy Sciences Program
(Washington, DC) – Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Energy Subcommittee held a hearing titled, “Innovation in Solar Fuels, Electricity Storage, and Advanced Materials.” This hearing examined the research and development activities of the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science’s Basic Energy Science (BES) program. BES supports five light sources, two neutron scattering facilities, and five nanoscale research centers. In addition to this unique set of user facilities, BES also supports fundamental research in materials sciences, physics, chemistry, and engineering with a primary focus on potential energy applications.
Ranking Member Alan Grayson (D-FL) of the Subcommittee on Energy said in his opening statement, “The knowledge gained through research supported by BES underpins the applied energy research supported by other DOE programs and by the private sector. Innovations in materials science, chemical analysis, geological imaging, and electrochemistry can have far-reaching impacts on renewable energy, energy efficiency, battery storage, and nuclear power – just to name a few subjects.
“Prioritizing and funding the research that is being highlighted today should certainly be a bipartisan issue and one which we should make considerable progress on by working together.”
Members and witnesses discussed the most effective methods of energy storage for applications in grid-scale power distribution and the transportation sector, among others. Members also asked about progress in advanced materials for quantum computing and the status of research into solar fuels. Solar fuel technologies aim to produce fuels like hydrogen and hydrocarbons from a combination of sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide, and do this far more efficiently than nature’s photosynthetic process. In addition, there was discussion about the often-cited notion that there is a clear boundary between basic and applied research.
On that point, Congressman Mark Takano (D-CA) asked the witnesses about whether it is realistic to assert and attempt to build policy around a separation between basic and applied research. All of the witnesses agreed that such a division is nonexistent, and policymakers should not try to divide these two categories of research or pit them against one another. Dr. Nathan Lewis said, “To the extent that the use-inspired fundamental research has an outlet into practical implementation, there should be no boundary.” Dr. Daniel Hallinan agreed and said, “The questions that we need to answer are well-defined by the applied side and then we can approach them from a fundamental perspective … There is not really a clear line between basic and applied.” Dr. Daniel Scherson said, “10% of the cost of an actual battery goes into materials and 90% into manufacturing, so you know we have to be able to bridge the gap between what we regard as fundamental research and applied research. I’m afraid companies may not want to take the risk.” And Dr. Collin Broholm noted the example of the legendary Bell Labs, a model for research that the private sector no longer supports, saying, “Those who are working in the discovery realm need to have the ability to view some of the challenges that exist in the real world as well so this artificial barrier is in fact very unfortunate.”
Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said in her statement for the record, “I would like to call attention to the Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee’s (BESAC) report released on June 9th which details many priorities for upgrading the major user facilities under this program’s purview. The BESAC report finds five project upgrades to be ‘absolutely central to contribute to world leading science.’ The report also notes that ‘increased international competition provides both a challenge and an opportunity for the U.S.’”
“I hope that one area on which many of my friends on the other side of the aisle and I can agree upon is the need to support and strengthen American leadership in energy innovation, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that the Basic Energy Sciences program and other important programs in this area are as robust and effective as they can possibly be.”
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