§16313 Solar Fuels Research Initiative

Summary

Creates a Solar Fuels Research Initiative to grow basic knowledge in photochemistry, electrochemistry, biochemistry, and materials science so scientists can turn sunlight into chemical energy. The program must use work from the Office of Science (Basic Energy Sciences and Biological and Environmental Research) and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. It must form multidisciplinary teams from National Laboratories, colleges, and the private sector. These teams must work toward clear, milestone-driven basic research goals, get enough resources from the Secretary, and can be organized through Energy Frontier Research Centers, Energy Innovation Hubs, or similar structures. Sets up two research programs under the Initiative. One focuses on artificial photosynthesis to make hydrogen and oxygen from water and to turn carbon dioxide into fuels like hydrocarbons, alcohols, carbon monoxide, and natural gas. The other aims to copy natural photosynthesis using artificial parts, including making ammonia from dinitrogen, capturing CO2 from air, charge storage, electron transfer, and biological-like catalysis. Basic Energy Sciences supports the basic research, Biological and Environmental Research supports systems biology and genomics for the second program, and EERE supports development and testing. The Secretary must review milestone progress. The law authorizes $50,000,000 each year for these activities for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027, from amounts authorized for basic energy sciences.