With energy security, economic competitiveness, and environmental responsibility as guiding foundations, the U.S. Department of Energy looks to advance the nation’s energy system through research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) opportunities. The recently released 2015 Quadrennial Technology Review (QTR) examines the status of new technologies developed around a rapidly evolving energy science.

The QTR emphasizes energy technologies that have commercialization potential and discusses future research needs. The technical focus of the QTR centers on six technology sectors:

  1. Enabling Modernization of the Electric Power System
  2. Advancing Clean Electric Power Technologies
  3. Increasing Efficiency of Building Systems and Technologies
  4. Innovating Clean Energy Technologies in Advanced Manufacturing
  5. Advancing Systems and Technologies to Produce Cleaner Fuels
  6. Advancing Clean Transportation and Vehicle Systems and Technologies.

ESTCP’s Energy and Water program area addresses many of the technology sectors discussed in the QTR, but with a specific focus on the energy needs and requirements of the Department of Defense (DoD).  ESTCP is funding demonstration projects focused on the sustainable generation, storage, and distribution of power, as well as the development of technologies to increase the energy efficiency of built infrastructure. These demonstrations of emerging technologies in a real-world environment will help DoD leverage technologies identified in the QTR that have implementation and commercialization potential in the near term and beyond. The QTR stresses the importance of partnerships with innovators across the country. For ESTCP these relationships are an essential component of the success of the program year after year.