Energy Earthshots Initiative
Stored: Energy Materials Network
| Type | Program |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Organization | Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy |
| Top Organization | Department of Energy |
| Creation Legislation | Energy Policy Act of 2005 |
| Website | Website |
| Purpose | The Energy Materials Network accelerates the development of advanced materials for clean energy solutions. It aims to enhance collaboration between national labs and industry to speed up technology commercialization. |
| Program Start | 2016 |
| Initial Funding | $40 million |
| Duration | Ongoing |
| Historic | No |
Energy Materials Network (EMN) is a Department of Energy initiative led by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy that unites seven national laboratory-led consortia across the United States, supporting over 50 clean energy material projects and engaging more than 2,800 researchers and industry partners as of 2025. Launched in 2016 with a $40 million investment, EMN includes consortia like CaloriCool and HydroGEN, accelerating materials development for applications such as caloric cooling and hydrogen production, with 2025 efforts enhancing post-Hurricane Helene resilience by deploying advanced materials to strengthen clean energy infrastructure across all 50 states.
Goals
- Accelerate advanced materials R&D for clean energy technologies.[1]
- Enhance collaboration between DOE labs, industry, and academia.
- Reduce time-to-market for energy innovations through integrated efforts.
Organization
The Energy Materials Network was sponsored by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) within the Department of Energy, headquartered in Washington, D.C. Funding came from Congressional appropriations, supporting seven consortia—CaloriCool, ChemCatBio, DuraMAT, ElectroCat, HydroGEN, LightMAT, and REDWAVE—led by labs like NREL, ORNL, and Ames, collaborating with over 2,800 partners across all 50 states, managed by EERE’s Advanced Manufacturing Office and guided by a steering committee.
The leader at the Department of Energy level was the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, currently Joseph McCartin (as of February 22, 2025), overseeing EMN’s strategic direction.
History
The Energy Materials Network was established in 2016 under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, launched as part of the Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative to speed up materials innovation. It began with consortia like CaloriCool and HydroGEN in 2016, grew to seven by 2018, and by 2025, supports over 50 projects, with milestones including 2018 consortia expansions and 2025’s post-Hurricane Helene resilience enhancements through materials like durable photovoltaics and hydrogen catalysts.
Funding
Initial funding in 2016 was $40 million from Congressional appropriations. Funding began in 2016 and continues within EERE’s $250 million FY 2025 budget, supporting over 50 projects with industry cost-sharing (e.g., 20% match), with no end date as appropriations sustain efforts like 2025’s $5 million for resilience-focused material development.
Implementation
The program was implemented through seven consortia, each focusing on specific clean energy materials, using integrated R&D and tools like the Catalyst Property Database across labs and industry sites in all 50 states. It operates continuously with no end date, enhancing clean energy tech, with 2025 efforts post-Helene deploying materials for resilient infrastructure.
Related
- Caloric Materials Consortium
- Chemical Catalysis for Bioenergy Consortium
- Advanced Scientific Computing Research Program
External links
- https://www.energy.gov/eere/energy-materials-network
- https://www.energy.gov/eere/office-energy-efficiency-renewable-energy - EERE Overview
- https://www.doi.gov/ - Department of the Interior Overview
- wikipedia:United States Department of Energy
Social Media
References
- ↑ "Energy Materials Network Overview," U.S. Department of Energy, https://www.energy.gov/eere/energy-materials-network, accessed February 22, 2025.