Clean Energy R+D
Local ProjectMany clean energy technologies could be made cheaper, more efficient, or easier to roll out at scale through research and development. There are a huge number of potential examples, including cheaper, more reliable floating offshore wind turbines, more efficient and less resource-intensive energy storage solutions, digital and machine-learning informed energy system modeling, and using membrane chemistry to boost the production of green hydrogen via electrolysis, to name just a few areas where work is ongoing.
A green energy transition is possible today, but cost matters and further innovation to make a clean energy transition easier and more affordable would clearly be welcome. However, from the perspective of governments and other investors, there is a trade-off between putting funding and time towards potentially unproven or lab-stage technologies (which might be transformational, but generally take a long time to have an impact) and putting efforts into streamlining tested or well-proven tech, which will likely bear fruit in the nearer term.
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Global status of clean energy innovation in 2020 (International Energy Agency, IEA)
Clean Hydrogen Research in the USA (US Department of Energy)
You can write to your political representatives to encourage the support of various clean energy R + D efforts.
Some community energy groups work to push the boundaries of clean energy, acting as a lab for new technologies. You could see if there are any such groups you might be able to join or support.