Renewable Power Pathways: A Review of the U.S. Departament of Energy’s Renewable Energy Programs

Renewable Power Pathways is the result of a study by the National Research Council (NRC) Committee for the Programmatic Review of the Office of Power Technologies (OPT) review of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Power Technologies and its research and development (R&D) programs. The OPT, which is part of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, conducts R&D programs for the production of electricity from renewable energy sources. Some of these programs are focused on photovoltaic, wind, solar, thermal, geothermal, biopower, and hydroelectric energy technologies; others are focused on energy storage, electric transmission (including superconductivity), and hydrogen technologies. A recent modest initiative is focused on distributed power-generation technologies. This report reviews the activities of each of OPT's programs and makes recommendations for OPT as a whole and major recommendations for individual OPT programs. Committee On Programmatic Review Of The U.s. Department Of Energy's Office Of Power Technologies, Board On Energy And Environmental Systems, Commission On Engineering And Technical Systems, National Research Council. This Report And The Study On Which It Is Based Were Supported By Contract No. De-fg01-98ee35047 (task #2) From The U.s. Department Of Energy--t.p. Verso. Includes Bibliographical References.