Clean Energy Innovation

Utility Dive featured Robin Gaster’s report arguing that small modular reactor (SMRs) must be a key component of the U.S. energy mix.

Standard large nuclear reactors won’t achieve scale or cost competitiveness with alternative energy sources. DOE should focus its resources on small modular reactors, which are a more promising technology with the potential to achieve price and performance parity.

Small modular reactors are the only scalable path to U.S. nuclear leadership—and without bold policy action now, China and Russia will seize the advantage.

ITIF’s spring seminar course explores core emerging technologies and issues that are reshaping our world and, in the process, creating public policy challenges and opportunities. The course is open to congressional and federal staff only.

Al Mayadeen English noted ITIF's report on China's ability to innovate in nuclear energy, detailing that China is up to 15 years ahead of the United States.

Clean energy only scales when it matches fossil fuels on price and performance—but Biden-era policy bet big on tech that never will.

Watch now for expert panel discussion exploring how the United States can take advantage of opportunities to develop cleaner industries that are more globally competitive.

Even if it were possible to radically slash U.S. emissions with today’s technologies, it still would do little to curb global warming because the United States accounts for just 13.5 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions. It’s time to recognize that the climate crisis can only be solved with innovation.

Solar and wind are rapidly replacing coal, and many expect it will simply replace natural gas as well. But that’s a mistake: In fact, solar and wind for decades to come will depend on gas to fill variability gaps when the sun doesn’t shine or the wind doesn’t blow.

According to a recent paper, between $84 billion and $188 billion could be saved in public health expenditures between 2022 and 2050 by prohibiting the sale of new combustion-powered vehicles. However, these impacts can only be fully realized if electricity is powered by low-emitting sources, such as renewable energy, hydrogen, and nuclear power.