Technology Investments by DOE/ITP Chemicals Program Bear Fruit

The U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (DOE/EERE), Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) supports research and development (R&D) aimed at improving the energy efficiency and environmental performance of industrial processes.

In the last 5 years, energy demand and prices have risen, directly affecting the competitiveness of the U.S. chemicals industry which represents more than 2% of domestic GDP. The Chemical industry is the largest single energy consumer of all industrial sectors in the U.S. If the chemicals industry is to meet the Energy Policy Act (EPAct 2005) goal to reduce energy intensity by 25%, it will need to achieve annual energy savings of about 1,500 trillion Btu by 2017. This amount of energy is equivalent to the energy contained in 260 large oil tankers, or about 30% of annual crude oil imports from the Persian Gulf.

ITP's primary role is to support the EPAct 2005 by investing in high-risk, high-value R&D projects that will, when commercialized, reduce industrial energy intensity while stimulating economic productivity and growth in the U.S.

ITP's Chemicals Program refocused its strategic investments in chemicals manufacturing a number of years ago to support EPAct 2005 goals, and today, these investments are starting to pay off. This paper will discuss in detail the breath of ITP's Chemicals Subprogram activities, methodologies used to prioritize areas for investment and highlight the successes and outcomes.