Department of Energy Research and Development in the United States
Introduction to Department of Energy Research and Development
The Department of Energy has responsibility for energy research. These programs, now distributed among a number of departments within the DOE, are concerned mainly with scientific and engineering research. They aim to develop better and cleaner methods for extracting and burning traditional fuels, such as coal and oil, and also to develop new sources of energy, such as solar power, liquid fuels from biomass, and nuclear fusion.
Demonstration plants have been funded for technologies such as coal liquefaction and coal gasification, fluidized-bed combustion of coal, and improvement of methods for extracting oil from shale. Other concepts being explored are the conversion of solid waste into methane gas, the extraction of natural gas from coal seams, the use of fuel cells, magnetohydrodynamics, wind energy, and ocean thermal energy.
Solar power research is being pursued in connection with efforts to design residential and commercial buildings that will use energy more efficiently. Some of the most promising devices are solar collectors (which employ water heated by the sun), solar mirrors, and photovoltaic cells capable of directly converting the energy of sunlight into electricity. In addition, the department supports research into solar electrical power generators, several of which are now operating in California.
The DOE is responsible for research on laser-fusion and isotope-separation technology. The department also promotes peacetime uses of nuclear energy and is attempting to solve the difficult problems involved in disposing of nuclear waste materials. Projects to develop new and safer types of reactors are being actively developed.” (1)
Resources
Notes and References
Guide to Department of Energy Research and Development
In this Section
Federal Departments, Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense (including Department of Defense Purpose, Department of Defense Organization, Department of Defense Liaison of Command and Department of Defense Supporting Agencies), Department of Education, Department of Energy
(including Department of Energy Purpose, Department of Energy Organization and Department of Energy Research and Development), Department of Health and Human Services (including Department of Health and Human Services History and Department of Health and Human Services Agencies and Services), Department of Homeland Security (including Department of Homeland Security Organization and Functions, Department of Homeland Security Origins and Department of Homeland Security Supporting Agencies), Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice (including Department of Justice Functions, Department of Justice Structure and Department of Justice Associated Agencies), Department of Labor, Department of National Defence, Department of State (including Department of State Administration and Department of State Bureaus), Department of the Air Force, Department of the Army, Department of the Interior (including Department of the Interior Functions and Department of the Interior Principal Agencies), Department of the Navy, Department of the Treasury, Department of Transportation, Department of Veterans Affairs (including the Department of Veterans Affairs Service Categories, Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Available and GI Bill of Rights) and Department of War.
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