Nov 29 -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary for Science and Energy and Office of Policy (OP) request information on energy sector supply chains. This request for information (RFI) seeks input from all stakeholders involved directly and indirectly in the supply chains of energy, energy systems and technologies, and energy efficiency technologies from raw materials, processed materials, subcomponents, final products, to end-of-life material recovery and recycling—including but not limited to U.S. industry, researchers, academia, local governments, and civil society. This stakeholder input will inform the Department's efforts in building an energy sector industrial base that is diverse, resilient, and competitive while meeting economic, national security, and climate objectives. Responses should be submitted by January 15, 2021.
Executive Order 14017 “America's Supply Chains” directs the Secretary of Energy to “submit a report on supply chains for the energy sector industrial base (as determined by the Secretary of Energy)” within one year of the date of the order 86 FR 11849 (February 24, 2021). This RFI seeks public input to inform DOE on approaches and actions needed to build resilient supply chains for the energy sector. Resilient supply chains as defined by the Executive Order 14017 means “supply chains that are secure and diverse—facilitating greater domestic production, a range of supply, built-in redundancies, adequate stockpiles, safe and secure digital networks, and a world-class American manufacturing base and workforce.”
DOE recognizes that meeting U.S. jobs, economic, and emissions goals (which include a 50-52% reduction in emissions by 2030 from a 2005 baseline and net zero greenhouse gas emissions economy-wide by no later than 2050), will require a significant number of clean energy (and clean energy enabling) technologies to be deployed at a dramatically increasing scale at a time when other countries are expanding their clean energy sectors. DOE has identified technologies and crosscutting topics for analysis in the timeframe set by the Executive Order. The list of the selected technology sectors includes solar photovoltaic (PV); wind; electric grid, including transformers and high-voltage direct current (HVDC); energy storage; hydropower, including pumped storage hydropower (PSH); nuclear energy; fuel cells and electrolyzers; semiconductors; neodymium magnets; platinum group metals and other catalysts; and carbon capture materials. Crosscutting topics include cybersecurity and digital components, and commercialization and competitiveness. DOE has additional ongoing supply chain analysis on other technologies and topics as well. For this effort, DOE is reviewing the full supply chain—from raw materials, processed materials, subcomponents, final products, to end-of-life material recovery and recycling—for each technology. DOE is taking an in-depth assessment in each of the selected technologies, including:
○ Mapping the supply chains;
○ Identifying existing and future threats, risks, and vulnerabilities;
○ Identifying major barriers, including financial and commercial, scientific, technical, regulatory and market;
○ Identifying conditions needed to help incentivize energy sector companies and communities to both transfer energy manufacturing back to and scale up supply chains in the United States.
○ Identifying areas where collaboration between the government and private sector, as well as between government entities (federal, state, local, and Tribal), is necessary to expand the energy industrial base, what private sector leadership might look like in this area, and where or how government can help; and
○ Identifying specific actions to address threats, risks, and vulnerabilities and help build resilient supply chains.
This RFI seeks input from all stakeholders involved directly and indirectly in the supply chains of energy and energy efficiency technologies—including but not limited to U.S. industry, researchers, academia, local governments, labor organizations, and civil society. This stakeholder input will inform the Department's efforts to build an energy sector industrial base that is diverse, resilient, and competitive while meeting economic, national security, and climate objectives.
This RFI seeks responses on the energy sector industrial base and individual technologies as well as crosscutting topics. Specifically, DOE is interested in gathering information relevant to the following topic areas:
1. Crosscutting topics relating to the energy sector industrial base
2. Solar PV Technology
3. Wind Energy Technology
4. Energy Storage Technology
5. Electric Grid—Transformers and HVDC
6. Hydropower and Pumped Storage Technology
7. Nuclear Energy Technology
8. Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers
9. Semiconductors
10. Neodymium Magnets
11. Platinum Group Metals and other materials used as Catalysts
12. Carbon Capture, Storage, and Transportation Materials
13. Cybersecurity and Digital Components
14. Commercialization and Competitiveness
Questions for Input: This RFI is an initial step in improving DOE understanding of interests, concerns, challenges, and policy needs of the private sector and communities at large, with respect to manufacturing supply chains of the evolving energy sector industrial base. This RFI is a general solicitation for public input, which sets forth topics for discussion and comment.
Energy Sector Supply Chain Review RFI:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/11/29/2021-25898/notice-of-request-for-information-rfi-on-energy-sector-supply-chain-review