In February 2022, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published “America’s Strategy to Secure the Supply Chain for a Robust Clean Energy Transition”—the first comprehensive U.S. government plan to build an Energy Sector Industrial Base. The strategy examines technologies and crosscutting topics for analysis in response to Executive Order 14017 on America’s Supply Chains  and is part of a whole of government approach to chart a course for revitalizing the U.S. economy and domestic manufacturing by securing the country’s most critical supply chains.

The energy sector has undergone significant changes, including rapid cost reduction and increased deployment of solar and wind energy; widespread uptake of efficient LED lighting; significant digitization of and strain on our electric grid; and the birth of the marketplace for electric cars, trucks, and buses, and more.

In the decades to come, the energy sector will evolve at an accelerated pace reflecting continued innovation, investment trends in private capital markets, and the urgent need to combat global climate change. Demand for clean energy is projected to increase dramatically as we work toward the nation’s climate goals to cut emissions in half by 2030, create an emissions-free power sector by 2035, and achieve net zero emissions economy-wide by no later than 2050.

This energy transition creates enormous opportunities for America to:

• Reinvest in our manufacturing base and create millions of good paying, high-quality jobs for American workers
• Strengthen our energy supply chains by making them more resilient, robust, diverse, and competitive 
• Increase global presence of U.S. clean energy technologies
• Increase access to clean and affordable energy for all Americans, including those who have been historically left behind
• Build a clean energy economy that drives economic growth, protects our climate, and improves public health in communities across the country

DOE recognizes that a secure, resilient energy supply chain will be critical in achieving these goals and capturing the economic opportunity inherent in the energy transition. In addition to the comprehensive strategy report, DOE developed 13 deep-dive assessments on specific technologies and crosscutting topics conducted by researchers from DOE and several of its national laboratories, in consultation with energy sector stakeholders. “America’s Strategy to Secure the Supply Chain for a Robust Clean Energy Transition” is informed by these 13 issue-specific priority assessments and focuses on key findings that will maximize opportunities to strengthen the energy supply chain and develop a world-class American energy manufacturing base and workforce. The report also builds upon a 100-day review of the supply chains of critical products, including semiconductor manufacturing and advanced packaging; large capacity batteries; and critical minerals and materials.

The strategies and recommendations identified in this report will propel the United States forward to a more secure and equitable clean energy future for all Americans.