Renewable Energy R&D Funding History: A
Comparison with Funding for Nuclear Energy,
Fossil Energy, and Energy Efficiency R&D

Fred Sissine
Specialist in Energy Policy
January 26, 2011
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
RS22858
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repared for Members and Committees of Congress

Renewable Energy R&D Funding History: A Comparison

Summary
Energy research and development (R&D) intended to advance technology played an important
role in the successful outcome of World War II. In the post-war era, the federal government
conducted R&D on fossil fuel and nuclear energy sources to support peacetime economic growth.
The energy crises of the 1970s spurred the government to broaden the focus to include renewable
energy and energy efficiency. Over the 33-year period from the Department of Energy’s inception
at the beginning of fiscal Year (FY) 1978 through FY2010, federal spending for renewable energy
R&D amounted to about 16% of the energy R&D total, compared with 14% for energy efficiency,
26% for fossil, and 37% for nuclear. For the 63-year period from 1948 through 2010, nearly 12%
went to renewables, compared with 9% for efficiency, 25% for fossil, and 50% for nuclear.


Congressional Research Service

Renewable Energy R&D Funding History: A Comparison

Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1
Guide to Tables and Charts.......................................................................................................... 1
Background ................................................................................................................................ 1

Figures
Figure 1. DOE Energy Technology Share of Funding, FY2001-FY2010 ...................................... 3
Figure 2. DOE Energy Technology Share of Funding, FY1978-FY2010 ...................................... 4
Figure 3. DOE Energy Technology Share of Funding, FY1948-FY2010 ...................................... 5
Figure 4. DOE Energy Technology Share of Funding, Comparison over Three Periods................ 6

Tables
Table 1. DOE Energy Technology Cumulative Funding Totals..................................................... 2
Table 2. DOE Energy Technology Share of Funding.................................................................... 2

Contacts
Author Contact Information ........................................................................................................ 6

Congressional Research Service

Renewable Energy R&D Funding History: A Comparison

Introduction
This report provides a cumulative history of Department of Energy (DOE) funding for renewable
energy compared with funding for the other energy technologies—nuclear energy, fossil energy,
and energy efficiency. Specifically, it provides a comparison that covers cumulative funding over
the past 10 years (FY2001-FY2010), a second comparison that covers the 33-year period since
DOE was established at the beginning of fiscal year 1978 (FY1978-FY2010), and a third
comparison that covers a 63-year funding history (FY1948-FY2010).
Guide to Tables and Charts
Table 1 shows the cumulative funding totals in real terms for the past 10 years (first column), 33
years (second column), and 63 years (third column). Table 2 converts the data from Table 1 into
relative shares of spending for each technology, expressed as a percentage of total spending for
each period.
Figure 1 displays the data from the first column of Table 2 as a pie chart. That chart shows the
relative shares of cumulative DOE spending for each technology over the 10 years from FY2001
through FY2010. Figure 2 provides a similar chart for the period from FY1978 through FY2010.
Figure 3 shows a chart for FY1948 through FY2010.
Background
The availability of energy—especially gasoline and other liquid fuels—played a critical role in
World War II. Another energy-related factor was the application of research and development
(R&D) to the atomic bomb and other military technologies. During the post World War II era, the
federal government began to apply R&D to the peacetime development of energy sources to
support economic growth. At that time, the primary R&D focus was on fossil fuels and new forms
of energy derived from nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.
From FY1948 through FY1977 the federal government provided an extensive amount of R&D
support for fossil energy and nuclear power technologies.1 Total spending on fossil energy
technologies over that period amounted to about $15.7 billion, in constant FY2010 dollars. The
federal government spent about $47.5 billion (in constant FY2010 dollars) during that period for
nuclear fission and nuclear fusion energy R&D.2
The energy crises of the 1970s spurred the federal government to expand its R&D programs to
include renewable (wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, hydro) energy and energy efficiency
technologies. Modest efforts to support renewable energy and energy efficiency began during the
early 1970s. From FY1973 through FY1977 the federal government spent about $1.6 billion (in

1 DOE. Pacific Northwest Laboratory. An Analysis of Federal Incentives Used to Stimulate Energy Production. 1980.
The spending for fossil energy included coal, oil, and natural gas technologies.
2 DOE (Pacific Northwest Laboratory), An Analysis of Federal Incentives Used to Stimulate Energy Production, 1980.
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Renewable Energy R&D Funding History: A Comparison

constant FY2010 dollars) on renewable energy R&D, $143 million on energy efficiency R&D,
and $173 million on electric systems R&D.3
The Department of Energy was established by law in 1977. All of the energy R&D programs—
fossil, nuclear, renewable, and energy efficiency—were brought under its administration. DOE
also undertook a small program in energy storage and electricity system R&D that supports the
four main energy technology programs.4 DOE’s funding support for those technologies began in
FY1978. Funding for all four of the main technologies skyrocketed initially, and then fell
dramatically in the early 1980s.
Table 1. DOE Energy Technology Cumulative Funding Totals
(billions of 2010 dollars)
Period
FY2001-FY2010
FY1978-FY2010
FY1948-FY2010
Technology
(10 years)
(33 years)
(63 years)
Renewable Energy
$ 6.42
$ 19.50
$ 21.06
Energy Efficiency
6.50
16.87
17.02
Fossil Energy
10.55
30.87
46.61
Nuclear Energy
8.85
43.63
91.12
Electric Systems
5.78
7.92
8.09
Total $38.10
$118.79
$183.91
Sources: DOE Budget Authority History Table by Appropriation, May 2007; DOE Congressional Budget
Requests (several years); DOE (Pacific Northwest Laboratory), An Analysis of Federal Incentives Used to
Stimulate Energy Production, 1980. Deflator Source: The Budget for Fiscal Year 2011. Historical Tables. Table
10.1. Gross Domestic Product and Deflators Used in the Historical Tables, 1940-2015.
Table 2. DOE Energy Technology Share of Funding
(percent; derived from Table 1)
Technology Period
FY2001-FY2010
FY1978-FY2010
FY1948-FY2010

(10 years)
(33 years)
(63 years)
Renewable Energy
16.8%
16.4%
11.5%
Energy Efficiency
17.1%
14.2%
9.3%
Fossil Energy
27.7%
26.0%
25.3%
Nuclear Energy
23.2%
36.7%
49.5%
Electric Systems
15.2%
6.7%
4.4%
Total 100.0%
100.0%
100.0%

3 DOE Conservation and Renewable Energy Base Table. February 1990.
4 This program includes R&D on advanced batteries to store electricity and transmission equipment to transfer
electricity with less heat loss (i.e. at higher levels of energy efficiency).
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Renewable Energy R&D Funding History: A Comparison

Sources: DOE Budget Authority History Table by Appropriation, May 2007; DOE Congressional Budget
Requests (several years); DOE (Pacific Northwest Laboratory), An Analysis of Federal Incentives Used to
Stimulate Energy Production, 1980; DOE Conservation and Renewable Energy Base Table. February 1990.
Deflator Source: The Budget for Fiscal Year 2011. Historical Tables. Table 10.1. Gross Domestic Product and
Deflators Used in the Historical Tables, 1940-2015.

Figure 1. DOE Energy Technology Share of Funding, FY2001-FY2010
15.2%
16.8%
Renewables
Energy Efficiency
17.1%
Fossil Energy
23.2%
Nuclear Energy
Electric Systems
27.7%

Sources: DOE Budget Authority History Table by Appropriation, May 2007; DOE Congressional Budget Requests
(several years); Deflator Source: The Budget for Fiscal Year 2011. Historical Tables. Table 10.1. Gross Domestic
Product and Deflators Used in the Historical Tables, 1940-2015.
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Renewable Energy R&D Funding History: A Comparison

Figure 2. DOE Energy Technology Share of Funding, FY1978-FY2010
6.7%
16.4%
Renewables
14.2%
Energy Efficiency
36.7%
Fossil Energy
Nuclear Energy
Electric Systems
26.0%

Sources: DOE Budget Authority History Table by Appropriation, May 2007; DOE Congressional Budget Requests
(several years); Deflator Source: The Budget for Fiscal Year 2011. Historical Tables. Table 10.1. Gross Domestic
Product and Deflators Used in the Historical Tables, 1940-2015.
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Renewable Energy R&D Funding History: A Comparison

Figure 3. DOE Energy Technology Share of Funding, FY1948-FY2010
4.4%
11.5%
9.3%
Renewables
Energy Efficiency
Fossil Energy
Nuclear Energy
49.5%
Electric Systems
25.3%

Sources: DOE Budget Authority History Table by Appropriation, May 2007; DOE Congressional Budget
Requests (several years); DOE (Pacific Northwest Laboratory), An Analysis of Federal Incentives Used to
Stimulate Energy Production, 1980; DOE Conservation and Renewable Energy Base Table. Feb. 1990. Deflator
Source: The Budget for Fiscal Year 2011. Historical Tables. Table 10.1.
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Renewable Energy R&D Funding History: A Comparison

Figure 4. DOE Energy Technology Share of Funding, Comparison over Three Periods
100%
11.5%
16.4%
16.8%
90%
9.3%
80%
4.4%
14.2%
17.1%
70%
6.7%
60%
15.2%
Renewables
Energy Efficiency
50%
49.5%
Electric Systems
Nuclear Energy
36.7%
Fossil Energy
40%
23.2%
30%
20%
25.3%
26.0%
27.7%
10%
0%
FY1948-
FY1978-
FY2001-
FY2010
FY2010
FY2010

Sources: DOE Budget Authority History Table by Appropriation, May 2007; DOE Congressional Budget
Requests (several years); DOE (Pacific Northwest Laboratory), An Analysis of Federal Incentives Used to
Stimulate Energy Production, 1980; DOE Conservation and Renewable Energy Base Table. Feb. 1990. Deflator
Source: The Budget for Fiscal Year 2011. Historical Tables. Table 10.1.
Note: Column to far left shows shares for the period FY1948-FY2010; middle column shows shares for period
from FY1978-FY2010; and far right column shows shares for period from FY2001-FY2010.

Author Contact Information

Fred Sissine

Specialist in Energy Policy
fsissine@crs.loc.gov, 7-7039


Congressional Research Service
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