Mission Innovation (MI – www.mission-innovation.net) is a global initiative of 23 countries and the European Union to dramatically accelerate global clean energy innovation. As part of the initiative, participating countries have committed to seek to double their governments’ clean energy research and development (R&D) investments over five years, while encouraging greater levels of private sector investment in transformative clean energy technologies. These additional resources will dramatically accelerate the availability of the advanced technologies that will define a future global energy mix that is clean, affordable, and reliable.
Mission Innovation was announced on November 30, 2015, as world leaders came together in Paris to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change.
Innovation Challenges are global calls to action aimed at catalyzing global research efforts in areas that could provide significant benefits in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing energy security, and creating new opportunities for clean economic growth. Seven Innovation Challenges were launched at COP22 in November, 2016.
The Innovation Challenges cover the entire spectrum of RD&D; from early stage research needs assessments to technology demonstration projects. They were developed through a collaborative process between MI members. Engagement in an Innovation Challenge is entirely voluntary and is built around a coalition of interested MI members. With sufficient interest from MI members, new Innovation Challenges could be launched in the future.
The 8 Innovation Challenges are as follows:
- Smart Grids Innovation Challenge – to enable future grids that are powered by affordable, reliable, decentralised renewable electricity systems;
- Off-Grid Access to Electricity Innovation Challenge – to develop systems that enable off-grid households and communities to access affordable and reliable renewable electricity;
- Carbon Capture Innovation Challenge – to enable near-zero CO2 emissions from power plants and carbon intensive industries;
- Sustainable Biofuels Innovation Challenge – to develop ways to produce, at scale, widely affordable, advanced biofuels for transportation and industrial applications;
- Converting Sunlight Innovation Challenge – to discover affordable ways to convert sunlight into storable solar fuels;
- Clean Energy Materials Innovation Challenge – to accelerate the exploration, discovery, and use of new high-performance, low-cost clean energy materials; and
- Affordable Heating and Cooling of Buildings Innovation Challenge – to make low-carbon heating and cooling affordable for everyone.
- Renewable and Clean Hydrogen Innovation Challenge – to accelerate the development of a global hydrogen market by identifying and overcoming key technology barriers to the production, distribution, storage, and use of hydrogen at gigawatt scale
For more information visit www.mission-innovation.net