Energy is critical to every aspect of modern society and a thriving global economy. But harmful emissions from traditional energy production methods and uses threaten that livelihood.

For a sustainable energy future, we must dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our energy system while enabling all citizens to benefit from a clean energy economy. Clean and affordable energy practices need to become part of our collective DNA.

Guided by federal policy, and in partnership with industry experts and the research community, PNNL scientists and engineers work every day toward a sustainable energy future for all that is not just imagined, but real.

Decarbonization: the key to clean energy

Decarbonizing our energy system means maximizing energy efficiency across all energy sectors, eliminating green-house gas emissions from power generation, electrifying end-uses, and developing net-zero carbon fuels and chemicals.

With a sharp eye on both affordability and environmental checks and balances, we must improve energy efficiency, especially in our nation’s building stock, which alone accounts for about 40% of our nation’s energy use each year. We must expand our use of renewable energy sources, nuclear power, carbon capture and storage, and energy storage technologies, while electrifying transportation and industry wherever possible. In this dynamic landscape of energy generation and end uses, our modern electric grid must also deliver flexibility and resilience through real-time grid controls for improved situational awareness, demand-response technologies for balancing loads, and grid-scale energy storage systems for critical backup power.

For industries and heavy-duty transportation sectors that aren’t easily electrified or don’t have alternatives to fossil fuels, we must take advantage of greener chemistries and carbon capture and sequestration technologies. In the meantime, our ongoing commitment to increasing efficiency across the energy system, including vehicles, buildings, and industry, will continue to save American households and businesses billions of dollars while keeping millions of metric tons of carbon dioxide out of the air each year.

Decarbonization and electrification of our energy system won’t happen overnight, but it’s a worthy—and necessary—goal. As we work toward net-zero carbon dioxide emissions, we believe a clean, sustainable energy future should work for everyone, no matter who they are or where they live.

Imagine that.