U.S.INNOVATIONTOMEET2050CLIMATEGOALS:ASSESSINGINITIALR&DOPPORTUNITIES2TableofContentsFivePrioritiestoLaunchtheNet-ZeroGameChangersInitiative.............................................3AbouttheInteragencyProcess....................................................................................................4TheNeedforaNet-ZeroInnovationPortfolio............................................................................4AWhole-of-GovernmentStrategyforNet-ZeroInnovation......................................................5Net-ZeroGameChangers............................................................................................................6ProspectiveBenefitsofNet-ZeroGameChangers.....................................................................7OngoingEfforts...........................................................................................................................9AppendixA:Net-ZeroGameChangersInteragencyWorkingGroup.....................................10AppendixB:Net-ZeroGameChangersDescriptions...............................................................10U.S.INNOVATIONTOMEET2050CLIMATEGOALS:ASSESSINGINITIALR&DOPPORTUNITIES3FivePrioritiestoLaunchtheNet-ZeroGameChangersInitiativeTheBiden-HarrisAdministrationiscommittedtosupportinggame-changinginnovationtomeetitsclimategoals—includingtheU.S.nationallydeterminedcontributiontargetofreducinggreenhousegas(GHG)emissionsby50-52%from2005levelsby2030andthenationalgoalofreachingnet-zeroemissionsbynolaterthan2050.TheAdministrationcreatedaninteragencyworkinggrouptoidentify,prioritize,andaccelerateinnovationingame-changingnet-zerotechnologies.Theworkinggroupfirstidentified37net-zeroR&Dopportunities,whicharedescribedinthisreport.TheAdministrationthenprioritizedfiveareas1tolaunchtheNet-ZeroGameChangersInitiative:•EfficientBuildingHeatingandCooling,includingrefrigerantswithlowglobalwarmingpotential;•Net-ZeroAviation,cost-competitivewithconventionalaviation,includingelectricandhybridaircraftandsustainableaviationfuelsproduction;•Net-ZeroPowerGridandElectrification,includingadvancedtransmissionanddistributionsystems;•FusionEnergyatScale,cost-competitivewithconventionalenergy;and•IndustrialProductsandFuelsforaNet-Zero,CircularEconomy,includingsecuresupplychainsandalternativepathwaysforproducinglow-carbonsteel,aluminum,cement,chemicals,industrialheat,cleanwater,andelectrofuels.ThesesolutionsareallkeyareaswheretransformativeprogresscanhelptheUnitedStatesreachits2050climategoalandsupportglobaldecarbonization.TheybuildonexistingcleanenergyprioritiesatFederalagencies,suchastheDepartmentofEnergy(DOE)EnergyEarthshotsTM,whicharenecessarytoachievethe2030emissionsreductiongoal.ThissetofprioritieswillstrengthentheU.S.innovationecosystem,cuttingacrosseconomicsectorsandU.S.Governmentresearchanddevelopment(R&D)programs.Theprioritiesincludeopportunitiesfornear-termwins,investmentsinunderservedcommunitiesthroughtheJustice40initiative,andlong-termtransformationoftheenergysystem.LeveragingthestrengthofU.S.scienceinstitutionsincludingHistoricallyBlackCollegesandUniversitiesandMinorityServingInstitutions,theNet-ZeroGameChangersInitiativeenablesthedevelopmentofanext-generationcleanenergyworkforcethatlookslikeAmerica.Withinclusiveandintentionalinnovation,theseinitialfiveprioritiescanhavesignificantco-benefi...