Chu asks comeback in U.S. energy technology

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD. -Energy Secretary Steven Chu is drawing on the history of the United States in research and development to advocate for policies that encourage innovation in clean energy technology for the future.

Chu gave the speech at ARPA-E Summit here today once again saying that the United States is in a race with China, the European Union and other countries to create energy products due to growing demand.

He started showing a graph of the rise and fall of oil prices over time, saying that people can not say precisely where oil prices to be in a few years time. Rose recently passed $ 100 per barrel, and the United States spends about $ 1 billion per day, import of oil.

"What do we do? Do hope for the best and plan for a $ 40 a barrel? "he said. "I suggest taking a longer-term, more measured approach to the problem".

Secretary Chu to ARPA-E Summit 2011.(Credit: Martin LaMonica/CNET)

Beyond the question of the volatile price of fossil fuels, Chu argued that there is great peak energy demand clean accessible around the world. "Our strategy should not be hoping for the best ...Let's plan to which the world is going to be, "he said.

Has listed a number of areas where China is taking the lead in cleaner technologies. It has, for example, where only 7 percent of the energy it loses more than 1,200 miles of transmission lines of high-voltage direct current. The comparable U.S. loss on the grid would be 80 percent, he said.

Meanwhile, China, France and Japan have also invested in high-speed railway infrastructure. In finance, the United States lags behind other countries on project financing and public market clean energy financing, even if it leads in the investment firm. China surpassed the United States and other countries in the production of, high-tech, roboticized as well, he said.

The strategy at the Department of energy for the promotion of clean energy is to reduce costs lower than that of fossil fuels, Chu said. "We believe in some cases that can be competitive with fossil fuels. If it is 10 years from now or 50 years from now is the question, "he said. "If we get cost-competitive with fossil fuels, clean energy is a very different world."

Has promoted a series of research programmes, touching many areas, such as building efficiency, efficient, air conditioning and biofuels. Batteries, said the Argonne National Laboratory has made an advance of lithium ion batteries to improve safety, life and energy density of batteries. The technology has been licensed by General Motors and should be used in the second generation of Chevy Volt.

Lithium ion batteries were invented in the United States, supported by Energy Department research, but the products were marketed in Japan. Now in Japan and Korea dominate the industry of lithium-ion battery. But, as shown in the example of battery Argonne, technologies can be devised and marketed in the United States quickly, Chu said.

"Just because we lost the lead does not mean that we cannot go back," he said. "We still have a chance to lead the world in clean energy and capture the jobs of the 21st century, but time is running out. Is a race and the train is leaving the station. "