Founded 2015 Focus Clean energy R&D Website mission-innovation.net | Type Global alliance Area served Worldwide | |
Mission Innovation is a global initiative to accelerate public and private clean energy innovation to address climate change, make clean energy affordable to consumers, and create green jobs and commercial opportunities.
Contents
Foundation
It was announced by Bill Gates at COP21 on 30 November 2015, on stage with President Obama, President Hollande and Prime Minister Modi.
At the launch, 20 countries committed to double their respective clean energy research and development over the five years to 2020. For the US Department of Energy, this translates into an additional $4 billion by the end of 2020. The countries include the five most populous (as at 2015): China, India, the United States, Indonesia, and Brazil. All 20 launch partner countries represent 75 percent of the world's CO2 emissions from electricity, and over 80 percent of the world's clean energy R&D investment.
Its link to private sector investment is via the Breakthrough Energy Coalition group of private investors, also spearheaded by Bill Gates and which formed in parallel at COP21.
Criticism
Several of Mission Innovation's aims are compatible with those of Global Apollo Programme, announced earlier in 2015. What Mission Innovation's lacks in comparison, at least at launch, is a clear, dated, target; and a committee to co-ordinate research efforts across the globe and to identify successful opportunities.
Technology focus
The initiative is open in its focus and will, according to Gates, "pursue literally dozens and dozens of paths".
Several example technologies were mentioned at the launch of the initiative: biofuel, carbon capture and storage, airborne wind turbines, nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.
Gates has also mentioned the potential of liquid hydrocarbons being produced from sunlight via artificial photosynthesis (solar fuel) by 2025.
Participating countries
The following are founder members: