Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs - Biofuels

New Fellow Position at the Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program and the Energy Technology Innovation Policy Research Group at HKS

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 11:03:41 -0500

The Harvard Kennedy School's Science Technology and Public Policy Program and the Energy Technology Innovation Policy research group (joint with the Environment and Natural Resources Program) is looking for a research fellow to join in September 2013. This fellow will conduct independent research in the area of technology innovation and policy, as well as organize two Harvard Kennedy School Executive Workshops. The position will be from September 1, 2013 until June 30, 2014, and renewable for a year subject to funding, interest, and performance. Salary will be competitive at the postdoctoral level and the additional responsibilities and range from $50k to $60k.

Spotlight: Laura Diaz Anadon

Tue, 14 May 2013 07:11:07 -0500

"Laura Diaz Anadon is Associate Director of the Belfer Center’s Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program, Director of the Energy Technology Innovation Policy research group, and a member of the Belfer Center Board of Directors. In May, she was named Assistant Professor of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School."

Sustainability Certification in the Biofuel Sector

Annalisa Zezza — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:27:32 -0600

This paper assesses how certification programs adopted by EU countries have affected biofuel development in Brazil, and identifies some of the lessons learned in designing future certification programs. The paper challenges the idea of the central importance of market benefits as the driving force behind private regimes for environmental and social governance.

The Pentagon is Stopped from Going Green

Juliette Kayyem — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 16:59:33 -0500

"Fuel convoys are particularly subject to attack by hostile forces, and half of the Marines killed in Afghanistan and Iraq were supporting fuel transportation. Oil and water are the two commodities we import the most to the battlefield; the long line of a supply chain is a welcome mat for every IED and enemy. The biggest cost driver in the Pentagon's shrinking budget is oil; fuel increases in 2011 and 2012 cost the government an extra $3 billion."

Film Series Promotes Environmental Activism

Traci Farrell — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:12:08 -0500

Organized by Environment and Natural Resources Assistant Director Amanda Sardonis and senior fellow Cristine Russell, ENRP kicked off its 2012 Environmental Film Series with screenings of three widely heralded documentaries: “The Last Mountain,” directed by Bill Haney focuses on citizens fighting to prevent large coal companies from practicing mountain top removal in their town.... “A Fierce Green Fire: The Battle for a Living Planet,” directed by Mark Kitchell, highlights the major environmental movements from the last 50 years, while "The Grand Energy Transition: Natural Gas - The Bridge To Our Sustainable Future," directed by Belfer Center International Council Member Robert A. Hefner III argues that natural gas is the future of U.S. energy.

Energy Report: Transforming U.S. Energy Innovation

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 09:17:34 -0500

Q&A Laura Diaz Anadon

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 09:10:15 -0500

Laura Diaz Anadon is the associate director of the Belfer Center’s Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program, director of the Energy Technology Innovation Policy research group, and adjunct lecturer in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. She investigates the patterns and processes of technology innovation, especially the role of government policy in the development and deployment of advanced and cleaner energy technologies.

DOE Budget Authority for Energy Research, Development, & Demonstration Database

Kelly Sims Gallagher and Laura Diaz Anadon — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 16:58:14 -0600

This document contains February 2012 updates to our database on U.S. government investments in energy research, development, demonstration, and deployment (ERD3) through the Department of Energy. The database, in Microsoft Excel format, tracks DOE appropriations from FY 1978–2011 and the FY 2012 and 2013 budget requests and includes funding for ERD3 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. It also includes several charts.

Researchers Draft Blueprint to Boost Energy Innovation

James F. Smith — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 08:55:23 -0600

The U.S. government could save the economy hundreds of billions of dollars per year by 2050 by spending a few billion dollars more a year to spur innovations in energy technology, according to a new report by researchers at Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. The three-year project by the Belfer Center's Energy Technology Innovation Policy research group calls for doubling investment and adopting policy changes in energy technology.

Transforming the Energy Economy: Options for Accelerating the Commercialization of Advanced Energy Technologies

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:02:03 -0600

"The focus of the workshop was on the demonstration stage of the technology innovation cycle. Current policies do not adequately address the private sector’s inability to overcome the demonstration "valley of death" for new energy technologies. Investors and financiers fear that the technology and operational risks at this stage of the cycle remain too high to justify the level of investment to build a commercial-sized facility."

Tranforming the Energy Economy: Options for Accelerating the Commercialization of Advanced Energy Technologies—Framing Statement

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 10:18:00 -0600

"There is broad political consensus that the current energy system in the United States is unable to meet the nation's future energy needs, from the security, environment, and economic perspectives. New energy technologies are required to increase the availability of domestic energy supplies, to reduce the negative environmental impacts of our energy system, to improve the reliability of current energy infrastructure (e.g., smart grid, energy storage), and to increase energy efficiency throughout the economy."

How Good Politics Results in Bad Policy: The Case of Biofuel Mandates

Amanda Sardonis — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 09:17:10 -0600

The biofuels industry has become big policy, big business, and increasingly controversial. While countries like the United States and Brazil use biofuels to support farmers, increase energy security (reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil), improve the environment, and increase economic independence by reducing the need for foreign oil, environmentalists challenge the assertion that biofuels, particularly corn ethanol, offer a meaningful reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Belfer Center Newsletter Winter 2010-11

Sharon Wilke — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 07:51:06 -0600

The Winter 2010/11 issue of the Belfer Center newsletter features recent and upcoming activities, research, and analysis by members of the Center community on critical global issues. This issue highlights a major Belfer Center conference on technology and governance, the Center's involvement in the nuclear threat documentary Countdown to Zero, and a celebration of Belfer Center founder Paul Doty.

Water Consumption of Energy Resource Extraction, Processing, and Conversion

Erik Mielke, Laura Diaz Anadon and Venkatesh "Venky" Narayanamurti — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 16:06:08 -0500

This paper provides an overview of water consumption for different sources of energy, including extraction, processing, and conversion of resources, fuels, and technologies. The primary focus of this paper is to summarize the consumptive use of water for different sources of energy. Where appropriate, levels of water withdrawals are also discussed, especially in the context of cooling of thermoelectric power plants.

How Good Politics Results in Bad Policy: The Case of Biofuel Mandates

Robert Lawrence — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:08:02 -0500

This paper argues that the growing list of concerns about the impact of biofuel targets and mandates are the predictable result of a failure to follow the basic principles of good policy-making. Good policy-making requires developing a policy goal or target (i.e., reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing oil consumption, or increasing rural economic development) and designing an instrument to efficiently meet that particular goal. The more precise the goal, the better. In addition, for each target, there should be at least one policy instrument. You cannot meet two goals with only one instrument. This paper argues that the current U.S. biofuels mandates do not represent the most efficient or precise instrument to meet any of the policy's stated goals.

DOE FY 2011 Budget Request for Energy Research, Development, Demonstration, and Deployment: Analysis and Recommendations

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 21:18:49 -0500

This analysis provides an overview the Department of Energy's fiscal year 2011 energy research, development, demonstration, and deployment (ERD3) budget proposals, and lays out actionable recommendations to strengthen the effort. Overall, the report concludes that the 7 percent requested increase in applied energy research, development, and demonstration funds, while welcome in a time of budget stringency, remains well short of the sustained investment likely to be needed to meet the energy demands of the 21st century.

Biofuels Development Strategy

Brendan Luecke — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 10:21:18 -0500

April 14, 2010

The Dominican Republic is well positioned to benefit from the development of an ethanol industry. It has adequate land resources and, under favorable market conditions, can produce ethanol cost-competitively for both domestic consumption and export. The circumstances of the Dominican Republic are common to many developing nations considering biofuels development. The framework approach used in this paper and its conclusions may be applicable to biofuels initiatives in other developing nations.

Q&A with Henry Lee and Kelly Sims Gallagher

Sharon Wilke — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 07:06:58 -0600

As the U.S. debates an economy-wide CO2 cap-and-trade policy, the transportation sector remains a significant oil security and climate change concern. A new Belfer Center study-"Analysis of Policies to Reduce Oil Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the U.S. Transportation Sector"-concludes that significant reductions in these areas will require much stronger policy initiatives than are currently under consideration. Two of the authors answer questions about their report. Henry Lee is director of the Belfer Center's Environment and Natural Resources Program and Kelly Sims Gallagher is senior associate of the Belfer Center and associate professor of energy and environmental policy at Fletcher School, Tufts University's graduate school of international affairs.

Certification Strategies, Industrial Development and a Global Market for Biofuels

Ricardo Hausmann and Rodrigo Wagner — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:06:40 -0600

January 13, 2010

In a discussion paper released by Harvard University's Sustainability Science Program and the Belfer Center's Environment and Natural Resources Program at the Harvard Kennedy School, Ricardo Hausmann and Rodrigo Wagner lay out five organizing principles for maximizing the development impact of a global biofuel market.

A disproportionately large amount of the world's agronomic potential for the production of bio-ethanol is concentrated in a subset of developing countries. To develop that potential, countries need both the existence of an appropriate local business ecosystem and reliable global demand. The creation of a global market for green biofuels, however, is affected by a constellation of diverse and sometimes conflicting policy goals, which tend to complicate policy discussion. In this paper we compile a set of principles to guide the design of a global market for green biofuels.

Advanced Biofuels and Developing Countries: Intellectual Property Scenarios and Policy Implications

Calestous Juma and Bob Bell, Jr. — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:18:59 -0600

"Chapter III analysed the commercial viability of second generation biofuels. This chapter focuses on related intellectual property rights (IPRs) aspects. Three hypothetical scenarios in the context of the intellectual property protection of second generation biofuels are developed, with each scenario representing a different level of strictness of protection. Therefore, each scenario translates into a different level of potential access to advanced biofuel technologies by developing countries."

The Biofuels Market: Current Situation and Alternative Scenarios

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:52:25 -0600

The purpose of this volume is to present possible scenarios for the biofuels industry. Each chapter describes how the sector could evolve depending on the policy and strategies that individual countries may select. However, the assumption is that individual choices may have global impacts. Each scenario therefore tries to provide insights on the global economic, energetic, environmental and trade repercussions of specific policy developments.

Biofuels: A Solution for the Developing World?

Amanda Sardonis — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:08:50 -0600

What is the potential for biofuels to help meet the world's energy needs, protect the environment, and advance the livelihoods of farmers and other land users around the world? Participants of a workshop organized by the Belfer Center's Environment and Natural Resources Program (ENRP) and Harvard Kennedy School's Sustainability Science Program discussed these questions as they addressed the goals of a sustainable biofuel industry in developing countries and the role of certification processes in attaining these goals. The two-day event in late spring attracted more than 20 leading experts from around the world, representing academia, business, and government.

Expert Elicitation of Cost, Performance, and RD&D Budgets for Greenhouse Gas Reducing Strategies

Melissa Chan and Laura Diaz Anadon — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:22:11 -0500

Melissa Chan and Laura Diaz Anadon of the Energy Research, Development, Demonstration & Deployment (ERD3) Policy Project presented at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS).

Biofuels and Certification

Henry Lee and Charan Devereaux — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:52:56 -0500

Liquid biofuels can provide a substitute for fossil fuels in the transportation sector. Many countries have mandated the use of biofuels, by creating targets for their use. If not implemented with care, however, actions that increase biofuel production can put upward pressure on food prices, increase greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and exacerbate degradation of land, forest, and water sources. A strong global biofuels industry will not emerge unless these environmental and social concerns are addressed.

Preliminary Policy Recommendations for Enhancing Energy Innovation in the U.S.

Laura Diaz Anadon, Matthew Bunn, Kelly Sims Gallagher and Charles Jones — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:36:33 -0500

The Obama administration and the 111th Congress face enormous challenges and opportunities in tackling the pressing security, economic, and environmental problems posed by the energy sector in the United States and worldwide. Improving the technologies of energy supply and end-use is a prerequisite for surmounting these challenges in a timely and cost-effective way. This article is adapted from the executive summary of the Belfer Center Energy Technology Innovation Policy (ETIP) report, "Tackling U.S. Energy Challenges and Opportunities," by Laura Diaz Anadon, Kelly Sims Gallagher, Matthew Bunn, and Charles Jones.

Acting In Time On Energy Policy

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:23:50 -0600

This seven-minute video captures the essence of the Acting in Time on Energy Policy conference and highlights recommendations given by participants during each of the six panels.

Report Urges Governments to Explore Benefits, Risks of Biolfuels

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:21:51 -0500

Governments should initiate an orderly, innovation-enhancing transition toward incentives that target multi-dimensional goals for biofuels development, according to the report "Biofuels and Sustainable Development," released by the Sustainability Science Program of Harvard Kennedy School in ollaboration with Italy’s Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea, and Venice International University. Henry Lee, director of the Belfer Center's Environment and Natural Resources Program and co-author of the report with William Clark and Charan Devereaux, writes that if the potential of biofuels is to be realized, "governments must be clear about goals and constraints and the specific interventions to address each of them.”

Belfer Center Newsletter Winter 2008-09

Sharon Wilke — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:09:11 -0500

The Winter 2008-09 issue of the Belfer Center newsletter features recent and upcoming research, activities, and analysis by Center faculty, fellows, and staff on critical global issues. "What should the next president do first?" is a question raised in this issue. Belfer Center experts respond to the question with advice on what they consider priority issues of national security, climate/energy policy, and the economic crisis.

The Winter 2008-09 issue also features take-aways from the Center’s recent “Acting in Time on Energy Policy” conference hosted by the Energy Technology Innovation Policy research group. In addition, it spotlights Belfer Center Faculty Affiliate Richard Clarke and new Kennedy School Professor Nicholas Burns.

Electric Cars, 'Cap and Trade,' and More

Corydon Ireland — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:29:40 -0500

"Acting on Time on Energy" conference, held at Harvard on 18–19 September 2008, brought together business leaders, investors, academics and government officials, to discuss energy pollcy for the next U.S. Administration. Click here for photos.

New Report from Harvard Kennedy School Researchers Calls for Changes to Biofuels Incentives

Henry Lee, William Clark and Charan Devereaux — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:27:32 -0500

July 29, 2008

Despite pressure from biofuel critics, governments should avoid simplistic and precipitous changes in course such as rollback or moratoria on existing biofuels mandates or incentives, according to a new report from three Harvard Kennedy School researchers. Instead, the researchers urge governments to initiate an orderly, innovation-enhancing transition towards incentives targeted on multi-dimensional goals for biofuels development.