Provided below is a listing of BES workshop reports that address the status of some important research areas that are used to help identify research directions for a decades-to-century energy strategy.
BASIC RESEARCH NEEDS WORKSHOP ON Quantum Materials for Energy Relevant Technology
This report is based on a BES workshop on Basic Research Needs on Quantum Materials for Energy Relevant Technology, which was held on February 8-10, 2016. The workshop goal was to define priority research directions that would lay the foundation to better understand quantum materials and harness their rich technological potential. (more).
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(326KB) PDF file of this Report (5.0MB)
Sustainable Ammonia Synthesis – Exploring the scientific challenges associated with discovering alternative, sustainable processes for ammonia production
The Office of Science, through its Offices of Basic Energy Science (BES) convened a roundtable, held on February 18, 2016. Participants in the Roundtable discussions concluded that the scientific basis for sustainable processes for ammonia synthesis is currently lacking, and it needs to be enhanced substantially before it can form the foundation for alternative processes. The Roundtable Panel identified an overarching grand challenge and several additional scientific grand challenges and research opportunities:. (more).
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Neuromorphic Computing – From Materials Research to Systems Architecture Roundtable
The Office of Science, through its Offices of Basic Energy Science (BES) and Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR), convened a roundtable consisting of 20 national lab, university and industry experts to evaluate computing architectures that go beyond Moore's Law and mimic neuro-biological architectures. The focus was on both advanced materials and scientific computing research opportunities to support development of a new paradigm for extreme and self-reconfigurable computing architectures. (more).
JPG (160KB) PDF file of this Report (7.3MB)
Basic Research Needs for Environmental Management
This report is based on a BES/BER/ASCR workshop on Basic Research Needs for Environmental Management, which was held on July 8-11, 2015. The workshop goal was to define priority research directions that will provide the scientific foundations for future environmental management technologies, which will enable more efficient, cost-effective, and safer cleanup of nuclear waste. (more).
JPG (308KB) PDF file of this Report (5.4MB)
Challenges at the Frontiers of Matter and Energy: Transformative Opportunities for Discovery Science
In 2007, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science charged a panel of ranking experts with identifying key questions challenging our ability to control matter and energy,... While fully meeting these five Grand Challenges is still years down the road, significant advances have been made... In consideration of this changed landscape, the Office of Science charged the Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee (BESAC) with assessing the progress that has been made on all five Grand Challenge fronts and identifying what new knowledge opportunities exist to advance energy science.
(more).
JPG (90KB) PDF file of this Report (19.4MB)
Controlling Subsurface Fractures and Fluid Flow: A Basic Research Agenda
The Office of Science, through its Office of Basic Energy Science (BES), convened a roundtable consisting of 15 national lab, university and industry geoscience experts to brainstorm basic research areas that underpin the goals of the broader SubTER Technology Team efforts, and are currently underrepresented in the BES research portfolio. The roundtable participants developed a basic research agenda that is detailed in this report. (more)
JPG (479KB) PDF file of this Report (831KB)
Future of Electron Scattering and Diffraction
The goal of the workshop was to identify the frontiers in electron scattering and diffraction that address Grand Challenges in chemistry, material science, physics, and biology. The workshop identified several scientific opportunities and the next generation electron scattering and diffraction instruments that would have transformative impact on many fields of science and technology. (more)
JPG (582KB) PDF file of this Report (18.0MB)
X-ray Optics for BES Light Source Facilities
This report is based on a BES Workshop held March 27–29, 2013, to identify opportunities and needs for X-ray optics developments at the existing and future BES facilities by identifying gaps in current X-ray capabilities and what developments should have high priority to support current and future photon-based science. (more)
JPG (118KB) PDF file of this Report (5.3MB)
Neutron and X-ray Detectors
This report is based on a BES Workshop to itemize research directions for neutron and x-ray detectors, held August 1–3, 2012, by characterizing the gaps between detector development and source advances and identifying opportunities to maximize the scientific impact for BES user facilities. (more)
JPG (440KB) PDF file of this of report (7.9MB)
From Quanta to the Continuum: Opportunities for Mesoscale Science
This Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee (BESAC) report summarizes the results of meetings and web interactions (e.g., www.meso2012.com
) sponsored by the BESAC Mescoscale Science Subcommittee to identify the opportunities, the challenges, and the benefits of mastering mesoscale science. (more)
JPG (178KB) PDF file of this report (8.1MB)
Data and Communications in Basic Energy Sciences: Creating a Pathway for Scientific Discovery
This report is based on a joint Basic Energy Sciences (BES) facilities and Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) workshop held on October 24-25, 2011 to identify opportunities and needs for data analysis, ownership, storage, mining, provenance and data transfer at light sources, neutron sources, microscopy centers and other facilities. (more)
JPG (470KB) PDF file of this Report (1.0MB)
Research Needs and Impacts in Predictive Simulation for Internal Combustion Engines (PreSICE)
This report is based on a SC/EERE Workshop to Identify Research Needs and Impacts in Predictive Simulation for Internal Combustion Engines (PreSICE), held March 3, 2011, to determine strategic focus areas that will accelerate innovation in engine design to meet national goals in transportation efficiency. (more)
JPG (402KB) PDF file of this of report (1.9MB)
Report of the Basic Energy Sciences Workshop on Compact Light Sources
This report is based on a BES Workshop on Compact Light Sources, held May 11-12, 2010, to evaluated the advantages and disadvantages of compact light source approaches and compared their performance to the third generation storage rings and free-electron lasers. (more)
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Basic Research Needs for Carbon Capture: Beyond 2020
This report is based on a SC/FE workshop on Carbon Capture: Beyond 2020, held March 4–5, 2010, to assess the basic research needed to address the current technical bottlenecks in carbon capture processes and to identify key research priority directions that will provide the foundations for future carbon capture technologies. (more)
JPG (79KB) PDF file of this of report (6.3MB)
Computational Materials Science and Chemistry:
Accelerating Discovery and Innovation through Simulation-Based Engineering and Science
This report is based on a SC Workshop on Computational Materials Science and Chemistry for Innovation on July 26–27, 2010, to assess the potential of state-of-the-art computer simulations to accelerate understanding and discovery in materials science and chemistry, with a focus on potential impacts in energy technologies and innovation. (more)
JPG (209KB) PDF file of this report (6.4MB)
New Science for a Secure and Sustainable Energy Future
This Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee (BESAC) report summarizes a 2008 study by the Subcommittee on Facing our Energy Challenges in a New Era of Science to: (1) assimilate the scientific research directions that emerged from the BES Basic Research Needs workshop reports (below) into a comprehensive set of science themes, and (2) identify the new implementation strategies and tools required to accomplish the science. (more)
JPG (263KB) PDF file of this report (561KB) | One-page summary of this report (17KB)
Science for Energy Technology:
Strengthening the Link between Basic Research and Industry
This Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee (BESAC) report summarizes the results of a Workshop on Science for Energy Technology on January 18-21, 2010, to identify the scientific priority research directions needed to address the roadblocks and accelerate the innovation of clean energy technologies. The full report (August 2010) is at left; the initial report (April 2010) is at right. (more)
Next-Generation Photon Sources for Grand Challenges in Science and Energy
This Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee (BESAC) report summarizes the results of an October 2008 Photon Workshop of the Subcommittee on Facing our Energy Challenges in a New Era of Science to identify connections between major new research opportunities and the capabilities of the next generation of light sources. Particular emphasis was on energy-related research. (more)
JPG (238KB) PDF file of this report (9.4MB)
Directing Matter and Energy: Five Challenges for Science and the Imagination
This Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee (BESAC) Grand Challenges report identifies the most important scientific questions and science-driven technical challenges facing BES and describes the importance of these challenges to advances in disciplinary science, to technology development, and to energy and other societal needs. The report originated from a January 25, 2005, request from the Office of Science and is the product of numerous BESAC and Grand Challenges Subcommittee meetings and conferences in 2006-2007. (more)
JPG (176KB) PDF file of this report (28.9MB)
Basic Research Needs for Materials under Extreme Environments
This report is based on a BES Workshop on Basic Research Needs for Materials under Extreme Environments, June 11-13, 2007, to evaluate the potential for developing revolutionary new materials that will meet demanding future energy requirements that expose materials to environmental extremes. (more)
JPG (261KB) PDF file of this report (10.7MB)
Basic Research Needs: Catalysis for Energy
This report is based on a BES Workshop on Basic Research Needs in Catalysis for Energy Applications, August 6-8, 2007, to identify research needs and opportunities for catalysis to meet the nation's energy needs, provide an assessment of where the science and technology now stand, and recommend the directions for fundamental research that should be pursued to meet the goals described. (more)
JPG (220KB) PDF file of this report (4.2MB)
Future Science Needs and Opportunities for Electron Scattering:
Next-Generation Instrumentation and Beyond
This report is based on a BES Workshop entitled "Future Science Needs and Opportunities for Electron Scattering: Next-Generation Instrumentation and Beyond," March 1–2, 2007, to identify emerging basic science and engineering research needs and opportunities that will require major advances in electron-scattering theory, technology, and instrumentation. (more)
JPG (364KB) PDF file of this report (2.9MB)
Basic Research Needs for Electrical Energy Storage
This report is based on a BES Workshop on Basic Research Needs for Electrical Energy Storage (EES), April 2-4, 2007, to identify basic research needs and opportunities underlying batteries, capacitors, and related EES technologies, with a focus on new or emerging science challenges with potential for significant long-term impact on the efficient storage and release of electrical energy. (more)
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Basic Research Needs for Geosciences: Facilitating 21st Century Energy Systems
This report is based on a BES Workshop on Basic Research Needs for Geosciences: Facilitating 21st Century Energy Systems, February 21-23, 2007, to identify research areas in geosciences, such as behavior of multiphase fluid-solid systems on a variety of scales, chemical migration processes in geologic media, characterization of geologic systems, and modeling and simulation of geologic systems, needed for improved energy systems. (more)
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Basic Research Needs for Clean and Efficient Combustion of 21st Century Transportation Fuels
This report is based on a BES Workshop on Clean and Efficient Combustion of 21st Century Transportation Fuels, October 29-November 1, 2006, to identify basic research needs and opportunities underlying utilization of evolving transportation fuels, with a focus on new or emerging science challenges that have the potential for significant long-term impact on fuel efficiency and emissions. (more)
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Basic Research Needs for Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems
This report is based on a BES Workshop on Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems, July 31-August 3, 2006, to identify new, emerging, and scientifically challenging areas in materials and chemical sciences that have the potential for significant impact on advanced nuclear energy systems. (more)
JPG (380KB) PDF file of this report (27.9MB)
Basic Research Needs for Solid-State Lighting
This report is based on a BES Workshop on Solid-State Lighting (SSL), May 22-24, 2006, to examine the gap separating current state-of-the-art SSL technology from an energy efficient, high-quality, and economical SSL technology suitable for general illumination; and to identify the most significant fundamental scientific challenges and research directions that would enable that gap to be bridged. (more)
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Basic Research Needs for Superconductivity
This report is based on a BES Workshop on Superconductivity, May 8-10, 2006, to examine the prospects for superconducting grid technology and its potential for significantly increasing grid capacity, reliability, and efficiency to meet the growing demand for electricity over the next century. (more)
JPG (355KB) PDF file of this report (9.3MB)
The Path to Sustainable Nuclear Energy
Basic and Applied Research Opportunities for Advanced Fuel Cycles
This report is based on a small DOE-sponsored workshop held in September 2005 to identify new basic science that will be the foundation for advances in nuclear fuel-cycle technology in the near term, and for changing the nature of fuel cycles and of the nuclear energy industry in the long term. (more)
JPG (178KB) PDF file of this report (864KB)
Basic Research Needs for Solar Energy Utilization
This report is based on a BES Workshop on Solar Energy Utilization, April 18–21, 2005, to examine the challenges and opportunities for the development of solar energy as a competitive energy source and to identify the technical barriers to large-scale implementation of solar energy and the basic research directions showing promise to overcome them. (more)
JPG (333KB) PDF file of this report (6.9MB)
Advanced Computational Materials Science:
Application to Fusion and Generation IV Fission Reactors
This report is based on a workshop held March 31–April 2, 2004, to determine the degree to which an increased effort in modeling and simulation could help bridge the gap between the data that is needed to support the implementation of advanced nuclear technologies and the data that can be obtained in available experimental facilities. (more)
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Opportunities for Discovery:
Theory and Computation in Basic Energy Sciences
This report is based on the deliberations of the BESAC Subcommittee on Theory and Computation following meetings on February 22 and April 17–16, 2004, to obtain testimony and discuss input from the scientific community on research directions for theory and computation to advance the scientific mission of the Office of Basic Energy Sciences. (more)
JPG (376KB) PDF file of this report (1.9MB)
Nanoscience Research for Energy Needs
This report is based upon a BES-cosponsored National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) Workshop held March 16–18, 2004, by the Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology (NSET) Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) to address the Grand Challenge in Energy Conversion and Storage set out in the NNI. This report was originally released on June 24, 2004, during the Department of Energy NanoSummit. The second edition that is provided here was issued in June 2005. (more)
JPG (235KB) PDF file of this report (6.4MB)
DOE-NSF-NIH Workshop on Opportunities in THz Science
This report is based on a Workshop on Opportunities in Terahetrz (THz) Science held February 12–14, 2004, to discuss basic research problems that can be answered using THz radiation. The workshop did not focus on the wide range of potential applications of THz radiation in engineering, defense and homeland security, or the commercial and government sectors of the economy. The workshop was jointly sponsored by DOE, NSF, and NIH. (more)
JPG (470KB) PDF file of this report (9.8MB)
Basic Research Needs for the Hydrogen Economy
This report is based upon the BES Workshop on Hydrogen Production, Storage, and Use, held May 13-15, 2003, to identify fundamental research needs and opportunities in hydrogen production, storage, and use, with a focus on new, emerging and scientifically challenging areas that have the potential to have significant impact in science and technologies. (more)
JPG (407KB) PDF file of this report (7.2MB) (2nd printing February 2004)
Theory and Modeling in Nanoscience
This report is based upon the May 10–11, 2002, workshop conducted jointly by the Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee and the Advanced Scientific Computing Advisory Committees to identify challenges and opportunities for theory, modeling, and simulation in nanoscience and nanotechnology and to investigate the growing and promising role of applied mathematics and computer science in meeting those challenges. (more)
JPG (274KB) PDF file of this report (2.2MB)
Opportunities for Catalysis in the 21st Century
This report is based upon a Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee subpanel workshop that was held May 14–16, 2002, to identify research directions to better understand how to design catalyst structures to control catalytic activity and selectivity. (more)
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Biomolecular Materials
This report is based upon the January 13–15, 2002, workshop sponsored by the Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee to explore the potential impact of biology on the physical sciences, in particular the materials and chemical sciences. (more)
JPG (317KB) PDF file of this report (8.9MB)
Basic Research Needs to Assure a Secure Energy Future
This report is based upon a Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee workshop that was held in October 2002 to assess the basic research needs for energy technologies to assure a reliable, economic, and environmentally sound energy supply for the future.
The workshop discussions produced a total of 37 proposed research directions. (more)
JPG (132KB) PDF file of this report (13.0MB)
Basic Research Needs for Countering Terrorism
This report is based upon a BES workshop on basic research needs to counter terrorism that was held on February 28 and March 1, 2002, to identify connections between technology needs for countering terrorism and underlying science issues and to recommend investment strategies to increase the impact of basic research on efforts to counter terrorism. (more)
JPG (665KB) PDF file of this report (1.8MB)
Complex Systems: Science for the 21st Century
This report is based upon a BES workshop, March 5–6, 1999, which was designed to help define new scientific directions related to complex systems in order to create new understanding about the nano world and complicated, multicomponent structures. (more)
JPG (258KB) PDF file of this report (1.9MB)
Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology Research Directions
This report illustrates the wide range of research opportunities and challenges in nanoscale science, engineering and technology. It was prepared in 1999 in connection with the interagency national research initiative on nanotechnology. (more)
JPG (707KB) PDF file of this report (6.6MB)