Top cleantech R&D priorities to help tackle climate change

A survey of 114 global experts identifies clean electricity, energy storage, and industrial decarbonization as the top R&D priorities through 2025, shifting toward zero-carbon fuels and interseasonal storage by 2030. While there is consensus on renewables, technologies like carbon capture and storage (CCS) and nuclear power remain controversial or low priority for the next decade. Beyond 2030, experts anticipate a larger role for innovative agricultural technologies, advanced market design, and hybrid solutions like farming photovoltaics.

• For the period 2021-2025, the highest R&D priority among experts is clean electricity, followed by energy storage and industrial decarbonization. In contrast, carbon capture and storage (CCS) and digital tools were ranked lower and viewed as controversial.
• By 2030, R&D priorities shift away from clean electricity generation toward low-cost zero-carbon fuels, conversion processes for industrial decarbonization, and interseasonal storage. Experts do not expect significant breakthroughs in large-scale direct air capture or nuclear fusion by this date.
• Beyond 2030, the focus is expected to move toward more visionary and hybrid applications, including innovative agricultural technologies, carbon capture, and 'farming photovoltaics', alongside advanced market design.
• Experts identified three primary political levers to accelerate cleantech development: financial support, regulatory efforts, and visionary components.

APA

Schniering, P. (2021). Top cleantech R&D priorities to help tackle climate change. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/cleantech-investment-priorities-energy-transition/

Chicago

Schniering, Peter. Top cleantech R&D priorities to help tackle climate change. World Economic Forum, 2021. https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/cleantech-investment-priorities-energy-transition/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Schniering |first1=Peter |title=Top cleantech R&D priorities to help tackle climate change |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=17 March 2021 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/cleantech-investment-priorities-energy-transition/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{schniering2021top, author = {Schniering, Peter}, title = {{Top cleantech R\&D priorities to help tackle climate change}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2021}, month = mar, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/cleantech-investment-priorities-energy-transition/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }