Clean, secure, and affordable energy services are critical to social and environmental well-being within HARC's operating region. Current trends suggest a serious challenge ahead. Under the business-as-usual case Texas energy demand will grow by one-third by 2025 and double by mid-century. Absent significant increases in energy efficiency, the conventional solutions to meeting this demand imply unacceptable economic, environmental and social costs. Clean and renewable energy will play a role in meeting energy demand in HARC's region and in Texas.

As clean energy technologies on both the demand and supply side move through technology readiness levels toward successful commercialization, HARC's engagement with industry, government, academia and civil society helps to implement promising technologies more rapidly and improve energy decision-making. HARC's Clean Energy Program includes integrative and collaborative work in these areas: stationary fuel cells; combined heat and power generation; energy market tools and products; strategic energy planning; clean energy applications analysis; and clean energy policy analysis. HARC will focus on new sources of energy including hydrogen and biomass and the technological, regulatory, market and social barriers to their adoption.

The mission of the Clean Energy Program is to accelerate development and adoption of clean energy technologies, services, and policies that enhance regional sustainability. HARC bridges gaps between basic research in energy services and technologies and their commercial implementation by taking the lead in convening stakeholders and in crafting and executing research, verification, and validation.