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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Panel Session 108: Technology Transfer and Commercialization: Innovative Solutions for Global Opportunities

This panel focus was to build the connection between innovative solutions and the various industries looking for more efficient methods, products, and processes in Tech Transfer and Commercialization. This panel had interest across the entire conference base, whether they are encountering a challenge, introducing an innovative solution, or are the host that is trying to get from a pure research / Research, Development, Demonstration, Testing, and Evaluation solution to one that is commercially viable and robust enough for long term and/or high risk deployment scenarios and which will support greater chance of success and positive outcomes. Panelists with presentations: Practical, Successful Technology Transfer (Laurie Judd); Technology Needs for Clean-up of Mercury Contamination on the Oak Ridge Reservation (Renee Echols); US DOE Office of Technology Transitions (Kyle Wiley); Technology Transfer in Support of Delivering Clean-up Missions (Kristan Schruder); Mission to Market (J. Chris Ford)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2026

Field testing and validation of a low-cost MPC for demand flexibility for grid-interactive K-12 schools

K-12 school buildings account for the highest energy consumption within the public sector. Implementing advanced HVAC controls in grid-interactive K-12 schools could bring substantial economic advantages and grid flexibility. Our previous study demonstrated that a low-cost model predictive control (MPC) solution, which coordinates multiple packaged units, can enable demand flexibility without major hardware upgrades. However, a significant gap remains between academic pilots and market-ready scalable solutions. This paper extends the previous single-site pilot to a multi-site demonstration involving three school campuses (95 total units) through a commercial technology transfer process. Addressing the challenge of verifying performance with sparse field data, we present a new statistical approach using Bayesian methods to estimate the MPC’s effect on peak demand. Unlike traditional methods, this approach robustly quantifies uncertainty in non-normal, limited datasets. The results confirm the solution’s replicability, achieving a 21.6–38.9% reduction in HVAC peak demand (10.8–22.1% at the site-level) with > 98% probability across diverse locations. Finally, we document critical barriers to scaling software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions–such as API instability and diverse legacy systems–and offer practical strategies to accelerate the commercial adoption of grid-interactive efficient buildings.

Ham, Sang Woo↗
DOE OSTI2022

Scale up, Field testing, and Optimization of Nontoxic, Durable, Economical Coatings for Control of Biofouling and Corrosion (Abstract Only)

The objective of this project is the technical maturation and demonstration of a durable, economical, and nontoxic coating, Superhydrophobic Lubricant Infused Composite (SLIC), that will prevent fouling organisms from growing on marine and hydrokinetic (MHK) structures and prevent invasive mussels from growing on hydropower structures. SLIC technology was developed and patented by PNNL. It combines multiple antifouling mechanisms to provide excellent antifouling performance, durability, and low hydrodynamic drag without using toxic materials. Advanced proof-of-concept testing and demonstrations completed during a Phase 1 TCF project attracted industry interest and partnerships for this Phase 2 effort focused on maturation of a commercial product. Specific tasks and tests will shift the development emphasis to optimizing formulations, validating antifouling performance to address specific application needs, explore compatibility with other paint systems, develop a product with useful shelf life (in can), and determine curing times and effective applications methodology. Phase 2 efforts will focus upon technology transfer and commercialization of the technology with the industrial team. Industrial partners now include a coatings development specialist (Lorama), hydrophobic material manufacturer and paint developer (Dry Surface Technologies), nontoxic biodegradable lubricants manufacturer (BioBlend), and aquatic applications specialists (Prometheus Innovations, River Connectivity Systems). Engagement with the MHK device developers, the PNNL Marine and Coastal Research Laboratory (MCRL) test site in Sequim WA, Bureau of Reclamation, and Taylor Shellfish throughout the project will provide topical expertise and field test sites that will deliver crucial real-world performance data. Through this Phase 2 effort, SLIC will transition from a Technical Readiness Level (TRL) 5 to TRL 6 and long-term performance data will be acquired through demonstrations. The field test data will allow optimization of SLIC formulation to enhance performance (e.g., durability) and packaging, which are key de-risking activities for technology transfer and ultimately to the production of a viable commercial product.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Enhancing Lifetime and Reducing Costs for Fish Diversion Netting Structures (Abstract)

This effort will focus on technology transfer and commercialization of antifouling coatings with an enthusiastic and engaged industrial team. Environmental requirements and operational demands call for a nontoxic coating/paint to prevent fouling on fish passage guidance netting at hydropower facilities. For example, one netting customer estimated the capital cost for compliance at $\$12$ million to $\$15$ million. This project will build partnerships between PNNL and private companies to optimize, demonstrate, mature, and commercialize a novel PNNL-developed technology that addresses this critical coating need of the hydropower industry. This effort will support modification of existing coatings for application to flexible netting structures. Industrial partners include commercial coating development specialist (Lorama), hydrophobic material manufacturer and paint developer (Dry Surface Technologies), aquatic applications specialists (Prometheus Innovations and River Connectivity Systems), and hydropower netting producer (Pacific Netting Products). Engagement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), two hydropower operators, throughout the project will provide expertise and field test sites that will provide crucial proof of real-world performance data (additional details provided in Teaming section). Taylor Shellfish Farms will provide organisms and fouling expertise as well as a perspective of potential broader impacts for the blue economy. Sample netting will demonstrate performance in a range of environments for key hydropower applications. PNNL will work with industrial partners to overcome commercialization barriers as well as resolving any manufacturing or regulatory issues. This Phase 1 effort is focused on technology optimization for application to fish passage guidance netting and technology validation as verified by independent testing (through USACE, BOR, Taylor Shellfish and Prometheus Innovations). Through this effort, SLIC will be demonstrated for netting applications at technology readiness level (TRL) 5. The field test data will allow optimization of SLIC formulation and performance which is key to enabling technology transfer of a mature proven technology to industry and production of a viable commercial product specifically focused for hydropower needs.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Appendix N: Technology Commercialization Program [Slides]

To transfer new and emerging technologies between the Laboratory and private industry to enhance the Laboratory's ability to meet mission requirements, improve the economic environment in which the Laboratory operates and further the industrial competitiveness of the United States; To develop improved mechanisms for the utilization of Laboratory technologies that stimulate new business startups, attract entrepreneurs, create alternative job opportunities, and attract businesses and capital to the region while continuing to serve the nation as a whole.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2025

MRCI Task 5: Promoting Regional Technology Transfer Final Summary Report

The goal of the MRCI Task 5 – Promoting Regional Technology Transfer is to leverage existing and new relationships with critical CCUS stakeholders (national and international stakeholders include state geological surveys, universities, industrial partners and advisors, energy production and utilization companies, and NGOs) within the regional initiative and globally and become a key resource for CCUS information, acceptance, and development. Work completed under Task 5 is categorized through four actions: • Promote acceleration of CCUS deployment by providing general support for commercialization and technology transfer • Compile and communicate information from previous tasks to interested stakeholders • Engage with federal and state governments, industry consortia and NGOs • Engage with global institutions

CCUS,Midwest,Midwest Regional Carbon Initiative,Mi↗
DOE OSTI2025

Integrating an Industrial Source and Commercial Algae Farm with Innovative CO 2 Transfer Membrane and Improved Strain Technologies

This report describes the overall findings of the research project “Integrating an Industrial Source and Commercial Algae Farm with Innovative CO 2 Transfer Membrane and Improved Strain Technologies”. The motivation and goal for this project were to increase the carbon utilization efficiency (CUE) and areal productivity for algal cultivations, thereby reducing CO 2 costs to cultivation operations and improving economics. This was achieved through a combination of enhanced delivery of inorganic carbon and improved strains of Nannochloropsis oceanica capable of higher rates of bicarbonate uptake and metabolism. The project succeeded in these goals. First, a bubble-free, membrane-based technology was developed for delivering CO 2 to cultivations, which increased the CUE from the 15-20% that is standard in the industry to more than 65%. In addition, N. oceanica was modified to express a bicarbonate transporter protein, BicA, which enabled the cells to grow more quickly. In addition, advances were made in the protein engineering of carbonic anhydrase (CA) for enhanced stability and catalytic performance, the computational fluid dynamics modeling of algal cultivation systems, and in the life-cycle assessment and technoeconomic analysis of algal production. Together, these outcomes contribute to advancing algal cultivation as an economically viable platform for production of fuels, materials, and other chemical products. The project results aid in addressing the dual challenges of reducing atmospheric CO 2 levels and achieving green energy solutions.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Marine Energy Commercialization Review: Evaluation of the Transition From Public to Private Capital

The mission of the U.S. Department of Energy's Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) is to advance marine energy technologies through research, testing, and commercialization. This paper explores the barriers and potential solutions for marine energy commercialization by evaluating publicly available literature, feedback from public and private actors, and historical WPTO actions. A key finding is the absence of standardized metrics to measure marine energy commercialization progress and the lack of targeted success goals. This paper aims to define those metrics, informed by public and private goals and the challenges developers experience, and to further evaluate targets offered by public funders and private capital providers. Recommendations to address barriers in marine energy commercialization include enhancing public-private communication, refining commercialization requirements, leveraging technology transfer programs, and exploring novel funding mechanisms like green bonds and contracts for difference. Addressing these challenges through proposed adjustments could facilitate the transition of marine energy technologies from public funding to sustainable private investment, ultimately advancing their commercialization.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Wide-Gap Perovskite via Synergetic Surface Passivation and Its Application toward Efficient Stacked Tandem Photovoltaics

Superior bandgap tunability enables solution-processed halide perovskite a promising candidate for multi-junction photovoltaics (PVs). Particularly, optically coupling wide-gap perovskite by stacking with commercially available PVs such as silicon and CIGS (also known as 4-terminal tandem) simplifies the technology transfer process, and further advances the commercialization potential of perovskite technology. However, compared with matured PV materials and the phase-pure FAPbI 3 , wide-gap perovskite still suffers from huge voltage deficits. Here, the authors take advantage of the synergetic effect behind a sequential fluoride and organic ammonium salt surface passivation strategy to control non-radiative energy losses, and obtained a 17.7% efficiency in infrared-transparent wide-gap perovskite solar cells (21.1% for opaque device), and achieved efficiencies of over 25% when stacked with commercial Si and CIGS products with original PCEs of 18–20% under a 4-terminal working condition.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

A New Class of SiC Power MOSFETs with Record-Low Resistance

Silicon carbide (SiC) power transistors are used in the main traction inverter of electric vehicles (EVs). Tesla began installing SiC power MOSFETs in 2017, and has now produced 4.8 million EVs containing over 169 million SiC power MOSFETs. Looking ahead, the worldwide EV market is projected to exceed 50 million vehicles per year by 2030 (Reuters, Oct. 25, 2022). This will create a demand for over two billion SiC power MOSFETs per year. Our program aims to double the efficiency of today's commercial power MOSFETs. This will cut the number of MOSFETs per EV in half, reducing cost, simplifying assembly, decreasing weight, and increasing vehicle reliability through reduced parts count. Our approach is to apply innovative design and advanced processing to increase the density of current-controlling channels in SiC power MOSFET. We have developed two new MOSFET devices, each of which increases the channel density by a factor of six over today's best commercial MOSFETs. This required implementing new fabrication processes, creating new device designs, and integrating the processing steps and device designs into a manufacturable technology. In this project we have developed two innovative devices: (i) a novel three-dimensional structure, the "tri-gate MOSFET," and (ii) a deeply-scaled, fully self-aligned trench MOSFET, the "IMOSFET". Both products were experimentally demonstrated during this project and meet the program goals of increased efficiency relative to the current state-of-the art commercial products. In the process we have generated significant IP, with two US patents issued and three applications pending. We have also published three journal articles and given reports on this technology at seven international conferences. The success of this program has led to significant follow-on funding from industry. In May 2023 Purdue University signed a five-year R&D contract with GlobalFoundries to transfer our novel technology to commercial production. With headquarters in Malta, NY, Global Foundries is one of the largest pure-play silicon foundries in the world, with annual revenue of $\$$8.1B. Their SiC foundry will be built around the next-generation 200-mm diameter SiC wafers, which will double the number of die per wafer and reduce per-die production cost.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2026

Launch Alaska Transportation and Energy Accelerator (LATEA)

The Launch Alaska Transportation and Energy Accelerator (LATEA), funded through the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Technology Commercialization’s Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC),advanced deployment of innovative and efficient transportation and energy technology in Alaska from October 2021 through June 2025. The project was designed to leverage Launch Alaska’s accelerator model to identify, recruit, and support transportation technology companies with novel solutions to market needs while building the stakeholder networks, demonstration opportunities, and institutional capacity necessary to accelerate commercialization in one of the most challenging operating environments in the United States.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2020

Boride-Carbon Hybrid Technology to Produce Ultra-Wear and Corrosion Resistant Surfaces for Applications in Harsh Conditions (Final Technical Report)

Engineered functional surfaces play an important role to enable new products and manufacturing processes that can endure harsh service conditions such as high impact and contact loads, highly abrasive wear, extreme temperatures, and corrosive environments. Engineered surfaces can also be instrumental to improving the efficient use of energy by reducing frictional losses and extending service life. The main objective of this project was to develop a hybrid surface engineering technology that combines the advantages of a novel ultrafast boriding process with the next generation of superhard carbon coatings. The hypothesis was that this hybrid process will offer an unprecedented combination of wear and corrosion resistance, low frictional losses and affordability for treated parts so that it can be utilized in many applications. During this project, a duplex process was developed that combines the advantages of ultra-fast electrochemical boriding with those of hard tetrahedral amorphous carbon coatings. Both technologies can be combined to form a hybrid technology that is characterized by low friction and wear properties combined with corrosion and fatigue resistance. Good adhesion of both layers to each other was one main goal of this project, that has been achieved with HF1 adhesion through the Rockwell-C adhesion test. In this project, the mechanical properties of the hybrid coating were modeled through a finite-element analysis approach. We can conclude that the FEA model resembles the actual samples and be utilized to predict mechanical behavior under impacts. Based on this model, application-oriented load conditions can be simulated for optimal layer design regarding thickness and mechanical properties. To exemplify, one conclusion that can be drawn from the nanoindentation model is a boride layer thickness of 50 µm is sufficient to effectively support the carbon coating on the identified AISI 1045 low carbon steel substrate material. The duplex treatment yields wear rates as low as 6 x 10 -8 mm 3 N -1 m -1 and a coefficient of friction of 0.14 when tested against a steel counter face in a ball-on-disk test setup. On the other hand, the wear rate of the only-borided AISI 1045 steel was 5 x 10 -5 mm 3 N -1 m -1 , about three orders of magnitude higher than the duplex coating. At the same time, duplex treated samples experience corrosion resistance, which could not be achieved with single-layer carbon coatings. The developed surface treatment withstands a 3-hour exposure to 15% HCl, while the only carbon coated counter sample shows severe delamination of the coating due to pin hole corrosion. The boride layer is chemically stable and pin hole free because it is formed through an electrochemical process under high current densities (700 mA/cm 2 ) and high temperature. Additionally, the hybrid coating led to at least 3x increase in fatigue strength of the steel substrate, which exceeds the target performance of 30% improvement. There are numerous potential applications for the duplex coatings. A representative application is bearing ball coatings for off-shore windmills. Compared to currently employed surface technologies in this field, the initial costs of applying our technology might be higher due to more process steps but the performance benefits lead to an increased life time of treated parts, which will lower the maintenance and replacement costs in the long-term. To validate the technology for this specific application, the team is currently investigating the process of white etching crack initiation of the duplex coating in collaboration with ANL. Overall, this project successfully validated that the boride-carbon hybrid technology can withstand harsh conditions. One possible approach to commercialization under consideration is to transfer the technology to a startup or an existing coatings company.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Technology Transfer from Fermi Research Alliance to Itasca Plastics for the purpose of Commercializing Scintillator Material

Researchers at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) developed extruded plastic scintillator in the late 1990s, which was first used in the D-Zero experiment. Extruded plastic scintillator is currently produced at Fermilab and is used in particle detectors worldwide. The purpose of this CRADA is to transfer the knowledge related to the Fermilab extrusion process to Itasca Plastics, Inc. (Itasca Plastics). Much of this knowledge is contained in documentation that is in the public domain, although it is distributed over several communications (papers, conference records, etc.) and over several years. Under this CRADA Fermilab will assemble the information, provide it to Itasca Plastics and provide limited consulting to complete the knowledge transfer. If the transfer is successful, Itasca Plastics will be able to establish a U.S. commercial manufacturing capability for extruded scintillator material that can be used for high energy physics and commercial applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Programs Enabling Deep Technology Transfer from National Labs

To maximize the technology transfer potential, it is important to create an ecosystem for the inventors to adapt the technologies developed for basic science to successful commercial ventures. In this white paper we present a brief overview of technology transfer programs at high energy physics (HEP) laboratories with a focus on the programs at Fermilab and KEK, and identify opportunities and recommendations for increasing partnerships and commercialization at HEP-centric laboratories.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

DOE Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) 2023 Project Peer Review: WBS 2.4.1.100 Bench Scale Research & Development

Bench Scale Integration develops and optimizes fermentation processes to produce bio-based fuels and chemicals for commercial scale-up. The project uses fermentation science to achieve high titers and production rates by, for example, manipulating how the microorganisms are fed biomass sugars and nutrients, modifying fermentation conditions (pH, temperature, aeration) or developing online control strategies for better fermentation operations and high titer, rates, and yield (TRY). For this period of performance, we continued our development of a commercial-ready 2,3-butanediol (BDO) fermentation from biomass sugars utilizing NREL's proprietary Zymomonas mobilis microorganism. The engineered Z. mobilis can use all the main sugars in corn stover biomass, which are glucose, xylose, and arabinose. BDO is a versatile, low-carbon chemical which can be catalytically upgraded to a variety of hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals. The project had three goals during this review period; evaluate the technical feasibility of using whole slurry pretreated corn stover to achieve the techno-economic analysis (TEA) performance goals, continue optimizing a liquor-based fed-batch fermentation process for high titer, and develop strategies to enable scale-up. After evaluating different iterations of a whole slurry fermentation that did not meet the TEA goals, a Go/No-Go decision was made to pivot to liquor-only with new TEA performance targets, the main one being 140 g/L titer. We successfully met this goal, producing 141 g/L BDO at 1 g/L-hr productivity and 84% process yield. This titer and productivity attracted industrial interest to scale the fermentation resulting in a Technology Commercialization Fund project award in 2022. We used an NREL developed near-infra red (NIR) spectroscopy method for rapid analysis which allowed for changes to aeration levels and sugar feeding during the fermentation to maximize BDO production. The NIR analysis can be done using a hand-held spectrometer, essentially taking the analysis on to the plant floor during scale-up and preliminary work shows the feasibility of using an online probe for continuous monitoring and control. The other scale-up tool is mapping oxygen transfer coefficient (kLa) and oxygen transfer rate (OTR) in various vessels to find conditions that match the optimized 500 mL vessels. Showing a correlation to the mapping work, which is done with water and a dissolved oxygen probe, can reduce the risk of failed fermentations during scale-up. Our end-of-project goal is to meet the design target BDO titer (140-150 g/L) from DMR corn stover liquor at 1000L or larger scale to demonstrate BDO process design case and transfer the technology to industrial fermentation stakeholders for commercialization.

2 3-butanediol↗
DOE OSTI2024

SCALE Activities in FY23 [Slides]

This presentation shows that the SCALE 6.3 is available from RSICC. The lecture touches on new features including the new ENDF/B-VIII.0 data including covariances. It shows that the updated parallel infrastructure enables parallel capability on Windows. Production release with maintenance until 2026 at minimum addressing Code or data bugs, Performance, Ease of installation. There is a New Government Use Agreement (GUA) for SCALE 7.0 beta access. With site licenses available for non-commercial testing and feedback, handled through ORNL technology transfer.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2021

Real Time - Optimal Power Flow Based Distributed Energy Resources Management System (DERMS) (CRADA Number CRD-20-16909 Final Report)

The integration of behind-the-meter distributed energy resources (DERs) into distribution systems brings transformative changes to power systems. This requires operators and planners to find solutions to modernize electric grids and to effectively manage DERs for grid services. NREL developed novel DER management algorithms (referred to as Real-Time Optimal Power Flow, RT-OPF) through U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-funded efforts, including Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E) Network Optimized Distributed Energy Systems (NODES) funding. This cutting-edge control technology aims to modernize distribution systems with large amounts of DER integration, which will help utilities solve issues brought by renewable integration and build resilient and renewable-based electric grids nationwide. Utilidata worked with NREL to investigate the commercialization opportunity of this RT-OPF-based distributed energy resource management system (DERMS). In this project, NREL performs the technology transfer of the RT-OPF to Utilidata to help them fully understand the RT-OPF solution, to identify potential engineering hurdles, and to assess the expected commercial value of various RT-OPF use cases and deployment. The technology transfer work includes two major tasks. First, NREL performs an in-depth knowledge transfer of the entire RT-OPF solution to Utilidata to help them gain an extensive and detailed understanding of the complete RT-OPF solution. In this task, NREL provides exhaustive information (e.g., documentation, code packages, laboratory and field trial data, performance results) while conducting in-depth training sessions to provide a thorough explanation of the entire solution. NREL hosts meetings to present different topics related to the RT-OPF solution, and question-and-answer sessions are included in each meeting to better explain the RT-OPF-related work. Second, the RT-OPF simulations are performed in a laboratory environment. The main objectives of this task are to walk through with Utilidata engineers how to set up a simulation of RT-OPF, identifying each RT-OPF code block/component in operation, learning how these components interact with each other, and eventually running RT-OPF simulations under various system conditions. This task helps Utilidata engineers understand performance limitations and constraints while also quantifying the commercial value of the RT-OPF for different use cases. Based on these two tasks, Utilidata engineers should be able to define and prioritize the next steps of RT-OPF implementation with an eye toward commercial success and scalability of the solution. The next steps are expected to be part of a new project following the conclusion of this project.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2026

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory – Innovation and Partnerships Office (IPO): FY24 Technology Transfer Report (2025 Report V3)

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s (LLNL) Innovation and Partnerships Office (IPO) is the focal point for Laboratory engagement with industry. Organizations partner with LLNL to unlock the commercial viability of breakthrough technologies invented at the Laboratory and collaborate to mature them in order to solve complex industry challenges. LLNL technology transfer connects cutting-edge science with real-world applications, empowering businesses to thrive while advancing the nation’s technological edge. We do this by identifying new economic opportunities, protecting LLNL intellectual property (IP) and transferring it to the private sector through licensing and partnerships

42 ENGINEERING↗