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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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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Synthetic microbial communities: Bridging research and application in second-generation bioenergy feedstock microbiomes

The sustainable production of purpose-grown bioenergy feedstocks is essential in transitioning away from fossil fuels. Synthetic communities (SynComs) are consortia of microorganisms that can be used as biological interventions to support objectives like plant growth and stress tolerance. This review examines the state of knowledge regarding microbiomes and SynComs of second-generation bioenergy feedstocks, focusing on the rhizosphere. We first provide an overview of second-generation feedstocks, including switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus), sorghum (Sorghum spp.), sugarcane (Saccharum spp.), and poplar (Populus spp.), and summarize our current understanding of their plant-soil-microbiome ecology. We next discuss considerations in the objectives, design, and evaluation of SynComs to enhance feedstock production, and then critically review the literature around their use. Our literature analysis revealed that SynCom performance varied substantially between controlled pilot experiments and field trials, possibly due to system complexity that could not be fully considered in their design and pilot evaluation. We identified a gap in the use of SynComs to support the unique sustainability objectives of biofuel feedstock agriculture, presenting an opportunity to leverage these additional microbial traits in SynCom designs. Finally, we emphasize the importance of targeted research to identify the ecological principles that govern the assembly, activation, and persistence of microbes in the feedstock rhizosphere, thereby enhancing our capacity to manage microbiomes under diverse environmental conditions and ensure their functionality. Beyond biofuels, SynComs are a promising microbiome management strategy for crop production; however, an ecologically informed design and evaluation of SynComs are advised.

SynCom↗
DOE OSTI2025

Integrated Biorefinery of Brewer’s Spent Grain for Second-Generation Ethanol, Mycoprotein, and Bioactive Vinasse Production

Brewer’s spent grain (BSG), the main lignocellulosic by-product of the beer industry, represents an abundant yet underutilized resource with high potential for valorization. This study presents an integrated biorefinery approach to convert BSG into second-generation (2G) ethanol, bioactive vinasse for plant growth promotion, and fungal biomass as a potential mycoprotein source. The biomass was first subjected to biological delignification using the white-rot fungus Ganoderma lucidum, after which two valorization routes were explored: (i) evaluation of the fungal biomass as a mycoprotein candidate and (ii) alcoholic fermentation for ethanol production. For the latter, three pretreatment strategies were assessed (diluted sulfuric acid and two deep eutectic solvents (DESs) based on choline chloride combined with either glycerol or lactic acid) followed by a one-pot enzymatic saccharification and fermentation using Kluyveromyces marxianus SLP1. The highest ethanol yield on substrate (YP/S) was achieved with [Ch]Cl:lactic acid pretreatment (0.46 g/g, 89.32% of theoretical). Vinasse, recovered after distillation, was characterized for organic acid content and tested on Solanum lycopersicum seed germination, showing promising biostimulant activity. Overall, this work highlights the potential of BSG as a sustainable feedstock within circular economy models, enabling the production of multiple bio-based products from a single residue.

Ganoderma lucidum↗
DOE OSTI2026

Data for Resourceful and Economical Designing of Fermentation Medium for Lab and Commercial Strains of Yeast from Alternative Feedstock: Transgenic Oilcane

Sugarcane plant engineered to accumulate lipids in its vegetative tissue is being developed as a new bioenergy crop. The new crop would be a source of juice, oil, and cellulosic sugars. However, limited tolerance of industrially recognized yeasts towards inhibitors generated during the processing of lignocellulosic biomass to produce fermentable sugars is a major challenge in developing scalable processes for second-generation drop-in fuel production. To this end, hydrolysates generated from engineered sugarcane—‘oilcane’ bagasse contain added phenolics and fatty acids that further restrict the growth of fermenting microorganisms and necessitate nutrient supplementation and/or detoxification of hydrolysate which makes the fermentation process expensive. Herein, we propose a resourceful and economical approach for growing lab and commercial strains of S. cerevisiae on unrefined cellulosic sugars aerobically and fermentatively. An equal ratio of hydrolysate and juice was found optimum for growth and fermentation by lab and commercial strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae engineered for xylose fermentation. The industrial strain grew and fermented efficiently under low aeration conditions having an ethanol titer, yield, specific and volumetric productivities of 46.96 ± 0.19 g/l, 0.51 ± 0.00 g/g, 0.27 ± 0.02 g/g.h and 1.95 ± 0.01 g/l.h, respectively, while the lab strain grew better under higher aeration conditions having the ethanol titer, yield, specific and volumetric productivities of 24.93 ± 0.09, 0.27 ± 0.00 g/g, 0.17 ± 0.00 g/g.h and 1.04 ± 0.00 g/l.h, respectively. Acclimation of cultures in a blended medium significantly improved the performance of the yeast strains. The addition of transgenic oilcane juice, which is inedible and rich in amino acids, to the hydrolysate averted the need for expensive nutrient supplementation and detoxification steps of hydrolysate. The approach provides an economical solution to reduce the cost of fermentation at an industrial scale for second-generation drop-in fuel production.

Biomass Analytics↗
DOE OSTI2025

Biobased chemical recycling: aminolysis of PET using renewable reagents and monomers to synthesize new semi-aromatic polyamides

Chemical recycling of PET is a method of depolymerizing polymer chains to monomeric components enabling the synthesis of second-generation materials with virgin-like quality. Commercial chemical recycling techniques rely upon high pressure methanolysis to create precursors capable of synthesizing a second-generation PET resin. However, despite the circular approach of methanolysis, a product with a very short lifespan and similar value is created. The approach of the current study is to utilize aminolysis as an ambient pressure technique to create precursors for higher value materials with longer lifespans to address the current crisis in plastic waste. Semi-aromatic polyamides (SAP) are desired in this circumstance because of their high melting point and heat resistance combined with good melt-processability similar to aliphatic polyamides. In this study SAPs were synthesized using precursors recovered from the aminolysis of PET employing biobased diamines and dicarboxylic acids. While aminolysis has been explored in previous studies, this work investigated the use of biobased components from castor oil: decamethylene diamine during recycling and sebacic acid during polymerization. Polymer synthesis resulted in the formation of SAPs similar to polyphthalamides (PPA) with novel structures given the aromatic portion from terephthalic acid (TPA) and aliphatic portion from the diamines and diacids. The synthesized materials exhibited excellent thermal stability with high glass transition temperatures. Novel polymers were created with varying aliphatic chain length to understand fundamental parameters needed to produce a valuable polymer from post-consumer waste.

High performance Applications↗
DOE OSTI2026

Data for Optimization of Pre-Commercial Enzymes Dosage for a Potential Lignocellulosic Biorefinery

Lignocellulolytic enzymes remain one of the primary cost constraints in second-generation (2G) ethanol biorefineries. Achieving efficient hydrolysis of structural carbohydrates with minimal enzyme dosage, maintaining slurry fermentability for industrially relevant ethanol titers, and maximizing ethanol yield per ton of biomass are among the major challenges in 2G processes. In this study, we optimized the dosages of pre-commercial cellulase (NS22257) and hemicellulase (NS22244) on pilot-scale, hydrothermally pretreated lignocellulosic substrates. Enzyme dosages were evaluated at three levels: 20 mg of cellulase with 7.25 mg of hemicellulase (ED-1), 40 mg with 14.5 mg (ED-2), and 60 mg with 21.75 mg (ED-3). As expected, the highest sugar yields were obtained with ED-3; however, for sweet sorghum, oilcane, and miscanthus, sugar yields from ED-2 and ED-3 were not significantly different (p < 0.05). For example, sweet sorghum produced 123.78 ± 1.54 g L−1 and 125.76 ± 0.46 g L−1 of total sugars (glucose and xylose) with ED-2 and ED-3, respectively. Although energycane exhibited a statistically significant difference between ED-2 and ED-3, the incremental gain with ED-3 was modest, increasing sugar release by only 9.02 g L−1 relative to ED-2. Importantly, ED-1 resulted in sugar yields of 88.88 ± 3.64 to 106.86 ± 1.21 g L−1, sufficient to achieve ethanol titers ≥40 g L−1, the threshold required for industrial relevance. A semi-integrated bioprocess validated this outcome, producing 42.09 ± 2.38 g L−1 ethanol and an estimated yield of 213.38 L of ethanol per dry ton of pretreated biomass, requiring only 20.83 L of cellulase and 6.25 L of hemicellulase per ton. Remarkably, these enzyme dosages were approximately tenfold lower than those reported in prior studies.

Energycane↗
DOE OSTI2026

Harnessing plant‐based platform for low‐cost cellulosic sugar recovery from bioenergy crops

The price of pure cellulase enzyme for the recovery of fermentable cellulosic sugars is one of the major challenges that limit the commercialization of second-generation biofuels and bio-based products. This work shows a means to greatly reduce the cost of cellulases. The abundant capacity of plants to synthesize and hyperaccumulate transgenic proteins in their plastids has been demonstrated for two gene constructs using either NPT II or Tet C to regulate the expression of bacterial cellulase Cel6A. Previously, the expression of Cel6A to 20–35% of total soluble leaf protein in tobacco was shown in two consecutive field trials. Moving forward, the key challenge was the extraction of active enzymes from the transgenic tobacco leaves hyperaccumulating bacterial cellulases in a cost-effective manner. The study showed that unpurified crude extracts of NPT II and Tet C transgenic tobacco leaves recovered ~23% and ~29% w/w cellulosic sugars from energycane bagasse, respectively. A supplementation of as low as 25% of purified commercial cellulase improved the glucose recovery by 2.9 times (~85% w/w) compared to 100% crude extract, which is comparable to the glucose recovery obtained by commercial cellulases, thereby suggesting a reduced requirement of commercial cellulases leading to a cost reduction of 75% for biorefineries. Assuming a stable 40% cellulase yield in total soluble protein under field conditions and multiple harvests (one to three) a year, the study estimates that the potential cost for saccharification of 1 t of lignocellulosic biomass can be reduced to 67–200 USD by using crude leaf extracts of transgenic tobacco.

biofuel↗
DOE OSTI2025

Search for $t$-channel scalar and vector leptoquark exchange in the high-mass dimuon and dielectron spectra in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV

A search for t-channel exchange of leptoquarks (LQs) is performed in dimuon and dielectron spectra using proton-proton collision data collected at $\sqrt{s}=13$ TeV with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb −1 . Eight scenarios are considered, in which up or down quarks couple to muons or electrons via a scalar or vector LQ exchange, for dilepton invariant masses above 500 GeV. The LQ masses are probed up to 5 TeV, beyond a regime probed by previous pair-production and single-production searches. The differential distributions of dilepton events are fit to templates that model the nonresonant LQ exchange and various standard model background processes. Limits are set on LQ-fermion coupling strengths for scalar and vector LQ masses in the 1–5 TeV range at 95% confidence level, establishing stringent limits on first- and second-generation LQs.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Electromagnetic production of kaons on the nucleon

Studies of the electromagnetic production of strange quarks started in the 1950s as something of a curiosity that puzzled experimentalists and theorists alike. Eventually, a nascent understanding of these processes began to take shape through the first pioneering experiments dedicated to explore photo- and electroproduction that were carried out in the period from the 1950s to the 1980s. As the datasets increased, concomitant advances in theoretical models were realized. However, these initial studies also made clear that more precise data was essential to continue to move forward. A paradigm shift occurred in the 1990s with the development of second-generation facilities at ELSA, MAMI, SPring-8, and JLab. High-intensity, high duty-factor accelerators, coupled with novel detector systems and advances in computing and readout electronics, brought nuclear physics experiments forward by orders of magnitude in counting statistics compared to the first-generation efforts. This was an utter boon to strangeness physics investigations, and to date, more than 50 dedicated experiments in kaon photo- and electroproduction have been completed at facilities around the world, leading to a host of experimental observables that have enabled significant advances in the exploration of strongly interacting systems that decay via $s\bar{s}$ quark pair creation. These data have proven to be an essential complementary pathway to study the spectrum and structure of the excited states of the nucleon, and the search for missing and exotic baryon configurations. As well, investigations in these channels are requisite for exploring hypernuclear production as a probe of the $YN$ interaction and for studies of the electromagnetic form factors of strange mesons. This review was designed to provide the first-ever in-depth overview of both the experimental and theoretical progress in the field of the electromagnetic production of strangeness. This work looks back over 70 years of past developments, discusses ongoing work and near-term plans, and details future possibilities being considered for third-generation facilities. Extensive lists of the available datasets and theoretical models are provided, together with a comprehensive supporting bibliography of the field. Throughout this work, the primary impacts of these explorations are highlighted, along with connections to a wide range of related phenomenological applications. An important goal of this review is to provide a complete, (reasonably) self-contained guide into this field prepared at a level that is relevant for both new and seasoned scientists, whether experimentalists, phenomenologists, or theorists, to better understand what has been accomplished by so many dedicated folks-each building on what has come before-and to appreciate the exciting future potential for continued studies in this area.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Optimization of pre-commercial enzyme dosage for a potential lignocellulosic biorefinery

Lignocellulolytic enzymes remain one of the primary cost constraints in second-generation (2G) ethanol biorefineries. Achieving efficient hydrolysis of structural carbohydrates with minimal enzyme dosage, maintaining slurry fermentability for industrially relevant ethanol titers, and maximizing ethanol yield per ton of biomass are among the major challenges in 2G processes. In this study, we optimized the dosages of pre-commercial cellulase (NS22257) and hemicellulase (NS22244) on pilot-scale, hydrothermally pretreated lignocellulosic substrates. Enzyme dosages were evaluated at three levels: 20 mg of cellulase with 7.25 mg of hemicellulase (ED-1), 40 mg with 14.5 mg (ED-2), and 60 mg with 21.75 mg (ED-3). As expected, the highest sugar yields were obtained with ED-3; however, for sweet sorghum, oilcane, and miscanthus, sugar yields from ED-2 and ED-3 were not significantly different ( p < 0.05). For example, sweet sorghum produced 123.78 ± 1.54 g L −1 and 125.76 ± 0.46 g L −1 of total sugars (glucose and xylose) with ED-2 and ED-3, respectively. Although energycane exhibited a statistically significant difference between ED-2 and ED-3, the incremental gain with ED-3 was modest, increasing sugar release by only 9.02 g L −1 relative to ED-2. Importantly, ED-1 resulted in sugar yields of 88.88 ± 3.64 to 106.86 ± 1.21 g L −1 , sufficient to achieve ethanol titers ≥40 g L −1 , the threshold required for industrial relevance. A semi-integrated bioprocess validated this outcome, producing 42.09 ± 2.38 g L −1 ethanol and an estimated yield of 213.38 L of ethanol per dry ton of pretreated biomass, requiring only 20.83 L of cellulase and 6.25 L of hemicellulase per ton. Remarkably, these enzyme dosages were approximately tenfold lower than those reported in prior studies.

Deshavath, Narendra Naik [Univ. of Illinois at Urb↗
DOE OSTI2025

Broadband optical modulation and control at millikelvin temperatures

A universal experimental challenge in studying radiation effects on cryogenic devices is precisely and accurately characterizing the position-dependent device response near the energy detection threshold. Here, we have developed a compact cryogenic optical beam steering system that can be used to generate O (μs) pulses of small numbers of photons over the energy range of 1.3–3.4 eV at room temperature, and deliver those photons via fiber optic to any specified location on the surface of a detector operating at cryogenic temperatures. This new system will allow for robust calibration of any photon-sensitive detector, including superconducting devices. The system can be used efficiently to explore the physics of target materials, quantify the position sensitivity of different sensor designs, measure phonon transport, and study the effects of quasiparticle poisoning on detector operation. We describe the design of this pulsed calibration method and present first results obtained with a second-generation system operated at room temperature and sub-Kelvin temperatures.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2025

Evidence for the Dimuon Decay of the Higgs Boson in 𝑝⁢𝑝 Collisions with the ATLAS Detector

A search for the dimuon decay of the Higgs boson is presented based on 𝑝⁢𝑝 collision data recorded by ATLAS during Run 3 of the Large Hadron Collider, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 165 fb −1 at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13.6 TeV. To enhance the sensitivity, the results are combined with those from Run 2. An excess of events over the background is observed with a significance of 3.4⁢𝜎 (2.5⁢𝜎 expected). The best-fit signal strength is 𝜇 = 1.4 ± 0.4. This result provides evidence for the 𝐻 → 𝜇⁢𝜇 decay with ATLAS data and offers a direct probe of the Higgs-boson Yukawa coupling to second-generation fermions.

Hadron colliders↗
DOE OSTI2025

Protracted core formation and impact disruptions shaped the earliest outer Solar System planetesimals

The distinct compositions of metallic cores from noncarbonaceous (NC) and carbonaceous (CC) iron meteorite parent bodies (IMPBs) reflect differences in accretion and differentiation histories of earliest inner and outer Solar System planetesimals. Compared to NC IMPBs, CC IMPBs have smaller, sulfur (S)–poor, highly siderophile element (HSE)–enriched cores and younger core formation ages. However, the origins of these differences remain debated. Using equilibrium partitioning models between the S-poor solid and the S-rich liquid metal, we argue that HSE enrichment in IID, IIF, IIIF, and IVB cores resulted from a multistage evolutionary sequence: (i) segregation of S-rich, HSE-depleted protocores during initial planetesimal heating; (ii) collisional disruption before S-poor metal segregation; (iii) reaccretion of mantle fragments into daughter planetesimals; and (iv) further 26 Al-driven heating producing HSE-enriched, S-poor cores. We suggest that iron meteorites from these CC IMPBs originate from such second-generation cores. Accounting for “missing” S-rich protocores helps reconcile several NC-CC IMPB differences and highlights the role of early collisional processing in shaping planetesimal chemical evolution.

Geosciences↗
DOE OSTI2025

Advancing continuous enzymatic hydrolysis for improved biomass saccharification

Background: A deployable, continuous enzymatic hydrolysis (CEH) process can address cost and commercialization risks associated with second-generation (Gen2) biorefinery sugar/lignin/ethanol production while contributing to energy supply and security. Developments in commercial enzymatic hydrolysis formulations targeting Gen2 pretreated biomass such as deacetylated mechanically refined (DMR) biomass necessitate a reassessment of the existing hybrid simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) approach. Notably, the practice of "finishing hydrolysis" in SSF has become problematic with the introduction of oxidative enzymes, such as lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs), into commercial cellulase formulations as these require specific redox conditions and cofactor. Moreover, continuous SSF has not been demonstrated at commercial scale, limiting deployment and the associated economic benefits to farmers, producers, and support industries. Results: Continuous enzymatic hydrolysis (CEH) was demonstrated at bench scale to enable optimal saccharification performance of deacetylated mechanically refined (DMR) pretreated biomass. Diafiltration was demonstrated to retain pretreated biomass solids and enzymes for continuous reaction while removing solubilized product sugars in situ. A significant breakthrough afforded by the CEH process is its ability to achieve equivalent endpoint conversions with approximately 50% lower enzyme loading. Yields of glucose and xylose were increased ~ 15% and ~ 4%, respectively, over batch hydrolysis. Unlike SSF using yeast or Zymomonas, CEH allows precise optimization of pH, temperature, oxygen tension, LPMO mediator concentration, and removal of end-product inhibitors. Conclusions: Advanced CEH holds promise as a transformational, process-intensified, and cost-effective method for producing soluble clarified biomass sugars and insoluble lignin-rich streams. Enhancing saccharification performance, optimizing operating parameters, and employing membrane filtration will help overcome existing challenges and enable the efficient production of valuable biomaterials from lignocellulosic biomass.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Next Generation Sensor Development (CRADA Final Report)

B. Project Scope This was a collaborative effort between Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (LLNS), as manager and operator of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco ("FRBSF" or "Participant"), to research and develop advanced processing techniques to measure the fitness and authenticity of U.S. currency. The FRBSF previously partnered with LLNL to evaluate end-of-life predictions, review sensor requirements, develop communications protocols, and perform thermal analysis. These Strategic Partnership Projects (SPP) included SPP No. L20960 - Federal Reserve Currency Technology Office Studies, SPP No. L15900 - Development of a Common Detector Interface (CDI 2.0) Specification and Hardware Simulators, and SPP No. L15610 - Limited Design Review of a Second-Generation E-Material Authentication Sensor (EMAS2).

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗
DOE OSTI2025

Second generation non-aqueous solvents (gen2nas) for co 2 capture from natural gas combined cycle plants

This final technical report submitted to DOE/NETL presents all the research activities performed during the Cooperative Agreement DE-FE0032218 entitled Second Generation Non-Aqueous Solvents (GEN2NAS) for CO 2 Capture from Natural Gas Combined Cycle Plants, which spanned from April 2023 through March 2025. In this project, Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International has developed the second-generation of its non-aqueous solvent (NAS), herein referred to as GEN2NAS, to remove carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from natural-gas combined cycle (NGCC) flue gas. The technology aims to substantially reduce the cost of CO 2 capture while minimizing the environmental impacts through lower secondary emissions and wastewater generated from the CO 2 capture plant.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2025

Downscaled Earth System Model Data for Resilient Energy System Planning

The second-generation Sup3rCC dataset provides high-resolution meteorological data generated through the downscaling of multiple earth system models (ESMs) from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6). This downscaling is performed through application of a generative machine learning approach called Super-Resolution for Renewable Resource Data (sup3r). This dataset builds on the first-generation Sup3rCC data by applying improved bias correction methods and adding downscaled precipitation to the output variables. In this presentation, we explore the output characteristics of the dataset and various validation analyses. We also present and discuss plans for the integration of this data into power system planning models using a decision-making under deep uncertainty (DMDU) methodology.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2025

The DECam MAGIC Survey: Spectroscopic Follow-up of the Most Metal-poor Stars in the Distant Milky Way Halo *

In this work, we present high-resolution spectroscopic observations for six metal-poor stars with [Fe/H] < –3 (including one with [Fe/H] < –4), selected using narrowband Ca ii HK photometry from the DECam MAGIC Survey. The spectroscopic data confirm the accuracy of the photometric metallicities and allow for the determination of chemical abundances for 16 elements, from carbon to barium. The program stars have chemical abundances consistent with the [Fe/H] < –3 range. A kinematic/dynamical analysis suggests that all program stars belong to the distant Milky Way halo population (heliocentric distances 35 < d helio /kpc ≲ 55), including three with high-energy orbits that might have been associated with the Magellanic system and one, J0026−5445, having parameters consistent with being a member of the Sagittarius stream. The remaining two stars show kinematics consistent with the Gaia-Sausage/Enceladus dwarf galaxy merger. J0433−5548, with [Fe/H] = –4.12, is a carbon-enhanced ultra metal-poor star, with [C/Fe] = +1.73. This star is believed to be a bona fide second-generation star, and its chemical abundance pattern was compared with yields from metal-free supernova models. Results suggest that J0433−5548 could have been formed from a gas cloud enriched by a single supernova explosion from an ∼11 M ⊙ star in the early Universe. The successful identification of such objects demonstrates the reliability of photometric metallicity estimates, which can be used for target selection and statistical studies of faint targets in the Milky Way and its satellite population. These discoveries illustrate the power of measuring chemical abundances of metal-poor Milky Way halo stars to learn more about early galaxy formation and evolution.

CEMP stars↗
DOE OSTI2026

Advancing the HERO WEC Through Integrated Modeling, Testing, and Field Deployments

The Hydraulic and Electric Reverse Osmosis Wave Energy Converter (HERO WEC) was developed by the National Laboratory of the Rockies as a modular platform for advancing wave-powered desalination technologies. Designed to operate in either a hydraulic or electric configuration, the system enables direct comparison of mechanical-to-water and electrical-to-water conversion pathways using a single hardware architecture. Deployments in 2022 and 2024 at the Jennette's Pier test site in North Carolina demonstrated freshwater production between 60 and 300 gallons per day, including successful operation in wave heights as low as 0.25 m. A structured evaluation approach combining numerical modeling of hydrodynamic and power take-off response, controlled laboratory testing, and in-ocean field deployments has been used to characterize and refine system performance. Specifically, insights from these efforts are now informing the second-generation HERO WEC (V2) to increase robustness and overall survivability. Changes from the original prototype include improved drivetrain components, refined geometry, enhanced control systems, and design. The HERO WEC platform continues to serve as an open-access research asset supporting broader marine energy and desalination development.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗