Technology Readiness Assessment of Department of Energy Waste Processing Facilities

Abstract : The Department of Energy's overarching mission is to advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States; to promote scientific and technological innovation in support of that mission; and to ensure the environmental cleanup of the national nuclear weapons complex. The Office of Environmental Management (EM) is responsible for the risk reduction and cleanup of the environmental legacy of the Nation's nuclear weapons program, one of the largest, most diverse, and technically complex environmental programs in the world. The DOE Technology Readiness Assessment/Technology Maturation Plan (TRA/TMP) Methodology is based on that of DoD/NASA. The TRA process uses standard definitions for TRLs with some adaptation for chemical processing. The process uses independent experts. The process accepts only documented responses. The process enforces discipline on DOE and the Contractor. Contractors and DOE like the TRA language and formalism. Technical communication is greatly improved. Process assists in identification of specific actions needed to reduce programmatic risk to final commitment and major investment in a technology. The process has been proven very helpful even for relatively mature projects.