Sandia’s Energy & Climate Programs win R&D 100 Awards

Sandia R&D 100 awardees, from left to right: John Siirola (Pyomo v4.1 – Software/Services), Jack Wise (Stress-Induced Fabrication of Functionally Designed Nanomaterials – Mechanical/Materials), Summer Ferreira, PI (Precision High Power Battery Tester – Green Tech Special Recognition Award), Hongyou Fan, PI (Stress-Induced Fabrication of Functionally Designed Nanomaterials – Mechanical/Materials), Bill Hart, PI (Pyomo v4.1 – Software/Services), Ryan Camacho, PI (T-QUAKE (Transceiver for Quantum Keys and Encryption), Josh Christian (Falling Particle Receiver for Concentrated Solar Energy – Mechanical/Materials), Cliff Ho, PI (Falling Particle Receiver for Concentrated Solar Energy – Mechanical/Materials); Not pictured:  John Porter, PI (UXI (Ultra-fast X-ray Imager) Analytical/Test and Market Disruptor Product Special Recognition Award)

Five innovations from Sandia’s energy and climate efforts have been recognized by R&D Magazine, demonstrating that the technology “has competed against other new technologies in open competition,” according to the R&D website. The Falling Particle Receiver for Concentrated Solar Energy won in the category of mechanical/materials. The project, co-developed with the Georgia Institute of Technology, Bucknell University, King Saud University, and German Aerospace Center, enables concentrated solar energy with thermal storage for on-demand, more efficient, and lower cost production of electricity among other applications. The Green Tech Special Recognition Award went to Sandia’s Precision High Power Battery Tester, co-developed with Arbin Instruments, Ford Motor Co., and Montana Tech. The tester significantly improves battery life predictions, helping meet the growing demand for better, longer-life electrified vehicle and grid storage batteries. The Virtual Environment for Reactor Applications (VERA), co-developed by Sandia, also won an R&D 100 award. VERA is led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and improves the operation of nuclear reactors.

Two additional projects titled “T-QUAKE (Transceiver for Quantum Keys and Encryption)” and “Stress-Induced Fabrication of Functionally Designed Nanomaterials” won R&D awards. The projects were supported by Sandia’s Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT) user program.  Specifically, the analysis and a portion of the integration of the T-QUAKE system was performed at CINT under a user project. The Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT) is a Department of Energy/ Office of Science Nanoscale Science Research Center (NSRC). Through its Core Facility in Albuquerque and Gateway to Los Alamos Facility, CINT provides open access to tools and expertise needed to explore the continuum from scientific discovery to the integration of nanostructures into the micro- and macro world.

R&D Magazine presents the awards to honor the year’s 100 most innovative technologies, which are selected by an independent panel of more than 70 judges.