The Renewable Energy Testing Center (RETC) program is based on the concept of testing and validation of renewable energy technologies related to biomass feedstock with a particular focus on biofuels for transportation. Technikon has a world-class research, demonstration and deployment facility located in the greater Sacramento, California region that is being utilized for this initiative. The RETC program focuses on support of relevant and emerging renewable energy technologies in the area of cellulosic waste and biomass to energy and fuel conversion technologies that would support Department of Defense (DOD) needs for compliance to Executive Order 13423 that sets goals for the DOD to increase alternative fuel consumption at least 10% annually.

The objective of RETC is to provide industry with an independent measurement laboratory for evaluating the performance of renewable energy and renewable fuels technologies with respect to robustness, safety, energy efficiency, environmental effectiveness and other key performance specifications. The RETC, and the oversight of the RETC staff, brings together technology developers, government entities and universities in a facility that allows the kind of testing needed to bring renewable energy systems to the commercialization phase. It also allows developers to integrate technologies that are needed to supply a complete waste to energy system at an accelerated pace and at a significant cost reduction. Present state and federal grant structures are less flexible and almost exclude the smaller developers from making applications since they do not have the data needed to get awarded. The RETC fills this gap in funding and accelerates renewable energy commercialization.

The development of renewable energy technologies presents a major opportunity for reducing US dependence on foreign oil. The DOD, the Department of Energy (DOE) and industry share the goals of reducing energy and fuel costs needed to support transportation, manufacturing and production of electricity. A major roadblock to commercialization of renewable energy technologies is that the smaller manufacturers need a place to demonstrate their pilot units, and validate energy and environmental data. The RETC program fulfills this need by supplying the support for developers by being a 3rd party renewable energy testing and validation center with a focus on systems meeting DOD renewable fuel requirements.

Mission/Purpose (Objective)
To provide evaluation, qualification, and testing of the processes required to declassify, process, and recycle strategic metals from DOE/NNSA facilities for reuse in DOD armaments and weapon systems.

DOE and NNSA have billions of $’s of specialty metals; Nickel, Copper, Titanium, Tantalum, Steels, etc, in storage. Project focus is conversion to usable certified metal ingots for DOD components.

Challenges
To develop improved methods and environmentally-friendly technology to ensure complete and safe modification in order to declassify components for potential recovery, recycling and reuse.

Payoff
Cost reduction of specialty metal parts, such as castings, forgings, and machined parts and avoidance of landfilling valuable metals.

Lightweight Metals

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Titanium versus Iron Brakes Systems

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Life expectancy 3 to 5 times that of iron rotors - reduces life cycle costs.