Technology Readiness Assessment of Department of Energy Waste Processing Facilities: When is a Technology Ready for Insertion?

This paper will describe a technology readiness assessment process (TRA) that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) piloted at Hanford’s Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) and has subsequently applied to other projects at Hanford and the Savannah River Site. The methodology used for these TRAs was based upon detailed guidance contained in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), Technology Readiness Assessment Deskbook [1] and adapted a technology readiness scale developed by the DOD and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to the DOE. This paper will discuss the application of the TRA process to the WTP and the development of a Technology Maturation Plan (TMP) based on the TRA findings.