Abridged SP FINAL-DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 11
S CI E N CE O F
M A N U F A CTUR ING
I N I T I A T IVE
ETA researchers are applying the approaches described
in each area to three conceptual applications:
• Electrochemical Refinery – Design of scalable
chemical-manufacturing trains informed via lifecycle and techno-economic analysis and scalability
studies
• Circular Economy – Improve the rapid
characterization of new polymers, focusing on
their compatibility with waste management
infrastructure and their fate in the environment
10-year goal:
• Develop advanced manufacturing
processes and technologies that enable
low-carbon solutions for high-volume,
high-value chemicals and materials to
reach the marketplace more rapidly.
The Challenge:
• Reduce the time from concept to
commercialization and enable innovative
product design that facilitates recyclability
and the development of highly
reconvertable or biodegradable materials
instead of single-use consumption.
• Update traditional manufacturing
methodologies and processes that have
a large gap between discovery and
implementation with scale-up bottlenecks
Research Summary:
The initiative will develop approaches for
innovation and holistic understanding within
the manufacturing methods and materials
used for high-volume or high-value chemicals,
with a concentration on decarbonization of
the entire pathway by focusing on:
• Science of Synthesis
• Science of Scale-up
• Intelligent, Adaptive Analysis
• Decarbonization of Industrial Heat – Find carbonfree means of providing industrial process heat
(
2,000°C), depending on the application
Milestones:
Short Term (six months to two years)
• Execute a demonstration of bench-scale, novel,
low-carbon processes for chemical and material
production that offer the potential for integration
with renewable energy sources
• Develop techno-economic and life-cycle analysis
frameworks and modeling capabilities for
evaluating novel synthesis methods and recovery
of key materials for manufacturing
• Integrate efforts with DOE advanced
manufacturing and plastic waste reduction efforts
Medium Term (three to five years)
• Develop and analyze larger-scale technology
processes
• Develop a portfolio of projects dedicated toward
electrochemical refining, hydrogen combustion,
new material and thermal fluid development, and
circular manufacturing strategies
Long Term (five years and beyond)
• Shorten by tenfold the design-build-test-learn cycle
for key materials in manufacturing
• Commercialize Berkeley Lab technology prototypes
• Conduct an integrated research program,
combining automated platforms for novel
chemical/material synthesis, testing, and systems
analysis
• Establish Berkeley Lab as a leader in the
development of carbon-efficient, circular
manufacturing strategies
ETA Strategic Plan 2021-2030 | 9
