As part of FUEL 2020, a continuing virtual conference hosted by VertueLab throughout the month of September, representatives from NETL will participate in a Thursday, Sept. 17 panel titled “Innovating Through a Recession with Federal and National Lab Support.” The event will highlight the Lab’s key programs and activities and share tips and tricks for working with a national lab and securing federal funding.

James Ferguson, NETL’s state and local partnerships manager and David Alman, associate director of materials engineering and manufacturing, will present a lab overview and summary of research and program priorities as well as discuss Small Business Innovation Research awards and other funding opportunities. They will be joined by several small business owners who will offer advice for other entrepreneurs looking to leverage federal and national support.

“This is a great opportunity for NETL to strategically engage with stakeholders in the region,” Ferguson said. “As one of our three research sites is located in Albany, Oregon, we can offer unique opportunities and facilities to potential collaborators in the Pacific Northwest that are unmatched anywhere in the nation.”

NETL has been involved in several successful technology transfers, including a partnership with Ampere Scientific to commercialize the Lab’s arc position sensing (APS) technology, which offers the potential to improve the manufacture of high-quality alloys. APS was developed at NETL (US Patent 8,111,059) and licensed to Ampere Scientific. Paul King, president and executive director of Ampere Scientific will be among the entrepreneurs featured on the panel.

“We’ve been fortunate to work with innovators like those at Ampere Scientific who can take technology developed here at the Lab and bring it to the marketplace,” Alman said. “APS has been helping to better understand the melting process during vacuum arc remelting, a key step in manufacturing advanced alloys used for mission critical applications, including energy applications. APS allows for improved process control during ingot production, thereby increasing yield, decreasing energy use and improving overall process safety.”

FUEL 2020, formerly known as the VertueLab Impact Summit, is billed as the Pacific Northwest’s premiere cleantech summit. The theme of this year’s event is “Innovating Climate Solutions for An Equitable Recovery,” and will focus on reimagining and rebuilding after a world pandemic. The event continues through Sept. 25, featuring several digital events to showcase efforts towards developing solutions for climate change. An agenda is available here.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory develops and commercializes advanced technologies that provide reliable and affordable solutions to America's energy challenges. NETL’s work supports DOE’s mission to advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States.