Radiant Receives $3.8M Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund Award

The Department of Defense award will be used to develop turbomachinery for a compact CO2 cycle power generation system.

December 12, 2023

December 12, 2023 – Radiant, a leading innovator in advanced nuclear energy solutions, announced that it has secured a $3.8 million award from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense’s Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund (OECIF) to deliver a compact CO2 cycle turbine-alternator-compressor (C3-TAC). This technology innovation will be capable of delivering one megawatt of power from a supercritical CO2 power generation system, shrinking the footprint of power solutions for various operational energy applications.

“This funding from the Department of Defense is a testament to the potential of our technology to revolutionize power generation for military applications,” said Doug Bernauer, CEO & co-founder of Radiant.

Using supercritical CO2 as the working fluid in a power generation system offers several advantages over traditional steam turbines. It has a higher power density and lower operating temperature, resulting in a smaller and more efficient system. Additionally, CO2 is non-toxic and non-flammable, making it an environmentally friendly and safe choice for a closed power generation system. Supercritical CO2 also works with a wide variety of heat sources, such as concentrated solar, geothermal, and waste heat from industrial processes.

Representatives from OECIF report they are “…excited to support the technologies that Radiant is developing and see this as an opportunity for developing advanced energy conversion methods that can be applicable to warfighters of the modern era and the rapidly evolving energy landscape of the battlefield.”

This development is a critical step in enabling the military to adopt next-generation power solutions. Applications for compact power generation solutions include powering remote outposts, disaster relief operations or providing energy resiliency for military forces.

About OECIF

OECIF applies cutting edge science and technology to support the development and demonstration of innovative, cost-effective, and supportable energy solutions to meet joint service requirements, reduce carbon emissions, and maintain freedom of action in energy constrained environments. This office has a vested interest in innovations of all energy generation, conversion, storage, and transmission methods that benefit the warfighter and maintain a superior operational military capability.