Technology Readiness Level 

The Technology Readiness Level (TRL) index is a globally accepted benchmarking tool for tracking 
progress and supporting development of a specific technology through the early stages of the 
innovation chain, from blue sky research (TRL 1) to actual system demonstration over the full range 
of expected conditions (TRL 9).   

There are various TRL rating scales that may be applicable to various technologies. ARENA uses the 
US Department of Energy Technology Readiness Level scale. 

Applicants should refer to the table below in assessing the TRL of their Project. Applicants may also 
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wish to use the TRL calculator tool developed by the US Air Force Research Laboratory for applying 
TRLs to technology development programs. In its present form, the calculator is a Microsoft Excel 
spreadsheet application that allows the user to answer a series of questions about a technology 
project. Once the questions have been answered, the calculator displays the TRL achieved. Because 
the same set of questions is answered each time the calculator is used, the calculator provides a 
standardised, repeatable process for evaluating the maturity of any hardware or software technology 
under development. In this way, the TRL calculator is one tool that can answer the question of how 
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one can measure TRLs using a standardised method.  
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Table 1: US Department of Energy Technology Readiness Levels  

Relative level of  TRL  TRL definition  Description  

technology 
development 
Systems  TRL 9  Actual system  The technology is in its final form and operated under 
operations  operated over  the full range of operating mission conditions. 
the full range of  Examples include using the actual system with the full 
expected  range of wastes in hot operations. 
mission 
conditions 

 
System  TRL 8  Actual system  The technology has been proven to work in its final 
commissioning  completed and  form and under expected conditions. In almost all 
qualified  cases, this TRL represents the end of true system 
through test and  development. Examples include developmental 
demonstration  testing and evaluation of the system with actual waste 
in hot commissioning. Supporting information 
includes operational procedures that are virtually 
complete. An Operational Readiness Review (ORR) 
has been successfully completed prior to the start of 
hot testing. 

 
TRL 7  Full-scale,  This represents a major step up from TRL 6, requiring 
similar  demonstration of an actual system prototype in a 

1
Nolte, William L., et al., “Technology Readiness Level Calculator,” October 20, 2003, Air Force Research
Laboratory (AFRL), presented at the NDIA System Engineering Conference
2
US Department of Energy Technology Readiness Assessment Guide (DOE 413.3-4 10-12-09)
https://www.directives.doe.gov/directives/0413.3-EGuide-04/view​, page 28
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US Department of Energy Technology Readiness Assessment Guide (DOE 413.3-4 10-12-09)
https://www.directives.doe.gov/directives/0413.3-EGuide-04/view​, page 9 and 10
 (prototypical)  relevant environment. Examples include testing 
system  full-scale prototype in the field with a range of 
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demonstrated in  stimulants in cold commissioning . Supporting 
relevant  information includes results from the full-scale testing 
environment  and analysis of the differences between the test 
environment, and analysis of what the experimental 
results mean for the eventual operating 
system/environment. Final design is virtually 
complete. 

 
Technology  TRL 6  Engineering/pilo Engineering-scale models or prototypes are tested in 
demonstration  t-scale, similar  a relevant environment. This represents a major step 
(prototypical)  up in a technology’s demonstrated readiness. 
system  Examples include testing an engineering scale 
validation in  prototypical system with a range of simulants. 
relevant  Supporting information includes results from the 
environment  engineering scale testing and analysis of the 
differences between the engineering scale, 
prototypical system/environment, and analysis of 
what the experimental results mean for the eventual 
operating system/environment. TRL 6 begins true 
engineering development of the technology as an 
operational system. The major difference between 
TRL 5 and 6 is the step up from laboratory scale to 
engineering scale and the determination of scaling 
factors that will enable design of the operating 
system. The prototype should be capable of 
performing all the functions that will be required of the 
operational system. The operating environment for the 
testing should closely represent the actual operating 
environment. 

 
TRL 5  Laboratory-scal The basic technological components are integrated so 
e, similar system  that the system configuration is similar to (matches) 
validation in  the final application in almost all respects. Examples 
relevant  include testing a high-fidelity, laboratory scale system 
environment  in a simulated environment with a range of simulants 
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and actual waste​2 . Supporting information includes 
Technology  results from the laboratory scale testing, analysis of 
development  the differences between the laboratory and eventual 
operating system/environment, and analysis of what 
the experimental results mean for the eventual 
operating system/environment. The major difference 
between TRL 4 and 5 is the increase in the fidelity of 
the system and environment to the actual application. 
The system tested is almost prototypical. 

 
TRL 4  Component  The basic technological components are integrated to 
and/or system  establish that the pieces will work together. This is 

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​Simulants should match relevant chemical and physical properties.
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​Testing with as wide a range of actual waste as practicable and consistent with waste availability, safety, 
ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable), cost and project risk is highly desirable.
 validation in  relatively "low fidelity" compared with the eventual 
laboratory  system. Examples include integration of ad hoc 
environment  hardware in a laboratory and testing with a range of 
stimulants and small scale tests on actual waste. 
Supporting information includes the results of the 
integrated experiments and estimates of how the 
experimental components and experimental test 
results differ from the expected system performance 
goals. TRL 4-6 represent the bridge from scientific 
research to engineering. TRL 4 is the first step in 
determining whether the individual components will 
work together as a system. The laboratory system will 
probably be a mix of on hand equipment and a few 
special purpose components that may require special 
handling, calibration, or alignment to get them to 
function. 

 
Research to  TRL 3  Analytical and  Active research and development is initiated. This 
prove feasibility  experimental  includes analytical studies and laboratory-scale 
critical function  studies to physically validate the analytical predictions 
and/or  of separate elements of the technology. Examples 
characteristic  include components that are not yet integrated or 
proof of concept  representative tested with simulants. Supporting 
information includes results of laboratory tests 
performed to measure parameters of interest and 
comparison to analytical predictions for critical 
subsystems. At TRL 3 the work has moved beyond 
the paper phase to experimental work that verifies 
that the concept works as expected on simulants. 
Components of the technology are validated, but 
there is no attempt to integrate the components into a 
complete system. Modelling and simulation may be 
used to complement physical experiments. 

 
TRL 2  Technology  Once basic principles are observed, practical 
concept and/or  applications can be invented. Applications are 
application  speculative, and there may be no proof or detailed 
formulated  analysis to support the assumptions. Examples are 
still limited to analytic studies. Supporting information 
includes publications or other references that outline 
the application being considered and that provide 
Basic technology  analysis to support the concept. The step up from 
TRL 1 to TRL 2 moves the ideas from pure to applied 
research 
research. Most of the work is analytical or paper 
studies with the emphasis on understanding the 
science better. Experimental work is designed to 
corroborate the basic scientific observations made 
during TRL 1 work. 

 
TRL 1  Basic principles  This is the lowest level of technology readiness. 
observed and  Scientific research begins to be translated into 
reported  applied research and development. Examples might 
 include paper studies of a technology’s basic 
properties or experimental work that consists mainly 
of observations of the physical world. Supporting 
Information includes published research or other 
references that identify the principles that underlie the 
technology.