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TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY Stochastic Techno Economic Model (STEM) An analytical tool that estimates the logistics cost associated with different biomass feedstocks. Opportunity: Idaho National ... TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY Stochastic Techno Economic Model (STEM) An analytical tool that estimates the logistics cost associated with different biomass feedstocks. Opportunity: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), managed and operated by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), is offering the opportunity to enter into a license and/or collaborative research agreement to commercialize STEM. This technology transfer opportunity is part of a dedicated effort to convert government-funded research into job opportunities, businesses and ultimately an improved way of life for the American people. Overview: The U.S. cellulosic biofuels industry has struggled to attract private investment. One key factor is the difficulty in quantifying risk associated biomass feedstock supply and logistics costs. Without an accurate representation of risks in the system, effective mitigation cannot take place. Providing investors with an accurate risk profile must be achieved to attract capital investment. INL’s STEM framework develops a tool for quantifying cost risk in the biomass supply. Description: The STEM framework builds the risk algorithm for biomass feedstock preprocessing and demonstrates how it can be deployed to additional unit processes in the supply chain. In the current framework, the distributions are assigned based on expert elicitation by consulting with a feedstock logistics expert and assigning probabilistic densities in the cost model. This model was developed in Microsoft Excel with an add-in, making it relatively easy to use and implement for a broad set of users. The scope of the model covers multiple stages of the biomass life cycle spanning feedstock harvest, collection, transportation and handling, preprocessing, and storage. The model determines the total logistics cost per dry metric ton for biomass and breaks down the costs for important categories including ownership related costs such as interest and depreciation, insurance, housing, and taxes as well as operating costs like repairs and maintenance, labor costs, and fuel and lube costs. Benefits: Relatively simple to use and implement. Built-in flexibility for modifications by a prospective user. Generates system level analysis. Provides a basis for all stakeholders along the feedstock supply chain to have a greater understanding of investment risk. Applications: Risk analysis in the Bioenergy industry. Development Status: Alpha stage, expert level user required, limited interface. IP Status: Copyright in software entitled “Stochastic Techno Economic Model (STEM),” BEA Docket No. CW-21-23, granted by DOE to BEA on April 27, 2021. Additional Information STEM is currently available at the following location under the LGPL 2.0 License. https://github.com/idaholab/STEM Other license arrangements may be available. INL is seeking to license the above intellectual property to a company with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Exclusive rights in defined fields of use may be available. Added value is placed on relationships with small businesses, start-up companies, and general entrepreneurship opportunities. Please visit Technology Deployment’s website at https://inl.gov/inl-initiatives/technology-deployment for more information on working with INL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process. Companies interested in learning more about this licensing opportunity should contact Andrew Rankin at td@inl.gov.