TRLs gauge progress on technology, commerciality

摘要

This is the second in a two-part series on how the technical readiness level process can be practically used to shorten the time before new technology can be commercialized. Investors may invest in the development of new ideas, expecting a high return on their investment by rationalizing that since the risks are high, so must be the rewards. In reality, many new ideas do not work commercially for various reasons that are sometimes not readily apparent when starting on a path to develop new technologies. Moreover, it is through fits and starts, trial and error, and much iteration that some new ideas have historically flourished to become worthwhile advances on the status quo. If, for example, a manufacturer believes his widget is ready for commercialization, he had better be certain that his potential purchasers and end users share his thoughts, quite apart from any consideration of technical readiness levels (TRLs). The oil and gas industry is littered with well-intentioned technologies that have been shelved because end users were not convinced of the products' readiness or value.