Expeditionary Solar Refinery for Direct Synthesis of Methanol Feedstock from Water and Air

Department of War · Office of the Secretary of Defense · STTR Topic · 26.TZ

posted 2 September 2026 · closes 21 October 2026

Summary

The Department of War is seeking a lightweight solar‑driven system that converts water and carbon dioxide into methanol fuel for soldier power sustainment. The effort focuses on advanced artificial photosynthesis technology to enable zero‑resupply operations in austere environments, with prototypes expected to reach TRL 6.

View the official notice ↗

Want to know why the government is buying what they buy? Subscribe to the OODA Daily Pulse

The OODA Daily Pulse Report provides a detailed summary of the top technology, cybersecurity and global risks of the day. Our analysts curate stories, articles and insights from hundreds of vetted sources to inform your decisions and our research team provides long form context on topics destined to be of importance. Delivered free to your inbox five days a week at 10:00am.