Get new editions in your inbox

Subscribe for occasional updates on Czero projects, events, and engineering insights.

Occasional updates from Czero. Unsubscribe at any time.

Hardtech Development, Failing Fast and Other Misconceptions

Guy Babbitt, Czero CEO, was hosted by Ken Hayes and Ryan Hoover from Cleantech Open to explore how to thoughtfully apply “fail fast” principles to hardtech development, where long lead times, high costs, and safety risks often make rapid iteration more complex.

Novel Methanol Synthesis Microchannel Reactor

Czero has partnered with Nexceris (Prime) and three other sub-awardees to support the development of e-fuels via a novel methanol synthesis microchannel reactor operating on intermittent renewables, as part of an ARPA-E GREENWELLS program.

A key innovation of this project is the integration of novel catalyst packaging with a membrane that separates water as it is being produced, thereby overcoming conventional equilibrium limits and enabling single-pass conversions exceeding 90%.

Czero’s role is to support the microchannel reactor design, design the benchtop balance-of-plant system, develop system controls, and develop a predictive physics-based system model to support system development and assess the system’s transient performance at scale.

Supporting the U.S. Department of Defense

Czero is proud to support the U.S. Department of Defense across critical R&D and engineering initiatives. From reverse engineering legacy components to advancing hybrid power solutions for field deployment, our team brings deep technical expertise to accelerate mission readiness and equipment reliability.

One way we support the DOD is through the Defense Logistics Agency’s Reverse Engineering Technical Data Initiative (RETDI) and other programs, recreating technical data and manufacturing first articles for mission-critical components:

• Aircraft components for the F-16, F-18, V-22, KC-135, and others
• Exhaust manifolds for ground-based vehicles

Cleanup at Goose Hollow

As we wrap up, here’s a snapshot from our backyard, Chris and a few of us out at Goose Hollow, doing a bit of cleanup. This year has brought a lot of change, but our commitment to our customers and our community hasn’t wavered. We’ve shared what we’ve been up to, now we’d love to hear from you. Send us your updates, milestones, or just say hello.

Download the PDF version

Save or share this edition of Czero Field Notes.