DOE selects ClearSign and Kern Energy for technology validation

ClearSign Technologies Corporation (Nasdaq: CLIR) and Kern Energy have been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy's Industrial Technologies Office for its Industrial Technology Validation program, according to a press release issued September 30, 2026.

The project will support the installation and operation of ClearSign's Core Gen 2 Flex Fuel Process Burner at Kern Energy's California refinery facility. The DOE selected nine projects in total under the program.

The project is designed to demonstrate ClearSign's technology for reducing air pollutants while enabling Kern Energy to use refinery byproduct gas as a substitute for natural gas, with the goal of reducing energy costs. Performance data will be independently assessed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

"We believe that the selection for the DOE's ITV program is a significant milestone for ClearSign, providing an opportunity for independent, third-party validation of our technology in a commercial refinery setting," said Jim Deller, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of ClearSign.

Jennifer Haley, President and CEO of Kern Energy, said the project is expected to improve the efficiency and emissions performance of Kern Energy's operations.

ClearSign noted in its press release that the company and Kern Energy have not yet entered into definitive agreements with respect to the ITV program, and that such agreements may not be entered into on acceptable terms, or at all. Additional risks include uncertainty around available funding and whether the burner will perform as designed.

Kern Energy describes itself as the only refiner between San Francisco and Los Angeles producing gasoline and diesel, supplying approximately 1% of California's gasoline and 3% of its diesel.

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