pilot plant

American  

noun

1. an experimental industrial plant in which processes or techniques planned for use in full-scale operation are tested in advance.

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pilot plant British  

noun

1. a small-scale industrial plant in which problems can be identified and solved before the full-scale plant is built

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Etymology

Origin of pilot plant

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Fervo has already built a small pilot plant in Nevada with 3.5 megawatts of capacity, or enough for a few thousand homes.

From Barron's • Jan. 23, 2026

At a pilot plant, Boston Metal, which previously received money from ARPA-E, also relies on electricity to separate and purify iron.

From Science Magazine • Apr. 30, 2024

The project, which kicked off in 2022, is working on a pilot plant that's due to be operational in the first half of this year - though it's hit some difficulties.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2024

Cai hopes that demonstrating the pilot plant will lead to larger-scale investment in the technology, as harnessing energy from fossil fuels adds to global warming and hurts the planet.

From Science Daily • Feb. 7, 2024

"When can we try it in the pilot plant."

From The Professional Approach by Schoenherr, John