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

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

It is based on modernizing blast furnace technology with moderate investments and has already been demonstrated successfully in a pilot plant.

From Science Daily • Dec. 21, 2023

The startup company Virtus Solis Technologies has also been testing power beaming and plans to launch a pilot plant into orbit in 2026.

From Science Magazine • Jun. 5, 2023

We have been busy at the farm and nursery erecting a small pilot plant for grinding filbert butter which we expect to be able to put on the market between October 15 and November 1.

From Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the Thirty-Eighth Annual Meeting Guelph, Ontario, September 3, 4, 5, 1947 by Northern Nut Growers Association