September 2019: Azelio, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), and Khalifa University of Science and Technology have formed a partnership to test, demonstrate, and evaluate Azelio's Stirling engine system and integrated thermal energy storage (Tes) for renewable energy production using photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP), and wind energy, as well as off-grid networ.
June 2019: Saab Kockums and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) are preparing to test a prototype of the 'Double-Stirling air-independent propulsion system for the embryonic Swedish future submarine programme..
June 2019: The engineering team at NASA Glenn's Thermal Energy Conversion Branch established a new record for the maximum runtime of a free-piston Stirling engine. Since 2003, Technology Demonstration Converter (TDC) #13, an experimental device, has operated for more than 110,000 hours cumulatively without incident or obvious wear.
Sunpower Inc. has continued its research and development activities in combining Stirling engines with solar power systems. Sunpower announced a partnership with a leading solar energy company in early 2023 to build an efficient solar Stirling engine system.
For example, in September 2022, Qnergy implemented its first landfill gas-to-power project, creating electrical power while generating voluntary carbon credits in collaboration with Maryland Environmental Services and Maryland Energy Administration.
In July 2022, Sterling Generators collaborated with the Moteurs Baudouin. This new cooperation will exploit Baudouin’s traditions and competencies for crafting top-ranking petrol and diesel motors and Sterling Generators.
Genoastirling S.r.l has been exploring advanced Stirling engine designs for marine applications as well as defense industries. In 2022, the company won a contract from a major European defense contractor to supply engines for future naval vessels.
An instance is when China State Shipbuilding disclosed during December 2021 that the company had tested the country’s first large bore engine applicable to submarine propulsion. At maximum capacity, this latest prototype achieved a power of 320 KW, which converted almost 40% of it into useful work, thus making it the most powerful globally.
Azelio introduced a new electro-thermal system for multiple commercial settings, having four operations in October 2021. The system enables heat production at between 55-65 C at all times of the day, depending on demand
Qnergy has also expanded its product line and improved its technology to enhance efficiency and reliability levels. For example, Qnergy launched a new range of combined heat and power (CHP) engines targeted at residential and commercial markets in 2021.