WARRENDALE — Experts from around the country came here and worked together to create cleaner energy.

The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (TMS), a professional organization made up of experts and students in the field of materials science and engineering, hosted 53 experts at its facility in Thorn Hill Industrial Park for 11 days ending Thursday.

The experts were divided into teams to develop strategies for making clean energy technologies more practical and affordable options that would also support new manufacturing and job creation.

Maureen Byko of TMS said the event is the latest phase in an extensive study that TMS is coordinating on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy Industrial Technologies Program.

She said the study group now will issue a final report with recommendations by the fall.

Byko said a common theme among the study groups is that the foundation for the “clean energy age” is materials. The primary focus of the teams’ work is making it easier for promising materials technologies to make the leap from laboratory to commercial use.

Warren Hunt, TMI executive director, said materials science could develop storage technology for solar or wind energy, lighter weight materials for better vehicle and aircraft efficiency, while stimulating the economy.

“Many of the technologies that we are looking at can improve or lead to new manufacturing processes that could be the source of economic growth and jobs,” Hunt said.

Byko said another focus of the study groups was materials innovations that will enable manufacturers to operate more cost-effectively by saving energy and eliminating waste.

Hunt said the Warrendale event was a key factor in the nation’s move toward cleaner energy.

“We are pinpointing technologies that can have an impact on our nation’s energy challenges within the next five years,” Hunt said.

He said the report from the event will be presented to the Department of Energy to provide guidance on effective research funding.