Summary
- Energy Innovation Hub teams receive $125 million in funding to advance next-generation battery technologies
- Teams will focus on developing batteries with greater energy storage capacities, safer operation, lower costs, and diverse materials
- Projects aim to accelerate decarbonization of transportation and integration of clean energy into the electricity grid
- Teams led by Argonne National Laboratory and Stanford University will prioritize research on compact batteries and aqueous batteries for grid storage
- Multiple institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), involved in the projects for inclusive workforce development.
Article
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $125 million in funding for two Energy Innovation Hub teams to focus on advancing rechargeable battery technologies beyond the current generation of lithium-ion batteries. These multi-institution research teams, led by Argonne National Laboratory and Stanford University, aim to address challenges related to energy storage capabilities, safety, cost reduction, and material diversity for battery manufacturing. The goal is to develop scalable battery designs with versatile and reversible energy storage capabilities to support decarbonization efforts in transportation and clean energy integration into the electricity grid.
The Energy Storage Research Alliance (ESRA) led by Argonne National Laboratory and the Aqueous Battery Consortium (ABC) led by Stanford University will work on developing compact batteries for heavy-duty transportation and energy storage solutions for the grid, as well as aqueous batteries for long-duration grid storage technologies. Both teams will focus on utilizing Earth-abundant materials to mitigate supply chain risks. The projects aim to achieve unprecedented molecular-level control of chemical reactivity, ion selectivity, and directional transport in electrochemical cells, while also prioritizing workforce development in energy storage research and inclusive research involving diverse institutions.
The selected Energy Innovation Hub teams include institutions such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), providing opportunities for workforce development and inclusive research. The projects were chosen through a competitive peer review process under the DOE’s Funding Opportunity Announcement for the Energy Innovation Hub Program. The total funding for these awards amounts to $125 million, with a duration of up to five years. The basic science focus of the projects was developed in coordination through the DOE Joint Strategy Team for Batteries, aiming to accelerate research in next-generation batteries and energy storage.
The DOE’s funding for these Energy Innovation Hub teams is a significant investment in advancing battery technologies and accelerating the transition to cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions. By supporting fundamental research in energy storage, the aim is to address critical challenges and limitations in current battery technologies, enabling the deployment of more efficient and cost-effective solutions for decarbonizing transportation and integrating clean energy into the electricity grid. The projects’ emphasis on Earth-abundant materials and workforce development reflects a commitment to sustainable and inclusive research practices to drive innovation in the energy storage sector.
The Energy Innovation Hub teams’ focus on developing next-generation battery technologies beyond lithium-ion batteries underscores the urgency of advancing energy storage solutions to support a carbon-neutral future. By enabling greater energy storage capabilities, safer operation, and lower costs, these projects aim to contribute to the decarbonization of transportation and the integration of clean energy into the electricity grid. The support for diverse institutions and workforce development in energy storage research demonstrates a commitment to fostering inclusive and innovative solutions that address the challenges of supply chain risks and enable scalable and efficient battery designs for a sustainable energy future.
In conclusion, the funding provided by the U.S. Department of Energy for the Energy Innovation Hub teams represents a significant investment in advancing battery technologies and accelerating the transition to cleaner energy solutions. With a focus on fundamental research and the development of next-generation battery technologies, these projects aim to address critical challenges in energy storage and support efforts to decarbonize transportation and integrate clean energy into the electricity grid. The emphasis on Earth-abundant materials, workforce development, and inclusive research practices highlights a commitment to sustainable and innovative solutions that will drive progress towards a more sustainable energy future.
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