At Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), we're excited to celebrate World Energy Storage Day and reaffirm our commitment to advancing clean, reliable, and sustainable energy solutions. As a national leader in energy storage, grid modernization, and decarbonization efforts, PNNL continues to push the boundaries of innovation to create a more resilient and flexible energy future.
The past year has been especially significant with the dedication of the Grid Storage Launchpad, a state-of-the-art facility designed to accelerate development, validation, and commercial readiness of energy storage systems for the power grid and transportation. To mark this achievement, and in recognition of World Energy Storage Day, we're excited to share a "Year in Review," highlighting key moments, events, and advancements that are helping to transform the energy landscape.
GRID STORAGE LAUNCHPAD:
A NEW ERA OF ENERGY STORAGE INNOVATION
On August 13, hundreds of people gathered at the PNNL-Richland campus in Washington to celebrate a new era of energy storage innovation at the Grid Storage Launchpad (GSL) dedication event. The capabilities in this national facility will be applied to help address crosscutting challenges in grid and transportation storage technologies to help meet the nation’s decarbonization goals. GSL brings together all stages of the battery development cycle, from fundamental materials and device prototyping to 100-kilowatt scale testing and validation into a uniquely integrated facility. GSL will help stakeholders deliver solutions that make our nation's energy system more resilient, reliable, and secure. Learn more about GSL.
New Grid-Forming Inverter Models Help Utilities Plan for a Renewable Future
PNNL and collaborators developed new models—recently approved by the U.S. Western Electricity Coordinating Council—to help utilities understand how new grid-forming inverter technology will enhance grid stability.
Expert Insights: Eric Hsieh Talks GSL, Energy Storage, and Beyond
In a dynamic Q&A session with Eric Hsieh, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Office of Electricity's (OE's) Energy Storage Division, we explored GSL's role in advancing the nation's grid modernization efforts.
PNNL Expert Honored as National Inventor of the Year
PNNL's Dr. Ji-Guang (Jason) Zhang was awarded the inaugural DOE Lab Inventor of the Year Award. Recognized for his contributions to developing advanced electric vehicle batteries, Zhang's innovative work includes enhancing battery lifespan and performance through novel materials and methods. This honor highlights his efforts in transitioning research to real-world applications rapidly.
PNNL Hosts 8th Annual Energy Storage Safety & Reliability Forum
Over 200 attendees, including researchers, manufacturers, developers, code officials, and emergency responders, participated in the 8th Energy Storage Safety & Reliability Forum hosted at PNNL. The forum featured presentations, discussions, and a look at the GSL.
New Handbook to Boost Clean Energy Transition for U.S. Ports
PNNL, in collaboration with Guiding Port Partners, developed the Port Electrification Handbook to support the clean energy transition of maritime ports nationwide.
PNNL helps communities transition to clean energy and boost their energy resilience through initiatives such as DOE's Energy Storage for Social Equity (ES4SE).
Vince Sprenkle Named Director of Grid Storage Launchpad
PNNL's energy storage expert, Vince Sprenkle, was chosen to lead the GSL. For more than a decade, Sprenkle has helped lead the effort to develop and accelerate energy storage technologies to meet the country’s clean energy goals.
More Range for Electric Vehicle Batteries on the Horizon
A seemingly simple shift in lithium-ion manufacturing could pay big dividends, improving electric vehicles' ability to store more energy per charge and to withstand more charging cycles.
PNNL to Install 24-hour Flow Battery at Richland Campus
PNNL is in the planning stages of installing a 525-kilowatt flow battery with 24-hours of peak discharge at the Richland campus. This flow battery will allow PNNL to test and demonstrate the technology, and this system will be the first time a 24-hour capacity battery will be deployed and tested.
For decades, researchers have assumed that the inevitable filmy buildup on electrodes inside rechargeable batteries is the driver of performance loss. Now, we know that view is backward. The buildup of mossy or tree-like structured lithium metal deposits on battery electrodes is not the root cause of performance loss, but rather a side effect.
PNNL is pioneering energy storage innovations to enhance the electric gird and power next-generation electric vehicles. Our researchers lead in developing transportation-scale and grid-scale batteries, including patented technologies in redox flow, lithium-ion, sodium-ion, and lithium-metal batteries. These innovations are breaking down barriers to superior performance and cost prohibitions.
PNNL research provides a clear understanding of the technology needs for integrating energy storage into the grid. We work with utilities and industry to assess the optimal role for energy storage installations under local operational and market conditions. Our research teams support field deployments where we work with stakeholders to characterize the value, understand usage and controls, and generally improve the benefits that energy storage systems provide to the grid. These data, provided to all stakeholders, assure that research development and deployment is working toward a cleaner power future for America.
Understanding the benefits of the wide variety of storage technologies and developing the critical advancements required to bring down the cost of energy storage will help integrate renewable power sources such as wind, solar, and marine energy and energize a modern, flexible, and resilient power grid.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory draws on its distinguishing strengths in chemistry, Earth sciences, biology and data science to advance scientific knowledge and address challenges in sustainable energy and national security. Founded in 1965, PNNL is operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science, which is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. DOE’s Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit the PNNL's News Center. Follow us onTwitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
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