The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) last month announced up to $20 million for research and development (R&D) that will advance the manufacturability of mid-sized flow battery systems. Mature flow battery technologies will allow the U.S. to store and dispatch clean energy from renewable generation sources on a grid-scale, enabling flexible, resilient, and secure infrastructure.
Developing and deploying energy storage capabilities will be critical to building a clean-energy economy and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. The Department is helping the U.S. become a leader in new storage technologies through its support for efficient, scalable manufacturing processes and robust supply chains.
With this funding opportunity, DOE will partner with industry to address technical and manufacturing challenges that have prevented flow battery systems from achieving cost targets and commercial viability. DOE seeks proposals for collaborative, multi-stage R&D projects that improve manufacturing processes for individual flow battery components and integrate those new or improved components into a prototype system with a mid-sized capacity for grid, industrial, or transportation applications.
Projects selected will:
- Enable cost-effective, scalable manufacturing for mid-sized (i.e., 10-100 kWh) flow battery systems.
- Test and validate the flow battery system’s manufacturability.
- Strengthen domestic flow battery supply chains by connecting battery manufacturing stakeholders.
DOE anticipates making four to six awards.
A minimum cost-share of 20% for R&D projects is required. Concept papers are due on April 29, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. ET. For additional details, including application and submission requirements, visit the EERE Exchange.
Funding for this opportunity will be provided by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Advanced Manufacturing Office. Additionally, DOE’s Office of Electricity (OE) will support testing for selected projects at facilities like the Grid Storage Launchpad. This $75 million research facility, based at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, will boost clean energy adaptation and accelerate the development and deployment of long-duration, low-cost grid energy storage.
The Flow Battery Systems Manufacturing funding opportunity is part of DOE’s Energy Storage Grand Challenge, a Department-wide program to accelerate the development, commercialization, and utilization of next-generation energy storage technologies and sustain American global leadership in energy storage.
