The DOE recently launched the Energy Storage Grand Challenge, which will focus on the development of new energy-storage technologies. It’s part of the $158-million Advanced Energy Storage Initiative proposed in the 2020 federal budget’.

The aim of the project is to develop a secure domestic manufacturing supply chain that is independent of foreign sources of critical materials by 2030. It will use R&D funding opportunities, prizes, partnerships and other programs to try to achieve the following goals by 2030:

1. Establish ambitious, achievable performance goals, and a comprehensive R&D portfolio to achieve them.
2. Accelerate the technology pipeline from research to system design to private sector adoption.
3. Develop best-in-class models, data, and analysis to inform the most effective value proposition and use cases for storage technologies.
4. Design new technologies to strengthen US manufacturing and recyclability, and to reduce dependence on foreign sources of critical materials.
5. Train the next generation of American workers to meet the needs of the 21st-century electric grid and energy storage value chain.

“Energy storage is key to capturing the full value of our diverse energy resources,” said Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette. “Through this Grand Challenge, we will deploy the Department’s extensive resources and expertise to address the technology development, commercialization, manufacturing, valuation, and workforce challenges to position the U.S. for global leadership in the energy storage technologies of the future.”

Source: DOE