The US government’s Department of Energy (DOE) is set to pump $100 million into projects looking at non-lithium batteries for long-term energy storage.
It has issued a notice of intent offering to fund pilot-scale energy storage demonstration projects that focus on “non-lithium technologies, long-duration (10+ hour discharge) systems, and stationary storage applications.”
Such systems could form an important part of the transition to renewable energy for data center operators and grid providers, allowing them to capture and store solar or wind power at times of high supply so that it can be used when resources are scarce. They could also underpin backup power systems by storing renewable energy for use in emergencies.
The DOE expects the US will need an additional 700-900GW if the nation is to reach its 2050 net zero target. “Short duration energy storage is already supporting the grid, but continued deployment of variable renewable energy may push the requirement beyond the energy storage systems that exist today,” a statement from the department said.
“To support a growing reliance on variable renewable energy, LDES systems will play a key role in offering dispatchable backup power that can be deployed when needed to ensure grid resilience.”
The DOE is providing the funding through its Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED). It is aiming to support three to 15 projects with grants of $5-$20 million which will need to be matched with private investment. The OCED funding will “support technology maturation activities including design for manufacturability, pilot system development, fabrication and installation, operational testing and validation, and commercial scale system design and supply chain growth.”
Projects will require applicants to have a team that includes a technology provider and “encourage [the] inclusion of utilities, facility owner/operators, developers, financiers, and others that support a clear path to commercial adoption.”
Battery researchers around the world are looking at alternatives to lithium-based batteries. In June, DCD reported on a project by academics at the UK’s University of Southampton which claims to have developed a battery with a water-based electrolyte suitable for large-scale storage.
US startup Unigrid recently raised $12 million to help it develop its storage battery, which is based on a novel sodium-ion chemistry.
