Hybrid Energy Storage Module Workshop

On May 19–20, 2011, ARPA-E and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering [ASD(R&E)] held a workshop in Arlington, VA to explore advanced scientific and technical challenges to the development of a Hybrid Energy Storage Module (HESM). The vision for HESM is to store electrical energy with high energy density, variable charge and discharge rates, and in modular-reconfigurable packages. This capability would meet a critical challenge for future military and civilian systems such as microgrids and vehicles, or to combine traditional power sources (generators) with energy storage in a modular configuration to increase generation efficiency, decrease fuel consumption and accommodate variable loads.

If successfully developed, HESM technologies would provide future electric energy systems with long endurance, rapid charge/discharge platform electrical grids while maintaining a restrictive size and weight form factor, along with assured life and safety under a wide range of application and installation environments. Integrated into advanced military systems, HESMs would be key components for extending fuel duration up to 30 percent in forward bases and military platforms while providing robustness and easy maintenance. In commercial energy applications, HESM technology would enable an electric grid to effectively match the power and energy requirements of consumers (industrial and residential) to the intermittent and non-dispatchable generation of renewable resources while maintaining customer power reliability and assurance. Additional commercial applications could range from islanded power systems, extended-duration commercial and private vehicles, stabilized local and national grids, and home or industrialized ride-through power systems.

To address shared and parallel challenges of HESM technology, a joint ARPA-E/ASD(R&E) effort has been initiated with two major thrusts:

1. Development of advanced energy storage technologies with high energy density and cost competitiveness, such as: secondary batteries, flow batteries, ultra-capacitors, and flywheels.

2. Development of a system-level integration technologies for advanced energy storage with high-efficiency and multiple functionality, such as: power conversion, thermal management, safety and containment.

During the first part of this workshop, DOD and DOE experts described applications for the HESM solution and shared technical requirements in areas including power density, energy density, cycle life, operating environments, etc. In the second half of the workshop, energy storage and power electronics experts analyzed the HESM requirements in light of current or emerging state of the art technology, identified areas where additional technical development is needed, and identified emerging research and development opportunities. This workshop brought together some of the nation’s foremost experts in electrical energy storage as well as leaders from industry, academia, and government with diverse technical perspectives.

View the workshop agenda (pdf). Proceedings from the meeting are summarized below. 

Presentations: Introduction (pdf): Don Hoffman (DoD) & Mark Johnson (ARPA-E) ARPA-E Remarks: ARPA-E Director Arun Majumdar OSD Remarks: Sharon Burk, ASD (OEPP) Hybrid Energy Storage Overview (pdf): Mark Johnson (ARPA-E) HESM Applications (pdf): John Heinzel (HESM IPT) Energy Dense Storage (pdf): Mike Perry (UTRC) Power Dense Storage (pdf): Matt Lazarewicz (Beacon Power) Power Electronics (pdf): Pat Hayes (ABB) Control Systems (pdf): Darrell Massie (IPERC) Commercial Certification: Greg Monty (UL) Open Discussion Wrap Up & Final Words (pdf): Don Hoffman (DoD) & Mark Johnson (ARPA-E)