GRIDS Highlights

Update: October 19, 2021 ESS began trading publicly on the New York Stock Exchange on October 11, 2021. ESS’ (NYSE: GWH) batteries provide a new tool for decarbonizing the grid and further ARPA-E's mission of changing what's possible in how we generate, use, and store energy. For a look back at ESS’ time as an ARPA-E project, check out the original blog below and watch the video we recorded with them in 2017.

Every year on April 22, we celebrate Earth Day; promoting environmental enthusiasm and efforts to protect our planet’s precious natural resources. As part of ARPA-E’s authorizing authority that established the agency within the Department of Energy, we’re tasked to overcome long-term and high-risk technological barriers in the development of transformative science and technology solutions to address the energy and environmental missions of the Department. Because of this, our projects and programs focus on developing technologies that have the potential to radically improve U.S.

The U.S. electric grid has limited ability to store excess energy, so electricity must constantly be over-generated to assure reliable supply. Advanced energy storage promises to play a key role in modernizing the nation’s electricity grid to enable the integration of increasing amounts of renewables, improve operating capabilities, enhance reliability, allow deferral of infrastructure investments and provide backup power during emergencies. The Primus Power and City University of New York Energy Institute (CUNY-EI) teams developed unique approaches to turning battery storage ideas into reality.

ARPA-E focuses on next-generation energy innovations that will help create a sustainable energy future. The agency provides R&D funding for technologies that could fundamentally change the way we get, use, and store energy. Since 2009, ARPA-E has provided approximately $2 billion in R&D funding for more than 800 energy technology projects.

When Hurricane Maria struck the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico last September, it took the entire island’s power grid with it. Today, over 95 percent of the island has its power restored, but the rebuilding process is far from finished. Over the long term, many challenges remain — along with some big opportunities to make the grid smarter and more resilient.

CREATING LONG-LIFE ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS  UPDATED: February 24, 2016PROJECT TITLE: Transformative Electrochemical Flow Storage System (TEFSS)PROGRAM: GRIDSAWARD: $3,599,894PROJECT TEAM: United Technologies Research Center (URTC) (Lead); 3M Corporation; University of Texas, Austin PROJECT TERM: September 2010 – September 2013

LONG-LIFE ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS CREATE A MORE EFFECTIVE AND RELIABLE ELECTRIC GRID UPDATED: February 24, 2016  PROJECT TITLES: Low-Cost, High-Performance 50-Year Electrodes PROGRAM: GRIDS AWARD: $1,999,999 PROJECT TEAM: Primus Power (Lead) PROJECT TERM: September 2010 – December 2012

LEVERAGING ZINC MANGANESE DIOXIDE FOR STATIONARY ENERGY STORAGE UPDATED: February 24, 2016PROJECT TITLE: Low-Cost Grid-Scale Electrical Storage Using a Flow-Assisted Rechargeable Zinc-Manganese Dioxide BatteryPROGRAM: GRIDSAWARD: $3,497,133PROJECT TEAM: City University of New York (CUNY) Energy InstitutePROJECT TERM: September 2010 – March 2015

ZINC-AIR GRID ENERGY STORAGE UPDATED: FEBRUARY 24, 2016 PROJECT TITLES: Metal-Air Ionic Liquid Batteries; Advanced Grid-Interoperable Power Electronics Enabling Scalability And Ultra-Low CostPROGRAM: OPEN 2009; GRIDSAWARD: $5,133,150; $2,993,128PROJECT TEAM: Arizona State University (Lead); Fluidic Energy (Lead)PROJECT TERM: December 2009 – June 2012; October 2010 – March 2013 

NEW IRON BATTERY DESIGN FOR FLOW BATTERIES  UPDATED: FEBRUARY 24, 2016  PROJECT TITLES: 10kW 80kWh Energy Storage System Based on All-Iron Hybrid Flow Battery PROGRAM: GRIDS SBIR AWARD: $2.25 million PROJECT TEAM: Energy Storage Systems (ESS Tech, Inc.)  PROJECT TERM: October 2012–December 2016